Laminate floors, which is the best
#1
04-02-01, 08:31 PM
I planning on putting a laminate floor in my kitchen. I was wondering with so many brands on the market, if anyone has rated all the brands. I am looking for a tile/ceramic look for the floor, not the wood planks. I found some made by WilsonArt and Armstrong. It will be laid over a vinyl floor. If anyone can help in suggesting which brands are the best, I would appreciate it. Thanks!
#2
04-03-01, 02:51 AM
Dp:
You've mentioned one of the best and one of the worst as far as ease of installation. I'm sure Fred has some opinions as well, but Wilsonart in my opinion is one of the finest ones out there and Armstrong for some reason is a bear to install. I have experience with 10 or so brands and just recently did some 800 square feet of Armstrong. Perhaps it was a bad batch, but I had to struggle in trying to keep the floor "tight" with the use of strap clamps.
You've mentioned one of the best and one of the worst as far as ease of installation. I'm sure Fred has some opinions as well, but Wilsonart in my opinion is one of the finest ones out there and Armstrong for some reason is a bear to install. I have experience with 10 or so brands and just recently did some 800 square feet of Armstrong. Perhaps it was a bad batch, but I had to struggle in trying to keep the floor "tight" with the use of strap clamps.
#3
04-03-01, 06:56 AM
Ken's observation about "loose" joints of Armstrong are interesting. The glueless product is made to the Valinge patent which professes that "loose is good". The idea is that expansion takes place from plank to plank by allowing the joints to open and close. I, for one, am not real warm and fuzzy on that idea. I don't know how that effects the glue type Armstrong or the conceptual thinking of the manufacturer. You didn't say glue or glueless so I don't know your thinking. I too feel that Wilsonart is top drawer in a glue type laminate flooring.
#4
04-03-01, 12:35 PM
Fred:
This was a glued type Armstrong installation and I swear many of the boards were not straight. I had the first three rows straight as an arrow with no gappage. But then as the installation continued I had to put extra pressure(more than desired) on the corresponding boards to keep it tight. Still had some minor gappage but luckily the floor was a dark color...hehe.
End joints were tight as well and some wouldn't close up with a tapping block. Unless this is an isolated incident, I cannot see how any DIY'er can install this laminate without a nasty struggle.
This was a glued type Armstrong installation and I swear many of the boards were not straight. I had the first three rows straight as an arrow with no gappage. But then as the installation continued I had to put extra pressure(more than desired) on the corresponding boards to keep it tight. Still had some minor gappage but luckily the floor was a dark color...hehe.
End joints were tight as well and some wouldn't close up with a tapping block. Unless this is an isolated incident, I cannot see how any DIY'er can install this laminate without a nasty struggle.
#5
04-03-01, 02:58 PM
Thank you for responding so quickly. My plan is to have an installer put in the floor and being a kitchen floor, it will be glued. My kitchen is a high traffic area and I want to get the best laminated flooring for the traffic. I know there are many brands available, but, did not know if any one had rated all laminate flooring from best to worst.
Thanks.
Thanks.
#6
04-04-01, 09:22 AM
I guess this is why.....
On my recent post (Good News!) you replied and asked why I chose Decades laminates tile....First of all, I'm a woman. 
That should explain enuf, but i will go on....I chose their product over Wilsonart primarily because Wilsonart did not have an exact color I was hoping to find...one that made me say "Yep, this is it"! Also, I really wanted grout lines....realistic looking grout lines. I found it in the Shaw Decades Textures product. But the main thing I liked about it,the more I thought about it, was that it is textured....not a slick smooth feel. I do not know if any other tile laminates have that quality,(because obviously I quit looking once I found this!), but I sure like it. As far as I know, Shaw has three different types of laminates. The typical wood look, a tile-look which is not textured, and the textured-tile line. (Isnt it great that we have so many to choose from!!) In contrast....on the Wilsonart I had installed in my living area, I like the smooth slick feeling. (Go figure....like I said... I'm a woman) By reading a few posts on here, I see that many people agree Wilsonart is a reputable line. My installer has been at it for 10 years. He said that in his opinion, Wilsonart repeatedly has the best quality laminates. I also want to add....a few months back I read a negative post on here about Shaw laminates, which even resulted in a court battle! But that wasnt enought to sway me from geting the tile I liked. Yet, to protect myself, I had an agreement with my flooring contractor that he would guarantee the product, in the event I was not satisfied for any reason. ((Happily, all is well.)) I guess that just goes to prove that every mfg. can have bad days, flawed products, and thus have happy/unhappy customers, huh? Good luck to ya!
That should explain enuf, but i will go on....I chose their product over Wilsonart primarily because Wilsonart did not have an exact color I was hoping to find...one that made me say "Yep, this is it"! Also, I really wanted grout lines....realistic looking grout lines. I found it in the Shaw Decades Textures product. But the main thing I liked about it,the more I thought about it, was that it is textured....not a slick smooth feel. I do not know if any other tile laminates have that quality,(because obviously I quit looking once I found this!), but I sure like it. As far as I know, Shaw has three different types of laminates. The typical wood look, a tile-look which is not textured, and the textured-tile line. (Isnt it great that we have so many to choose from!!) In contrast....on the Wilsonart I had installed in my living area, I like the smooth slick feeling. (Go figure....like I said... I'm a woman) By reading a few posts on here, I see that many people agree Wilsonart is a reputable line. My installer has been at it for 10 years. He said that in his opinion, Wilsonart repeatedly has the best quality laminates. I also want to add....a few months back I read a negative post on here about Shaw laminates, which even resulted in a court battle! But that wasnt enought to sway me from geting the tile I liked. Yet, to protect myself, I had an agreement with my flooring contractor that he would guarantee the product, in the event I was not satisfied for any reason. ((Happily, all is well.)) I guess that just goes to prove that every mfg. can have bad days, flawed products, and thus have happy/unhappy customers, huh? Good luck to ya!
#8
06-06-01, 06:17 PM
I had the flooring install in May and so far I am really happy with it. I did end up getting the Shaw Decades Textures laminate floor. It looks like ceramic tiles. The installation went with no problems. I had looked at almost all the brands I could find. What I liked most about Shaws was the texture verses the smooth surfaces of the other brands. I did not want the wood look in my kitchen and I needed something to lighten the room. And this flooring did it for me. I did spend a lot of time taking samples home to see how it would look and I am glad the floor store was very patience with me. Thanks.
