QUICK step = CLICK step...my experience. Lots of noise.

Laminate is only as good as the underlay/under pad it is sitting on. You can make a low end $0.89/sf laminate sound and feel EXCELLENT by using a high end under pad ($1.50/sf). The opposite is true: a high end 15mm laminate ($3.50/sf) can sound horrible by using the cheap $0.20/sf white foam underlay....

I've seen quick step cork flooring before. It is a middle of the road, lower-end cork. The laminate could be middle of the road as well. The thickness of the product and the "finish" will tell you how well designed it is. If it is 5mm thick and slick as a sheet of ice (no embossing) then you have a lower end product. If it is 12mm - 15mm thick with a realistic wood/stone finish (heavily embossed) then you have a higher end product.

Remember: subfloor preparationg + underlay/pad will add up to either RUIN YOUR FLOOR or SAVE your floor. Do the work for the subfloor and put in some money into the underpad/underlay. Don't cheap out on either of these.

That sounds like a good advice. I will pay special attention to the underlay. I hadn't given it that much thought, before. We will start building our house in the summer, so not quite ready for the flooring, but doing lots of research. Thank you.

I have sold the Quick Step product in the past and Cancork Floor Inc. comments are right on.

As a quick reminder, you cannot use laminate in a kitchen. