Flooring options - need recommendations and opinions

[MaytagMan]

Looking for experience, input, and recommendations…

I had a tiny frig leak that caused a big issue. Water got under the existing super low-grade laminate in an adjoining room and with the damage, it is all going to have to come up and I’m going to need to replace about 500 sf of flooring on a slab.

It will be in dining room/family room area so no direct prolonged moisture, and there will not be a ton of foot traffic, no pets, and there will be rugs in the family room and under the dining room table.

I would love to consider getting the existing slab resurfaced in the brown color family to match the room and polished, but I imagine that is super expensive so that is out.

I’m looking into either a high grade laminate or lvp.

Ease of installation would be a plus since I’m planning to do it but otherwise does anyone have any thoughts, opinions, or experiences with either?

And if so, and manufacturers to consider or avoid?


I’ve look at consumer reports and such, but I’d like real info from real people too…


Thanks for your input!!!

 

[Jakethesnake]

 

[Jakethesnake]

I’ve done a right good bit of this stuff. I like and recommend the vinyl plank. Some of this stuff in these pictures is laminate If there’s any chance whatsoever of moisture. Go vinyl. Few years ago I got a call from a guy who had an issue with a floor that I installed a year earlier. A mouse had chewed a hole in an ice maker line and it ruined the whole kitchen floor. Had a call back on a laundry room floor where the washing machine hose leaked and ruined that room. None of it my fault and everyone was cool But at this point if there’s a water source (sink, hot water heater, etc) I won’t put laminate down. As far as brand names honestly if it’s in your home it’s not gonna see the traffic that a store or something would so I don’t have a preference. I’ve used several different brands and I’m not sure I’ve ever used the same brand twice.

you could do some research and see what has the thicker actual face if any of that matters to you. Again you’re not gonna have the foot traffic that the entrance of Walmart for example is gonna have

 

[Jakethesnake]

Basically all of this stuff installs similar. I like the stuff with the padding already on the back side of the actual plank. The vinyl ones you can usually score it with a utility knife two or three times then lay it on the side of a speed square (triangle looking thing) and bang it with your hand and it will break clean. (Much easier to deal with)

when you get your plank lay them out if they have a varying pattern because it’ll look funny if you put two of the same planks down Like if you’re using a natural wood look. You don’t want one with the same knot pattern directly across from each other.
I open 5/6 boxes and study them and lay them in piles of same pieces.

another thing you should do before you begin laying it down is take a measurement across the room in the direction you’re going and see how much each piece covers. Just so you don’t end up with the last piece along the wall when you’re finished being like one inch wide. What I’m trying to explain is you may want to rip your first piece when you start against the wall just to make sure the last pieces against the opposite wall when you’re finishing up is still a nice sized piece

 

[Jakethesnake]

In one of those pictures you see that little metal tool that’s bent on each end. You prolly wanna get one of those if the flooring type you get is sorta younger and groove. (Some you just bang down on with a rubber mallet, in that case you wouldn’t need one)

 

[Jakethesnake]

Trying to better explain as I’m piss poor at explaining things. You may also know all these things already but I’ve had some people help me on big jobs and it was like teaching a toddler to walk so not sure what your skill level is on this type situation

 

[Jakethesnake]

They also make some of this stuff that’s cut in different lengths in the box. I hated it. I like all the planks to be the same length. I put it down in a church It made my brain hurt a little bit. It’s in the picture with the open boxes you can kinda notice it if you really study the picture. Of course there’s not one box right side up so you can’t see the name brand

@highsierrasmokin' you install any of this stuff?

 

[MaytagMan]

Wow thanks so much for the pics and all the info - it really helps out a lot! I am liking the LVP the more I see and read about them.

 

[Jakethesnake]

Wow thanks so much for the pics and all the info - it really helps out a lot! I am liking the LVP the more I see and read about them.

I’m oddly doing another one right now. Started yesterday This brand seems to go together a little bit more difficult than some but I don’t hate it

 

[Jakethesnake]

Not sure what’s going on with the pictures but seems like if you click them it’ll show. Flooring cutter is nice but for doing your own house I wouldn’t spend the money.

