Cheap Laminate Flooring Advisable in a Kitchen?

mskeggs on 01/08/2017 - 23:54

We are considering a few cheap renovations prior to selling our house in the next year or two.
One item is replacing the curling up vinyl flooring in the kitchen. The surface under the lino is about half concrete and half floorboards, and not perfectly level.
Interested in the experiences of people who have used cheap laminate in kitchen areas.
I figure laminate can cope with occasional spilled water if it is mopped up reasonably swiftly, but will warp if a dishwasher leaks or other major incident.

If I am wrong and you laid laminate that looks crap after 12 months, let me know!

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Emerald Owl on 02/08/2017 - 04:22
    +1

    Well when I was building my house, everyone I talked to said all forms of hardwood and laminate are unacceptable for wet areas and that if you really want it the look, get the tiles that look like timber.

    • whooah1979 on 02/08/2017 - 10:34

      everyone I talked to said all forms of hardwood and laminate are unacceptable for wet areas

      These people must have been people that knows little about flooding.

  • xoom on 02/08/2017 - 06:13
    +2

    Wood in kitchen is a bad idea. Kitchen floors will get wet. Sometimes with hot liquids. This is bound to ruin the wood. Go tiles.

    • whooah1979 on 02/08/2017 - 10:32

      Laminated tiles are waterproof. Sealed timber floors are waterproof.

      • Looking4Bargians on 02/08/2017 - 10:40

        let me correct you, my friend, Laminate tiles are water resistance, not water proof. Vinyl Planks are water proof.

        • whooah1979 on 02/08/2017 - 10:44

          I was waiting for someone to say that. You're more than welcome to come by and have cup of dirty water with us. We can then pour a cup on the floor, sit and watch it dry.

          Mind you it may take a few hours depending on the ambient temperature.

        • Looking4Bargians on 02/08/2017 - 10:46

          @whooah1979: You must have Vinyl planks and someone sold you by saying that they are laminates.

        • whooah1979 on 02/08/2017 - 10:52

          @ozyboy:

          Nope. A friend owns a business importing timber flooring from euro and Asia. Laminated tiles, real bamboo tiles and some other stuff. We chose commercial grade laminated tiles.

          You can drop by their showroom in Sydney . They'll be more than happy to give you a demonstration.

  • whooah1979 on 02/08/2017 - 06:37
    +2

    laminate tiles are engineered from scratch. the tiles are waterproof on the laminate and water resistant between the tiles. you can save money by diy as they're easy to install.

    another diy option is vinyl.

  • chumlee on 02/08/2017 - 07:03
    +3

    If you are selling just do it. They will last well beyond the timeframe you need.

    I have timber floorboards in my kitchen and my previous house had timber floors in the kitchen. Lots of family and friends have timber floors in their kitchen too with no issues. Just seal them and their fine.

    All flooring products have pros and cons and none are perfect

  • empty456 on 02/08/2017 - 07:55
    +1

    We are in the same boat and have decided on luxury vinyl tile. We chose the ones that can click together just like laminate. They can be laid directly over the sheet vinyl (ours isn't in a dire state).

  • slow on 02/08/2017 - 08:25
    +1

    Sealed timber is fine as no water can get in.

    The click lock stuff not so good as water gets in the gaps.

    A friend redid their house with laminate a year ago and it is already cupping in the kitchen. I did a room in bamboo last year. There was a water spill that got left for a few weeks (we were away) and it ruined the floor with some serious cupping

    • John Kimble on 02/08/2017 - 08:40
      +1

      Hmmm, I thought cupping was an entirely different thing…

      • airzone on 02/08/2017 - 11:49
        +1

        You would think that something as innocuous as "Oven Mitt" could only mean one thing… But you'd be wrong.

  • John Kimble on 02/08/2017 - 08:50
    +1

    We bought our unit that already had below installed. It looked newish/okay then, but now looks a bit tired/stained after a few years. We plan to redo the kitchen anyway.

    Good thing about it is it is all one piece at least, so less chance of water getting through.

    Something similar might be an option for you as per chumlee's argument.

    https://www.bunnings.com.au/senso-essential-3m-wide-damier-b…

  • [Deactivated] on 02/08/2017 - 09:06
    +1

    If you only need it to last 12 months to facilitate the sale, just get new vinyl … it'll give the room a fresh look, it's cheap and it'll be fine for a few years.

    Laminate/timber/vinyl aren't great for a kitchen. They get damaged easily with knifes falling, glass breaking, etc. Tiles are the way to go for durability.

  • The tiger on 02/08/2017 - 09:38
    +1

    I had my kitchen floor laminated with vynle tiles some ten years ago. The installer is an old guy who did the job beautifully. I remember allin it costs me some $1,800.-in a resonance size .It is still beautiful with occasionally mopping clean by my old lady.

  • TheBilly on 02/08/2017 - 10:13
    +1

    I have cheap laminate flooring that I mop weekly out of a bucket (not in kitchen), have had no issues. Theoretically, no you shouldn't, practically, you are selling the house so who cares.

  • johninmelb on 02/08/2017 - 13:43
    +1

    I have laminate floating floor in my kitchen/dining area, and also in the laundry.

    It was laid 12 years ago. No problems at all with it other than the fact that the wood is soft, and it has a few superficial dents from stool legs etc. It was inexpensive timber flooring from good old Frank Walker of National Tiles!

    I am well aware putting it in the laundry was not a good idea, but as it joined to the kitchen, it made sense to put it all the way thru for asthetic reasons.

    Have to admit I didn't expect it to last this long, but I treat it carefully. At some point I hope to find the money to replace it with something else, but for the time being it serves it's purpose and looks good.

  • Stewardo on 02/08/2017 - 19:24

    Vinyl planks from bunnings are ok looking, waterproof and easy to install, I'd avoid laminate. It looks and sounds cheap, takes money off resale, lots of people put laminate down in apartments in Sydney, bad DIY looks horrible.

  • noobie123 on 03/08/2017 - 12:42

    Has anyone had any experience using these or something similar? We're considering them as a possible option for the apartment.

    http://www.harveynorman.com.au/brands/allure

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join