Kitchen floor - tile, wood laminate or engineered wood

[BowleesCreekYachtClub]

I think the title says it all. Our kitchen floor is linoleum - or whatever it is called these days. We've been in Florida 20 years and had tile throughout in our old home and know what it takes to keep it clean and in good shape. We also know that it cracks! So . . . is wood laminate or engineered wood a good option for the kitchen floor or should we stay with tile. My major concern is what will happen if the laminate or engineered wood gets wet which will inevitably happen under the sink.

[mulligan]

A lot of the engineered and laminate products have at least a 25 year warranty. Just a guess, but that would probably cover you. Check Home depot for a good overview of all the relevant flooring products, and take a look at the vinyl plank wood look-a-likes. You will be surprised at the appearance.

[mikeandnancy1112]

We had laminate in Arkansas for our kitchen floor and I would never have it again. You have to be so careful to wipe up spills right away or the floor can buckle.

We live in the Villages now and have ceramic tile throughout and we wouldn't have anything else.

[TednRobin]

We've been in Florida 20 years and had tile throughout in our old home and know what it takes to keep it clean and in good shape. We also know that it cracks!

Good post, we have never had tile, what does it take to keep it in good condition? We are undecided on what flooring to have in TV, so I am very interested in your responses. I love the look of the tile, but it seems very cold. Is there a reason not to have vinyl/linoleum?

[texasfal]

I have a laminate that looks like slate in the kitchen. Had laminate in our home in Texas for 25 years and never had a problem. As soon as we moved here we took up the cheap carpet The Villages put down and put laminate through the house, bathrooms, kitchen, etc. I specifically did not want tile. Too cold and too slippery. I intend for this to be my last house and I don't want to be worried about slipping on tile in my advanced years. Just my opinion.

[ajdeck]

I have a laminate that looks like slate in the kitchen. Had laminate in our home in Texas for 25 years and never had a problem. As soon as we moved here we took up the cheap carpet The Villages put down and put laminate through the house, bathrooms, kitchen, etc. I specifically did not want tile. Too cold and too slippery. I intend for this to be my last house and I don't want to be worried about slipping on tile in my advanced years. Just my opinion.

Have you ever had a problem with popping on your laminate? Is yours cluded or snap type.

Reason I ask is our friends had the snap (very good quality) and had a problem with it snapping when walking across so they had to have them come back and clue it.

[Pturner]

I'm interested in this too. I love how tile looks and want to want it. I just don't love walking on it. For those who tile, what flooring do you use in the bedrooms? Thanks.

[texasfal]

I don't know what cluded is but we have the type that has the pieces that fit together like a jigsaw (for lack of a better term). The pieces have flat parts on the edges that slide into the next piece. We have Pergo in the kitchen and other areas, and a different laminate that looks like granite in the bathrooms. I hope I answered your question. But no we have never had popping or snapping.

[Minnesotalyn]

The flooring is a hard decision for me too. How's the vinyl flooring that the Villages gives you? Is it better quality in the designer's than in the cottage's. I though the stuff in the cottages looked kind of cheap. If you get vinyl in the bathrooms, like in the Iris do you still get tile in my shower? I don't know if I want all that grout to take care of as I age. How's the pad under the carpet?

[swrinfla]

My floors are honest-to-goodness hardwood and "ceramic" tile. Having always lived with hardwood, that was a no-brainer. The tile is in bathrooms and the kitchen.

Yes, the tile may be cold, but I'm always wearing at least slippers, so don't notice it.

As suggested above, my choice of hardwood was because every home I've ever lived in, even those when I was growing up, had hardwood floors.

After six years here, I remain completely satisfied with my choices.

SWR
:beer3:

[Mikitv]

We have built six homes and all had a combination of tile and wood. Two I did have wood in the kitchen and both of those places had a problem with the washer in laundry room leaking. Of course the floors had to be replaced. That was last time I put wood in kitchen. The houses with tile kitchens were no problem unless the grout was not sealed. Here I made sure all the grout was sealed. I love the combination of wood and tile next too each other.

[golfnut]

I like tile in any area with water and wood in the other rooms, except for carpet in the bedrooms. my only recommedation for the tile areas, THIN grout lines....gn

[Villager Since April 2009]

I replaced all the carpet in my home with laminate, but for the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry room I chose vinyl tiles from Village Flooring in Fruitland Park. It is very good quality and they installed it with rubber grout which gives it an appearance silmilar to porcelain tile but is very easy to keep clean. It comes in many colors and styles.

[shcisamax]

I was sold on putting laminate throughout the house other than baths and the laundry. I have never had laminate ...only hardwood...and am wondering if the laminate will hold up if something spills in the kitchen. I would think if it was installed correctly, there would be no problem with water getting down below.

[shcisamax]

I didn't realize they had linoleum. I thought the choice was hardwood, laminate, tile, or carpet. Actually someone said they don't do laminate only hardwood. Can someone confirm what materials are offered? Also, do they offer marble or just tile?

[Happinow]

I didn't realize they had linoleum. I thought the choice was hardwood, laminate, tile, or carpet. Actually someone said they don't do laminate only hardwood. Can someone confirm what materials are offered? Also, do they offer marble or just tile?

