I have laminate and I regret it!! Hate it!!! Wish we got hardwood!!

We had laminate mostly everywhere in our previous home. Worked well except in the kitchen where a little water going between the seams made the laminate bubble (even with glued install) near the sink and dishwasher. The bubbling is permanent, but It took a few years for it to happen, and the it was probably obvious only to us, but we kept a very clean home and wiped up spills, so it was disappointing. Now we opted for engineered hardwood, which I tested with water beforehand. The hardwood swelled when soaked, BUT, it went back to it's wonderfully flat self after it dried out. So, will probably only consider laminate in completely dry areas for the future.

It is easy to install but mine is horrible!! It has open spots and it is not closely together!!

In our model home, we have hardwood throughout except in the den, which has laminate. Many of our clients at first think they are looking at hardwood. If using good quality and have it installed properly, it can be a fantastic floor. Many of our pet owners choose laminate for its durability against scratches.

My niece put laminate throughout her 1940s home & family room addition 8 yrs ago. Looks great & wears well with 3 kids & dog.

I agree @ Gordon Tobey Developments - when ONLY installed properly can laminate flooring really hold onto its advantages.

@ Tracyb20 - we understand your frustration. Have you tried these maintenance procedures:

These brilliant, wood-like laminates feature LocNPlace technology and enhanced scratch resistance, so they install easily and last long.

Also @ tracyb20 hardwood flooring is a great choice. Please follow and check out our page Allan Rug Company - we have a lot of top quality flooring products in our store. Check out our Houzz Page for ideas on hardwood, laminate, vinyl, and more. If you need advice please don't hesitate to call or message us!

@ orselover222 it is all about the installation to lead to the final result of laminate flooring. Do you have warranty coverage. Also take a look at our maintenance procedures they might help. If you need flooring products or ideas, follow us on our Houzz page and check out our store in Toronto Allan Rug Company.

We hated ours! It showed every spot of anything even when we would wipe it up immediately. We did not have any problems of it scratching and we have 2 large dogs and 1 medium.

Previous owners of our house installed laminate flooring 15 or so years ago. I love the pattern, a light colored stone. Downsides: (1) spots really show, especially in the kitchen and (2) it can be damaged if a heavy sharp object, such as a hammer, falls on it. I don't know what I would replace it with, however, because I love the light color and ease of upkeep.

@ yvonnecmartin see above for our recommended maintenance on laminate floors especially. If not try vinyl or hardwood as the other options. Take a view on our Houzz page to see our vinyl pictures. We specialize in flooring and carpet for 50 + years.

Below are pictures of vinyl flooring. Feel free to inquire.

@yvonnecmartin Another important tip is to use a damp cloth to blot up spills as soon as they happen. Never allow liquids to stand on your floor.

We never had laminate so can't comment on that. But between our house and my mother's condo go with engineered hardwood. Polished concrete would be my second choice

@ yvonnecmartin see above for our recommended maintenance on laminate floors especially. If not try vinyl or hardwood as the other options. Take a view on our Houzz page to see our vinyl pictures. We specialize in flooring and carpet for 50 + years.

Below are pictures of vinyl flooring. Feel free to inquire.

@Curt D'Onofrio thanks for your comment! please follow us at Allan Rug Company! We have hardwood flooring at our store. We specialized in flooring products for over 50 years! Take a look at some of our hardwood flooring.

Question though: does anyone see the difference between the two of hardwood and laminate:

We had a high end laminate installed by professionals on our main floor and we absolutely love it. We went with a distressed look and not a shiny finish. Guests are sure it is hardwood. We were deterred from choosing hardwood by our the installer when he came to measure and met our dog. I have read the above comments regarding cleaning and water. We have not experienced any issues whatsoever. I find it very easy to maintain.

@ blackj24 distressed looks great! thank you for the comments in this discussion. Please follow us and feel free to look at our hundreds of pictures for inspiration and ideas. Thank you!

I have cheap laminate throughout the first floor and I hate it. (it was already there). I plan to have wood-look porcelain tile installed since I live in a very dry area where "real wood" doesn't hold up to our single-digit humidity. Because it has to go into the living room, dining room AND kitchen (damned open concept!), I need something that will not only look good in the living areas, but be able to hold up against the occasional kitchen mishap.

We had a high end laminate professionally installed throughout our main floor. We absolutely love it. We have a dog and seven kids, as well as particle board subfloor. So for us, it is a great choice. Maybe when our kids have all moved out, we will reconsider hardwood.