As for laminate being inferior I think that is not really accurate I have laminate that looks exactly like slate it is even textured with 2 big dogs and grand kids in and out of the pool it has stood the test of time. As for laying laminate in herringbone pattern it can be done just google pics of it and I am sure there is a youtube showing how it will be a pain though so maybe make sure you are up to the challenge and a lot of time to layout the pattern if it is going into multple spaces.
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Laminate herringbone
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