Laminate flooring

snowball · 11-01-2009, 10:00 AM

I am looking at a laminate flooring for my laundry room which has a door to the outside that the dogs come in and out of. I was worried that the laminate floor would be slippery, especially when they come in with wet feet. I have a rug in front of the door now and try to dry feet there, but sometimes one dog will run through before I have a chance to dry! Currently we have vinyl that has pulled away from the wall and is in horrible condition. As I am getting a new washer and dryer, it seems like the perfect time to change the floor. My friend, the real estate agent, said not to put vinyl in as we are planning to sell when the market returns. I also looked into tile, but decided I liked the look and price of the laminate better.

I was wondering if anyone has a laminate floor and how they like it? I am not looking at the wood floor look, instead I like a pattern that looks like slate. I think the floor looks great, I just worry about how it will hold up and if the dogs will go sliding around.

lje62 · 11-01-2009, 10:41 AM

I have had laminate flooring for many years ( Pergo before it was even sold in this country ) It can be slippery for wet dog feet , but not too bad. You cannot get it too wet though, or it will curl up at the seems. I would be concerned about leaking from the washer , not wet feet

anothermom2 · 11-01-2009, 11:02 AM

A suggestion if you are re-doing the laundry. Put a drain in the floor if it is above a basement or other floor of your home. I had a few problems with washer overflow that damaged the floor and the finished basement. That said, with drain, I would put in ceramic or other similar tile or sheet vinyl in terms of maintenance. The sheet vinyl is not too expensive, and if the room is not big you might get a remnant. It is easy to clean. If there is no drain, sheet vinyl will buckle and come up if the washer leaks. Also the seams may split. There are large vinyl tiles that look nice that I have seen in home magazines (like 2 ft by 2 ft.)

snowball · 11-01-2009, 11:52 AM

While I have never had a washer leak, I know there is a first time for everything. It is my understanding that you can not have a floor drain with the laminate flooring; I don't know if the reason was giving, but I did read that. My laundry room is on slab, so a drain isn't an option anyway.

I also believe, but could be wrong, that there is so kind of sealant for the seams of the laminate. As far as the dogs, the floor won't get that wet; the laundry room is small and I wipe down the floor when they come in wet. I hope to not be in this house but a few more years, so if the floor will look good for resell, that is all I care about!

BunsenBurner · 11-01-2009, 11:57 AM

What about non-slippery tiles with epoxy grout? This grout needs no sealing, and the tile look is good. On the other hand, you will have to explain to the potential buyers that the grout does not need any maintenance.

littlegreenmom · 11-01-2009, 12:18 PM

I have commercial grade laminate flooring in my kitchen, my laundry, a bathroom and a hallway. It has been a terrific replacement for the vinyl flooring we had, previously. Easy to clean, not slippery and looks nice.

We don't have a drain in the floor in the laundry, so I cannot speak to that issue.

Ours has a 25 year warranty, and although after 5 years there are a few minor scratches where I was careless moving a piece of furniture that had debris under one of the legs, they are not noticeable. I actually rubbed in a bit of orange furniture wax in the scratch and it's not noticeable.

I spent a bit more for this particular laminate, but I am not sorry. It is exactly what I wanted and looks, and wears, fantastic.

emeraldkity4 · 11-01-2009, 12:25 PM

we had linoleum tile floors in the basement of my parents home that werent slippery, but I agree with the drain, if you don't have one.

I like concrete floors, many retail stores in our area are taking up their laminate and refinishing the cement.
Concrete Floors -The Concrete Network

Bullet · 11-01-2009, 02:56 PM

A suggestion, snowball. How about laminate flooring, but with a inlaid doormat next to the door (thinking one of those very sturdy straw mats)? Border around the inlay, replace the straw mat every year or so. This way you have the laminate floor, with a place for you and the pooches to wipe of the dirty, wet feet / paws when you first enter.

