I am new on this forum. I am interested in laminated flooring and need help in selecting a brand. Are there any brands that are better than another? I have looked at Dupont and Pergo. Dupont has the backing attached, Pergo does not.
These two have a very thin wear surface. It appears almost as a picture with wood grain embossed. Do these types of floors hold up well or should I go with an actual wood surface?
Thanks for any suggestions.
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Replies
Laminate floors hold up surprisingly well. After having them for a couple of years, I could not even find marks under the kitchen chairs nor near the door to the garage.
I used Wilsonart and was very happy. I thought it would be better than Pergo because the Wilsonart had laminate on the back side as well and I felt that it should be more stable.
Most manufacturers have different quality lines, so you will see differences depending on what you select.
I installed Pergo four years ago and it still looks brand new today. The stuff is incredibly durable. Two comments if you don't mind:
1) be sure and put down the "cushion stuff" underneath the flooring. I'm not talking about the roofing material, they sell it at HD. I think it's like 1/8" thick...well...cushiony stuff. The experts here probably know what it is. But it sure seems to make a difference in how it feels when you walk on it.
2) I don't want to open up a whole can of worms but my opinion, after (as a DIY'er) having installed Pergo and the real 3/4" hardwood - I much prefer the real hardwood.
Good luck to you!
- Rob
I installed Pergo in my living room and library about 5 years ago. It wears like iron and looks as if I installed yesterday. Just a quick damp mop and you are good to go. I installed the best quality residential Pergo that was glued at the joints. I do not recommend the quick snap together flooring. I have seen the seems open and close with climate changes. I have also seen the cheap laminate flooring (Knock off stufff the big boxes sell) and let me tell you it looks cheap and installs even worse. If you do go with laminate flooring, get the best.
Now with all that said. I am in the middle of a large remodel at my home and guess what.... The pergo is going and real wood will replace it. It's all about what the wife likes, and with all the positive attributes of laminate floors, she never was happy with the look of the laminate floor. She wants real wood, and I have to agree with her, Nothing looks like real wood.
Forgot to mention.. If you do decide to go with a laminate floor I highly recommed using Pergo's Silent step underlayment. DO NOT buy it from HD. They are selling a knock off version that looks like it and sells for about the same price, but believe me it is NOT the same. It is complete garbage. Go to a real flooring store. You will not regret it.
Edited 2/19/2005 8:06 am ET by GaryJR
An architect friend of mine said he feels an unattractive feature of laminate flooring is "It sounds like this when you walk on it" as he tapped his finger nails on a plastic laminate counter top. In other words, you hear the click, click, click of walking on plastic (probably while wearing hard sole shoes) instead of the comforting, deeper sound of a solid wood floor. Perhaps the underlayment products suggested by others solve this?
Doc I have been in home remodeling for about 14 years and that aside from about 12 other technical years,I was impressed by the construction of Kronotex,a German made flooring, the core is of a definitely denser construction than Armstrong or some others,it also has a laminate on the back comes in several grades and lots of colors. Visit http://www.kronotex.com I don't reccomend any flooring like this that has the pad on it,as if it comes off it will bunch up and cause a bad belly in the floor,I feel a large 36" or 48" padded sheet laid perpendicular to the flooring is best,For good measures, on concrete ground floor installs always use a poly barrier first.If you are interested in the Kronotex look me up here and I'll ask my dealer how you can get supplied...
SCRIBE ONCE CUT ONCE!
Here is the US website.http://www.kronotexusa.com/And it looks like Lowes handles it, at least in my area.