We just went through the building process a few weeks ago and we were only looking for tile, but I did see carpet, laminate and a few pieces of linoleum. I don't believe any of the models were shown with linoleum, so I dont think it's a popular item. But you have to chose what ever works for you and your lifestyle. Good luck.

[natickdan]

Laminate has come such a long way over the past few years and there are laminate products today that you would have a difficult time distinguishing from traditional hardwood.

The choices and benefits of laminate are many, so do your research. The decision of flooring is somewhat personal. Some people prefer carpeting, some tile and others either wood or laminate ( and there are other choices ). We are leaning towards having the carpeting in the living areas replaced with a quality laminate product.

Fortunately, there are a number of reputable flooring companies in and around TV that you can visit. Before you choose a company, it might be a good idea to check reviews here on TOTV. Goodmluck!

[jane032657]

We have hickory flintoock Anderson hand scraped flooring throughout our famhouse in Seattle and it is fabulous. You can spill and wipe it up no problem and you can put some stain on it when it scratches and it covers. However, near the shower (we have it in the bathrooms as well) we had to replace a few pieces because when my elderly parents lived with us they got a lot of water on the floor. We also had to replace a few pieces by the dogs water dishes. But otherwise no problem and everyone loves the floors and they take a lot of wear and tear from the dogs.
In TV, we have had Brazilian wood floors put down everyone the new carpet was and we left the tile in the kitchen, bathrooms and laudry rooms as it was neutral and looks fine. We had to ensure the flooring underneath teh hardwood had the proper coatings and I know the person who did it knew what he was doing. I doubt this floor will be as easy to cover scratches with but it looks awesome.
I think tile or wood is a good choice but laminate they told me will not hold up in the heat.

[shcisamax]

Really??? The laminate will not hold up in the heat? You are the first person who has brought up that point. Wow. I was thinking laminate because I have a dog that has ruined all my hardwood floors. I will not do this again. I found a laminate that I used my key to try to scratch it and couldn't so I thought laminate was the way to go. I am surprised that laminate doesn't hold up in the heat. What does it melt? The Model A for the Lantana has laminate which is why I thought it might be a good alternative to hardwood. Anyone have information on this weakness in laminate?

[TrudyM]

Just another idea to throw out there.

In a previous house I installed wood with a tile border under all the kitchen cabinets extending a foot out from the edge, that way I am walking on wood but have tile at the edges so if there is a spill or a leak it is on the tile part. Have also done a tile insert in the middle of a dining area under the table with wood as the border (tile has a mosaic edge and looks sort of like a rug). Same idea if there is a spill on the table it runs on the tile but we walk on the wood which is warmer.

[ssmith]

We are up north so not sure what you can get outside TV but we just installed a product called Dura Ceramic that is georgous. It is not ceramic and looks like stone but it is a composite and manmade product..easy care and not as hard or as cold as ceramic....a must up north. There are also products of this type that look like wood so check them out too.

[shcisamax]

Wow, you really did some thinking on that. Very creative.

[shcisamax]

Thanks I will check them out. I don't care for tile because it IS cold and also it isn't forgiving on the body. That is why I prefer wood. This sounds great.

[batman911]

We have had Armstrong solid sheet vinyl flooring in our kitchen and baths in our current home for over 30 years and it still looks good. I do not believe you can beat solid sheet vinyl for durability. Tile is hard on the feet and legs if you spend a lot of time in the kitchen (not many do now days). I would not use wood or laminate products where there is a possibility of water leakage unless you are OK with having to replace the material if/when you have a leak. Not sure what we will pick for our new home.

[coffeebean]

I have a laminate that looks like slate in the kitchen. Had laminate in our home in Texas for 25 years and never had a problem. As soon as we moved here we took up the cheap carpet The Villages put down and put laminate through the house, bathrooms, kitchen, etc. I specifically did not want tile. Too cold and too slippery. I intend for this to be my last house and I don't want to be worried about slipping on tile in my advanced years. Just my opinion.

Tile has skid resistance ratings. There are tiles that are not slippery at all when wet. We just renovated both of our bathrooms in NJ with slip resistant tiles. Believe me... even when the tile is wet, I could not fall on it if I tried. It is great stuff. As for the coldness of it...I either have slippers on my feet or stand on the bath rug so my feet don't feel the cold. In the summer, the cool tile feels GREAT.

[coffeebean]

The patio villa we purchased has laminate flooring in the main living, dining and hall areas. I like the look of it but it is very loud, especially when my dog is walking around on it. Carpet is so quiet in the bedrooms and the linoleum in the kitchen and baths is much quieter than the laminate. I would prefer ceramic or porcelain tile everywhere with the exception of the bedrooms. I would not have anything but carpet in our bedrooms.

[Golfer in Sanibel]

I'm interested in this too. I love how tile looks and want to want it. I just don't love walking on it. For those who tile, what flooring do you use in the bedrooms? Thanks.

We have carpet in the bedrooms and tile everywhere else in TV. The wood floor in the kitchen of our home in Ohio gets dents and gouges when I drop plates or other stuff on it. It still looks pretty good for 8 years old.