 

[Jakethesnake]

I would recommend some knee pads. Little hard on the knees crawling around all day

 

[Alwayslit]

I would recommend some knee pads. Little hard on the knees crawling around all day

This without a doubt. They are worth their weight in gold.

 

[Alwayslit]

Mine sucks


View attachment 181677

View attachment 181678

....and yeah. Avoid this guy's flooring.

 

[MaytagMan]

Every forum or blog post I read all have different brand preferences... And what do you think - should I look to Consumer Reports as a reliable source of ratings, or would I pretty much be good with any major name brand if I get their higher end flooring?

 

[Jakethesnake]

Every forum or blog post I read all have different brand preferences... And what do you think - should I look to Consumer Reports as a reliable source of ratings, or would I pretty much be good with any major name brand if I get their higher end flooring?

In my opinion if you stick with the higher end it’s all pretty much similar I’ve installed a lot of different ones and honestly it’s all about the same. Haven’t been called back on any of the vinyl

 

[Jakethesnake]

If you’re going around a door frame I round my cuts so the trim that’s already there will cover

 

[highsierrasmokin']

They also make some of this stuff that’s cut in different lengths in the box. I hated it. I like all the planks to be the same length. I put it down in a church It made my brain hurt a little bit. It’s in the picture with the open boxes you can kinda notice it if you really study the picture. Of course there’s not one box right side up so you can’t see the name brand

@highsierrasmokin' you install any of this stuff?

Yeah I've installed solid wood flooring, laminate, vinyl, and also been around concrete slabs that have been polished, stained and sealed.

Bill, if you do it yourself prepare for one hell of a workout. Like Jake said, get some knee pads.
When I floored the house I built, which was the last floor I did, we just bought Lifeproof. It was much cheaper and held up well to 5 dogs.
There are so many options though, that it can be mind bending.
I would get a price on getting the slab sanded, polished, stained and sealed. In my opinion it looks amazing, and it obviously can handle anything you throw at it.
It can't hurt to get an estimate.

 

[Alwayslit]

Don't skimp on the knee pads. They're not just for flooring.

 

[highsierrasmokin']

Don't skimp on the knee pads. They're not just for flooring.

I recommend the ones that look similar to a knee brace with a plastic piece and strap above the knee...aka Hinged knee pads
I've tried them all and these are the only ones that DO NOT roll over on you. They stay in place and are very comfortable.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/PROLOCK-Flooring-Knee-Pads/1002664798

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Klein-Tools-Heavy-Duty-Hinged-Knee-Pads/5014306389

The Prolocks are just a hard plastic and slide on the floor easy which I like.
Klein makes one that has just hard plastic and another(the one in the link above) that has soft rubber on top of the hard plastic which I'm not a fan of because you can't slide around on them.
Most important they won't roll and hurt your knee caps like all other pads do.

 

[MaytagMan]

Yeah I've installed solid wood flooring, laminate, vinyl, and also been around concrete slabs that have been polished, stained and sealed.

Bill, if you do it yourself prepare for one hell of a workout. Like Jake said, get some knee pads.
When I floored the house I built, which was the last floor I did, we just bought Lifeproof. It was much cheaper and held up well to 5 dogs.
There are so many options though, that it can be mind bending.
I would get a price on getting the slab sanded, polished, stained and sealed. In my opinion it looks amazing, and it obviously can handle anything you throw at it.
It can't hurt to get an estimate.

Yeah the more of a workout this is sounding like the less attractive it is lol! I’m going to have to figure out what extra tools etc I’ll need and compare that to the price of having it installed and see if the differential is worth my sanity and soreness. At least ai have the new frig in place on the other side of the wall so there’s that.

I’ll definitely price out the refinishing.

And then I run i to the fact that there is another room on the other side of the kitchen that it would make total sense to take out the carpet and put flooring there to match as well…. And I’m thinking I should do both now or at least buy the material so it is all from the same lot.

This is a terrible rabbit hole hahaha!


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