Hi everyone.  I hope that this can be a useful community for folks considering laminate flooring.  To kick it off, I propose a poll...  BTW, if you clicked other, use this topic to tell me which one.  If you clicked that you aren't sure you want laminate, let us know what you are choosing between?  For me it was between carpet and laminate.  I'm curious.

-t

P.S. If you enjoyed this poll, vote for your favorite Olympic sport!

In April 2004 we installed Award Touch of Wood flooring in our living room. It looks beautiful and has endured some pet accidents without warping or discoloring. I'm very pleased with the quality and the way it looks (like real wood--because it IS real wood)

I need help from the board here .I  live in a Redmann double wide mobile home on concrete blocks . I removed old carpet from 16 x 25 livingroom . I am torn between choosing to install laminate flooring or use  sheet vinyl /lino. Looking for a floor covering product that will last a while but not cost over $1,800.00 total job [ start to finsh all materials ]  to install -NO  carpet for me .I will install product myself , I am kinda handy ,have installed brick and marble  flooring in past .
   I have many dogs but all are house trained , 1 occasionally pees a little when fussed at but just a few drops , looking for something to hold up though .
   I am worried about ,since this is a trailer with plywood subfloor and marriage joint [joint where mobile home comes together ] has a 1/4 inch split down center of livingroom wouldnt both floor coverings I am considering have problems [perhaps like  creasing , buckle up , show the area ] over that marriage joint after installing or perhaps in time ?
          Any suggestions on products to use to fill in the marriage joint area?  I have heard that some floor leveling /fill in products , cause different flooring coverings to not adhere to subfloor or can cause discoloration of floor coverings ?  
    Anyone know of one particular product that could be used to fill in the marriage joint that would work regardless if I opt to use either sheet vinyl/lino or laminate flooring ?

 Thanks anyone for taking time to help me with a reply
 Jennifer

I used Ikea's laminate flooring. Thus far, we are very happy with it.

For those interested, I have posted the details of my install at: http://home.comcast.net/~sschnaars/samsroom.html

Best,
Scott

Chose Mohawk Duraloc. New product had woodgrain textures, etc... Tabs lockand are glued as well. Seems to be quite nice. Chose the mid-grade product to avoid the surprisngly thin topsheet on other products.

Bob,

My wife and I installed Kronotex on our own about six months ago.  We purchased the product at Lowes.  It came with a pad pre-glued to the underside and utilized "Quik-Lock" or some other witty name.  I believe it's a 20-year warranty floor.

We installed it in our kitchen (280 sq ft), and despite its being a locking system, we glued *every* seam (really not that much trouble) just in case of spills.  Our kitchen is also heavily traveled, so we figured having a more rigid floor would be best in the long run.

Since then, there have been spills, chairs, dogs, company, etc. and I see no evidence of damage.  Out of curiousity, we also left a scrap piece outside (still there, in fact) and it shows no problems (bubbling / swelling of laminate) despite being through six months of rain and hail storms.  The pad did come unglued, however.

I'd say it took us five days of on / off work, taking our time to make sure everything was down the way it should be.  It looks like a million bucks (we went with the oak).  For around $500-600US (this includes every little extra tool I needed, a saw blade here, a bottle of glue there), we've no complaints.  Considering a family member has had a "professional" Pergo installation turn out horrid for well over $3,000US, we've definitely no complaints.

Best of luck!

Hi:

I just had laminate flooring installed in my kids' rooms.  I bought Witex Town & Country Plus online.  It's 10 mm thick, has true-to-grain surface texture, is rated AC4, has a 30-yr warranty, and has 4 extras--Plus Silent Comfort backing, Aqua Protect water resistance, Sanitized antimicrobial protection, and Surface Armor aluminum oxide finish.

I was going to go with the Pergo Select because of its higher durability--AC5--but I just couldn't find any colors that I liked.

I just bought Kronotex Easy-Lock (15 year warranty-American Cherry) at Lowe's. I will be installing it in a smaller office first, to see how I like it.  I purchased premium underlayment, by Armstrong, to eliminate some of the noise. If I'm happy with it, I'll purchase more for our dining/living room. If anyone has any advice or more information on this brand, please let me know. I'll post more once I know more.

My parents put another brand (sorry, I don't know which) in their lake home that had no texture. It is perfectly smooth and very slippery. This makes it difficulty for dogs and can cause problems with their hips. It also shows dirt much more than a wood flooring with more texture.