Do you have laminate flooring?

[Lanshark]

Do you have laminate flooring? What has been your experience with it? How does it hold up to heavy traffic? What kind do you have?

I have hardwoods in my kitchen that need to be replaced. I have a large golden retriever and they are pretty scratched. Refinishing is not an option. To be honest, I haven't been too happy with the floors. I want to replace my kitchen hardwoods, dining room carpet, foyer and staircase up the stairs. Also the hallway leading to the bedrooms.

I have two dogs and three cats so I'm wondering if I should opt for something other than carpet. When I had the hardwood flooring put in the kitchen I did so because I knew they would bring more value to the house. Ten years later, they look horrible and frankly, since I'll probably be here until I die, I want something that will stay nice looking and will be easy to clean.

 

[pearlieq]

We've had Armstrong laminate for about 2 1/2 years and are very happy with it. We haven't seen a mark on it (2 cats, no dogs) and it cleans up quickly and easily.

 

[Jpgirl]

We just put DuPont Real Touch laminate in our bedroom. We have 2 black labs and 5 cats. It is holding up just fine with no dog claw marks. Easy care. I really like the look of real wood but we live on a slab and it would've taken an act of God to put in real wood so we went with laminate. I am very happy with it. We installed it ourselves (we did the real wood too) and it was pretty easy. Good luck

 

[wdwdancerwannabe]

I have pergo floors -- is that considered laminate?

 

[lalijack]

Almost 2 years ago, we put an in-law addition on our house for my DMom. She selected laminate flooring that looks like hardwood. Although it looks nice and has held up really well, it is SO slippery! She can't walk around in her stocking feet, and has to be sure to mop up any spills or wet footprints ASAP, since both she and my 2 kids have all fallen in there.

HTH

 

[Lanshark]

When I originally put in the hardwoods I had looked at Wilsonart.

 

[wdwdancerwannabe]

Almost 2 years ago, we put an in-law addition on our house for my DMom. She selected laminate flooring that looks like hardwood. Although it looks nice and has held up really well, it is SO slippery! She can't walk around in her stocking feet, and has to be sure to mop up any spills or wet footprints ASAP, since both she and my 2 kids have all fallen in there.

HTH

That's the PERGO --- it looks like hardwood, but it's not - it's slippery because of what she's using to clean it. That's what I have a hard time with. Either I can get it REALLY clean - and it's too slippery - or I clean it w/ something else and it starts looking dull.

I would really like some advice on exactly what to use to clean my pergo floors!!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I FLIPPING HATE IT WITH EVERY BREATH OF MY BEING!

We moved into house with new flooring, it was a laminate. Thankfully it is the "weathered" beat up look.

We got 2 puppies, ruined with the month. Their nails scratched it.

I have TILE in my kitchen....God Bless that tile with 2 dogs....I used to hate tile, until I got dogs.

 

[CEDmom]

We had Pergo in our old house and we loved it. It was in the upstairs/downstairs hallways, the family room and the bedrooms. When we moved it was about 7 yo and looked really good. It was so easy to clean and wonderful for my DH's allergies.

In our new house we have hardwood and I do have to admit I like it more than the laminate.

We used the Pergo cleaner for the floors. It was a spray on.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

We just put DuPont Real Touch laminate in our bedroom. We have 2 black labs and 5 cats. It is holding up just fine with no dog claw marks. Easy care. I really like the look of real wood but we live on a slab and it would've taken an act of God to put in real wood so we went with laminate. I am very happy with it. We installed it ourselves (we did the real wood too) and it was pretty easy. Good luck

Wow....so there is hope? What color is it?

 

[dejr_8]

We installed Mannington Engineered Flooring (a laminant type floor) in our house in MA. Had it for 5 years with two larger dogs (70 and 60 lbs) and young boys. It looked asgood the day we moved out of the house as the day we installed it.

We liked it so much that we installed it in our place in NC.

BTW, we purchased our flooring from floorshop.com. Very good service. You can order samples ($3/sample) of flooring to see what you like.

