Laminate floor in kitchen?

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Looking at having a wood look laminate floor in our kitchen and entry. We are hearing mixed reviews about using laminate in the kitchen. Some are saying it will buckle if it gets at all wet. It's not the cheap stuff we are looking at.

Thoughts?

[slammer]

Most have found out the hard way that laminate is not the greatest for a kitchen, bath or laundry. Dishwashers leak, sinks overflow, fridge water lines leak, spilled liquids that don't get cleaned up, scratches from chairs sliding. A lot of reasons (for me anyway) not to buy it. Its all pretty much made the same way and what ever is used to make it does not like moisture. Vinyl tiles are very popular and with grouting look a lot like ceramic. If its a wood look your after, snap together vinyl planking is another option that looks good and is durable and water resistant. Good luck!

[CAMAN]

I just removed a bunch from my kitchen and installed solid hickory. The stuff wasn't Pergo, but a Menards brand. Probably 15 years old, no issues with buckling or warping and was amazed when removing cabinets that were on top of it, it had absolutely zero fade. I liked it as it was easy to clean and very durable. I didn't like it as it is very loud when walking on it in bare feet(sounds like you're sweeping concrete with a stiff bristle broom) and it looked fake, though the newer stuff has some nice looking patterns.

[PurpleFloyd]

Does it have a plywood or MDF core?

My suggestion- don't take anyone's word for it but instead get yourself a sample of what you are proposing to put in the kitchen. Lay it on it's face on the countertop and before you go to bed take a paper towel and get it wet. Not dripping wet but wet enough that it won't dry out by morning and pay it on the back side of the sample and go to bed. In the morning look at what the core looks like and ask yourself if you are OK with that performance.

The types that have the MDF/masonite type core ( Dark brown compressed fiber substrate) do not tolerate water and once they get wet there is no fixing them.

Personally I do not like the laminate floating floors at all. But that is just my opinion and I know lots of people like them enough to keep the companies cranking them out.

[traveler]

with the vinyl options out there now, why take the chance? Laminate and moisture just aren't a good combination. And I find it noisy, cold, and slippery. I think a lot of the people living with laminate now will move away from it when it comes time to replace it...