On the fence about vinyl plank flooring

9 years ago

I'm completely redoing a small kitchen (10x10 feet) in a vacation home. The house was built in the mid seventies and hasn't seen much updating since then.

I am trying to decide what to do for the floor in the kitchen. Originally I wanted to do engineered hardwood, but the kitchen floor extends into the laundry room (which also contains the hot water heater). Putting hardwood in a utility/laundry room seems ill advised, and now I'm trying to decide: do I put hardwood in the kitchen and vinyl in the laundry, or spring for a high end vinyl plank that looks like wood and put it in both?

The sample vinyl planks look good, but I'm worried I'll feel differently once it's filling up my kitchen.

Anyone have buyers remorse over theirs? If engineered hardwood is in my budget, is it worth the hassle to do two different floors?

Featured Answer

PRO

Marroquin Construction Corporation

9 years ago

LVP is a great product. However the underlayment must be
flawless to achieve great results. Pattern transfer at plywood seams or pock
marks in a concrete foundation will ruin an otherwise good install. Prep work
is key.

Comments (12)

PRO
Marroquin Construction Corporation
9 years ago

Coronado Guest Quarters · More Info
Related Discussions
Flooring for top floor apartment
Q
Comments (6)
I would suggest you start by looking at your lease. Old leases tend to say no laminate or wooden floor, or that you can only have carpets except in kitchen / bathroom. Modern leases often suggest a floor covering that doesn't exceed a specific decibel transmission rate. This opens up other coverings such as wood or laminate as you can use them in conjunction with an acoustic underlay, which will keep the noise levels down to a specified minimum,
...See More
Vinyl vs. Laminate
Q
Comments (21)
Rigid core LVT is likely to become the next generation of LVTs. Solid (less likely to suffer indentations), more stable (less likely to expand and contract in extreme conditions, such as conservatories), more forgiving to the small subfloor imperfections (small dips and raises in a subfloor can be soaked up by rigid core) indicate to this style becoming very popular. Those that know, know. Those that don't will pooh-pooh the product. That's why you've had varying opinions, Pavan. Rigid core is more than likely to be more expensive than traditional 2.5mm dry back LVT, though. For some installations rigid core LVT will be over engineered. Just depends on the type of installation you are about to embark on and also the aesthetics. Do you like the design look of the rigid core? We're cute, we're cuddly… we're the Flooring Gurus!
...See More
vinyl flooring in a bedroom??
Q
Comments (13)
Cushion vinyl and underlay is big NO, Tani. Lots of sponginess going on, making the cushion vinyl susceptible to puncturing. Cushion vinyl over the top of what you have described your subfloor to be is possible but the subfloor will need preparing. No gaps, no screw holes… all needs filling. If you don't you will quickly see the unevenness "grinning" through your vinyl. If you use underlay and if you do not prepare your subfloor correctly you will void any manufacturing warranties that come with the cushion vinyl. Click LVT is possible. If the subfloor isn't too bad you could float the click LVT straight over the top, No gluing or screwing necessary and you could enhance the walking experience by using a recommended underlay. It make the flooring softer when walking on and will dramatically reduce sound, too. Back to your other project on discussion on Houzz Tani, we asked you about where you went for your Projectline but we've not yet heard from you. It would really help us (for future works) if we knew. e: headhoncho@flooringmegastore.co.uk … if you would be kind enough! Thanks ever so much, Tani.
...See More
Cost to lay 70 sq mt vinyl planks
Q
Comments (2)
Hello Helen, That's a very good question and I can certainly help with guiding you on costings. The Expona Design range from Polyflor is a perfect choice by the way. So firstly, no installer will be able to give you an exact costing on how much it will be to lay your Expona without making a site visit first. Installing Luxury Vinyl Tiles like the Expona comes down to the condition of the subfloor and if there's any repair work needed. Presuming the subfloor is concrete and it required work I would advise a per sq rate of screeding at £6.00. Then to actually lay the floor I would advise between £15.00 and £20.00 per sq metre. So, to recap: £6 x 70 = £420.00 (subfloor preparation) £20 x 70 = £1,400 (laying the floor, based on a worse-case scenario) Please do let me know where abouts you are in the UK and we may be able to help you with sourcing an installer for the project. We have a direct account with Polyflor too so if you're still in the quoting stages for your new floor I am more than happy to provide you with costings on the floor too. Please to do hesitate to ask and I will gladly assist. All the very best, Christian - a Flooring Guru!