 

[ElleBelle]

We have Pergo all throughout our downstairs.... we love it! We also have a 105lb dog that hates to have his nails clipped... and after 3 years there's not a scratch on the floor. Something that I have found that is EXCELLENT to clean it with is "Bruce Dura-luster NO WAX Floor Cleaner". I purchase it either at Costco or Sam's Club... I think you can also purchase it at Target. You just spray it on and wipe with one of those flat rectangular mops with the terry cloth cover. They come up sparkling clean... and not slippery at all!

 

[Jpgirl]

Mystery-yes there is hope. I have no idea what you had but the Dupont came with a 30 year gaurantee. I don't trim our one dog's nails (he tries to bite) and he sometimes is in our bedroom and uses our floor as the starting point into a dead run to chase off the hated UPS guy or the evil squirrel in our backyard and there is not one mark on the floor. We had to refinish our wood floors after 5 years of this abuse in our other house. We did tear up a laminate in our family room that had been used and abused by previous owners and then our dogs made a mess of the mess, so I was real leary to try the laminate. We did tile that as we have tile in our kitchen. I love the tile too-just wanted something a little more warm looking in the bedroom. I worry more about flooding (we live in Texas on a slab) than I do the dogs. Flooding will mess a wood floor or laminate warse than anything. Good luck with the pup. Oh yeah the color is something maple made by Dupont-the real touch-it's not as slick as reg. laminate-the grain stands out more but not as much as real wood.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am here in DFW and we just put in a pool. I think that will do that laminate in....
We have tile in the kitchen and then the laminate throughout the bottom floor.
This was a Spec house and a brand new floor btw....

The floor isn't that bad unless the light hits it "just right"....also that "beat up, rugged look"...
Never put that in! The flooring has "holes" now.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Had Pergo in the old house and had the slippery vs. dirty issue.

And I can tell you that it can be marred! It may not stain, but certain shoes and little boy toys like CARS, TRUCKS, and TRAINS with thier little rubbery wheels can wreak all kinds of havoc.

Also, why get fake when you can get the real thing? I like wood better.

Other than that, no problems at all. Ever.

 

[mamajoan]

We did top of the line Pergo, professionally installed in all rooms except the bedrooms... LOVED it. It can get water damaged... our washer leaked.. Pergo puffed up like a sponge. We had dogs.. no problem. It can be gouged... if you strike it with something heavy and sharp... ie claw hammer...

STAIRS.. we did the stairs.. it is EXPENSIVE... $100 installment fee for EACH stair step..... but it was worth it.

Cleaning... never had a problem.

We moved.. I miss Swiffering!!!! Dang that was easy.

New house has some wood and lots of carpet..... too new to change out now.

 

[jeanadave]

We love ours. We have a brand called "Alloc" and after 5 years and 3 indoor cats (with claws) and two dogs, nary a scratch! We do have a nick where DH dropped something sharp (I don't remember what it was).

 

[Regina]

We've had a laminate floor in our kitchen/family room for three years. it looks like wide wood planks. Our dogs haven't made a single scratch in it. I did put special tips on the bottoms of our kitchen chairs/table. There's not a mark on the floor, not even in heavy traffic areas. I love it.

The one thing that you have to be careful with is getting it wet. DH didn't realize that he created a slow leak in the water line to the ice-maker when he put the fridge back. It got under the floor and warped it. What's amazing is that once it completely dried out (which we were told could take 3 months), it was fine. He was one lucky hubby. I was ready to kill him.

 

[HERSEY]

I have Laminate in my downstairs. Kitchen, dining and living room areas. I wouldn't go back to carpet if you paid me. Yes I am a slave to my floors sweeping and mopping to keep up with the dog hair. I have 2 dogs.One is 50 lbs and the other 15 lbs. they run all over. I haven't had a scratch or any problems in 2 yrs.

 

[sewer]

I installed Pergo years ago, and ever with kids, it's held up very well!