I am just as nervous as I am excited about installing laminate flooring into my entire upper floor. I was hoping to find some feedback from others who have installed. I am not concerned with the ease, seems very user friendly, however wear; a family of spillers concerns me with the liquid seeping into the click together seams of the floating (no glue) floors. Anyone out there with experience on this issue?

 

These kinds of floors are not friends with water. They clean with a slightly damp mop only and any spill will easily cause the top laminate surface at the seams to bubble up when the base material becomes saturated. I have experienced this myself just from mopping with too wet a mop. If you are concerned about liquid spills I would consider something different such as something pre finished that is made of real wood material whether solid or engineered, and which as long as it is wiped off soon after a spill will likely not cause any immediate damage though all wood will do strange things if water is left on it to sit between the seams for any extended period of time. As attractive as wood floors are, in your situation you will still need to balance out the look with the practicality of your family situation no matter what kind of wood floor you install.

 

Thank you, equinox, for just the input I was looking for. I would have hated to find that out after the expense and work.

 

All I can do is second Equinox's comments. To further it, you may have grown quickly disenchanted with the clacky sound the floor would make. Some people it doesn't bother, but me? Sound is as irritating as fingernails on a chalkboard
Look into a good engineered floor, 5/8" thick. They come in click lock and are super to install.