...See More
Kelly Maguire
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks. One thing I can't figure out: glue down vs floating. It looks like a lot of what's available in my local big box store is floating. I understand that with floating tile things like my base cabinets need to be installed first. With glue down can I do the whole rectangular floor and then just put the base cabinets on top?
Anne Burgess
9 years ago
What about transitions between other rooms (say, with carpeting?). I've read that thresholds can be an issue.
PRO
Marroquin Construction Corporation
9 years ago
I have found that properly installed one piece transition
strips hold up well. A level surface, (6) screws minimum on the hold down tracks per
36” are key to achieve a proper bond. The “All In One” adjustable profile units tend
to be flimsy and to delaminate on the seams or fray at the ends. If the application
permits me I will use solid wood transition strips over other materials.
72242
9 years ago
I love the high-end vinyl planks we installed in our kitchen--I wouldn't use wood in the kitchen as it could be damaged by a water leak. My only concern is that it can get scratched. My 97 year old mother leans on her walker and has put scratch marks into the floor (we now have tennis balls on the feet that aren't wheels to avoid this). Also, be careful that chairs don't have rough feet--one of these also scratched our floor (assume someone heavy moved it while sitting on it). I do think real wood is hardier, especially since it can be refinished (and scratches/dings can add character and look OK), but wouldn't put in kitchen, bath, laundry, or other rooms that might be subject to flooring from a leaky pipe, etc. (Our kitchen flooded prior to the new flooring when a rat ate a hole in our pvc kitchen drain line, which caused the water, etc., we were putting down the kitchen sink to leak through the wall/cabinets onto the kitchen floor--we thought the dishwasher was leaking! Lucky for us that we really don't use our garbage disposal (we recycle most food stuff).)
km kane
9 years ago
If you can afford real wood, finished in place, then do that. The thin veneer layers of the floors-in-a-box don't hold up so well. (see note about mom's walker above)
PRO
Fantastic Floors
9 years ago
My preference would be for a nice Vinyl plank - I would NEVER put hardwood in a laundry room. A good LVP would be just fine with moms walker ;)
miacometlady
9 years ago
It perfectly acceptable to have wood in kitchen and tile or laminate in laundry. In fact I'd have some fun in laundry and install a checkerboard!
PRO
Fantastic Floors
9 years ago
The checkerboard looks fun =)
Kelly Maguire
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks everyone. We decided to go with floating vinyl plank for now. Down the line we may decide to do the whole house in engineered hardwood - but not today - so I decided wanted something that isn't going to be a nightmare to remove in 5 years. It took us 3 days to get out all the staples from the old kitchen flooring!
km kane
9 years ago
Kelly, sounds like a good choice. And miacometlady had a good optional idea too. Fantastic Floors- HA! I just covered my entire home, except for the shower area, (and yes, including the laundry) with finished-in-place quarter sawn oak. Why be so darned frightened? That's what insurance is for. Ok so it's not a vacation home, the laundry is right off the main hallway, the house is new, and I absolutely abhor transitions between rooms. Call me crazy but I loves me my solid flooring. Totally makes the home.

On the fence about vinyl plank flooring

Marroquin Construction Corporation

Comments (12)

Marroquin Construction Corporation

Related Discussions

Kelly Maguire
Original Author

Anne Burgess

Marroquin Construction Corporation

72242

km kane

Fantastic Floors

miacometlady

Fantastic Floors

Kelly Maguire
Original Author

km kane

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

On the fence about vinyl plank flooring

Comments (12)

Related Discussions

Kelly MaguireOriginal Author

Kelly MaguireOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Kelly Maguire
Original Author

Kelly Maguire
Original Author