But to be brutally honest, I would be very hesitant to lay a laminate floor in a combination entry / mud room / laundry area. Way too much floor moisture; the floor would be ruined way in no time. I would check closely to see if the manufacturer's warranty would cover damage from moisture in that kind of room.

littlegreenmom · 11-01-2009, 03:01 PM

I was just thinking that region might make a big difference. Could a concrete slab crack if exposed to the below freezing temps, if in a mud room. Also, safety-wise. I slipped and fell on my concrete porch, tripping down a few stairs years ago when it got slippery. A laminate that works well for me in a mild weather zone, may not be so effective, elsewhere.

seiclan · 11-01-2009, 03:21 PM

I would go with a heavy duty ceramic tile, then put a nice looking but inexpensive carpet runner on it. It will help wipe the paws as the puppies pass by.

bookworm · 11-01-2009, 05:26 PM

WoW. I just put down deposit for engineered floors. I was told to keep my old-fashioned tile in laundry room, as laminate/engineered wood floors, don't like moisture. I also have a freezer in this little room. Yet, my g/f has Pergo in laundry room, and 8 years later, it is fine. So, find out about warrantee--what if w/d leaks? Is that covered by insurance?

snowball · 11-01-2009, 05:43 PM

I know several people that have laminate in their kitchen and have had no trouble with water damage by the sink. While I know the underside of a laminate floor shouldn't get wet, the top can handle the water. Think of all the years we had laminate counter tops; mine held up forever.

I don't plan on the floor to get soaked, just wet dog feet and a shake out here and there! I will have a carpet by the door and do wipe down after the dogs go in. With that said, I will investigate a bit more with the flooring company about how much moisture the floor can handle. Each laminate company says it is fine to use in bathrooms and laundry rooms; going as far as showing ideas for these rooms. While I should worry about a leaking washer, I am not going to worry too much about it. Maybe I will look into a washer pan, but maybe not.

sryrstress · 11-01-2009, 06:16 PM

I have had kitchen laminate flooring for 2.5 years that looks like gray slate tiles. I am very happy with it. It is also in a small 1/2 bath directly off the kitchen. It is Armstrong. They advise using consideration in a 1/2 bath, and not to use in a full bath. They recommend silicone sealant around the perimeter in a bath. Our installer did not do that, and we haven't had a problem, but we haven't had any leaks either.

A 1/4" expansion gap must be maintained around the entire perimeter of the floor (covered by woodwork or other trim). I assume that's why a floor drain won't work. For the same reason, they told us we couldn't do an in-laid area directly in front of the door. (that's what I wanted)

If you are not especially fond of mopping, the gray slate looking tiles are WONDERFUL! I sweep it twice a week on "bare floor" setting. I actually wash it with damp mop twice and year and it looks great. I had a white vinyl before and could mop it twice a week and it never looked good for more than a few minutes.

I have had washer leaks (mine's in basement), so the washer pan might be cheap insurance. Make sure you have a competent installer who is familiar with installing laminate flooring. Good luck!

anxiousmom · 11-01-2009, 09:57 PM

We've had pergo for about 6 years and love it. (click and press stuff). The only mistake we made was laying some down in the bathroom, and we didn't get teh toilet seal right so it leaked and the pergo around the toilet began to swell. Removed the pergo from the bathroom and put in ceramic tile. My dog does fine on the pergo, muddy feet and all.

snowball · 11-03-2009, 11:41 AM

Now I am really confused. My flooring guy came out to measure and to give me a price on refinishing my current hardwood floors. He suggested I go ahead and put hardwood in the laundry room since it is right off the kitchen entry hall. It makes sense to go with the wood so it would match the rest of the floor. I know I still have the concern of water leaking, but that is also an issue in the kitchen with the ice maker, dishwasher and sink. I have had hardwood floors for 15 years without a problem and I slouch water everywhere at the sink.

I might be crazy, but I am leaning towards the hardwood.