Do you have laminate floors?

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

I mean the commonly available snap together plank type?

Did you do it, or have it done?

How long ago?

How is it holding up?


I've been in two places recently that have had it for years. One self done home and one professionally done office. Both are separated both on the long and short sides. Some places just barely, other places well over a 1/4 inch.

I never really considered it due to cost and the slippery surface, but after seeing those, definitely not.

 

[jmagg]

I've never used laminate plank, but I'd assume that dips in the subfloor would cause separation over time.

 

[Greenman]

Had laminate in my house for years. 4 kids, a dog, and cat. It held up extremely well. When I remodeled the kitchen I pulled up the laminate, replaced the cabinets and then put the old laminate back down.

If you need inexpensive and durable flooring, nothing beats it. If you have kids and dogs it's the material to use.

 

[Greenman]

I've never used laminate plank, but I'd assume that dips in the subfloor would cause separation over time.

You're supposed to fix dips and humps before you install it.

 

[jmagg]

You're supposed to fix dips and humps before you install it.

Obv, but its a cheap cover up many times.

 

[Greenman]

Obv, but its a cheap cover up many times.

Indeed it is.
My point is that installed correctly it's a perfectly good budget flooring.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I have it in my kitchen. Replaced a bunch of cracked tile. I got the stuff that looks like fake tile, since the rest of the house is real wood and fake wood would look... weird. It actually looks pretty nice. Looks like the real deal if you squint a little, but it's softer and not as cold in the winter.

It's fine, is holding up well so far. (Just a year.) It wasn't cheap - like $9/sqft. But the install was easy and it's waterproof forever - no grout, no sealing, finishing, etc.

I put down a layer of plywood and flush-screwed it to all the subfloor planking. (Planks, not boards - it's an old house.) So I had a nice even surface.

Carefully lock each plank together as you go - don't expect the next board to "fix" the last one by locking it in. If a plank won't lock to another one, set it aside and get a fresh one.

Sweep under each plank as you go/install and make 110% sure there's no debris - a friend of mine had it installed in their place and theres a couple bumps where... there's something under there and the plank formed itself around it. Prying it up and replacing the damaged planks is on our long-term to-do list.

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

Either that or the plank is damaged and delaminating. And no, they are not fully waterproof. If water (like a leaking icemaker line) is allowed to set for long, it will soak in and ruin the plank.

 

[Greenman]

Either that or the plank is damaged and delaminating. And no, they are not fully waterproof. If water (like a leaking icemaker line) is allowed to set for long, it will soak in and ruin the plank.

Not if it's LVT, that stuff is completely waterproof.

 

[IGBT]

Had laminate in my house for years. 4 kids, a dog, and cat. It held up extremely well. When I remodeled the kitchen I pulled up the laminate, replaced the cabinets and then put the old laminate back down.

If you need inexpensive and durable flooring, nothing beats it. If you have kids and dogs it's the material to use.

My neighbor has Laminate plank flooring with some kind of shock absorbing backing on a concrete slab home. Holding up exceptionally well after 6 years and they have four dogs and kids / grand kids. The only complaint is not the flooring but the 1/8 inch decomposed granite / clay landscape covering that sticks to your shoes and scratches the laminate. Use 1/4 inch decomposed granite / clay or 1/2inch gold granite landscaping if you have a choice. Something that won't stick to your shoes and scratch the floor...

 

[skyking]

We have similar experience as @Greenman , about 15 years and the plank joints are just as tight as day 1. It has some dents and dings and scratches but we have been abusing it the whole time.
Same thing as he says. I took the belt sander to high spots and rock hard to low spots and made it smooth to my 4' level. No issues or squeaks.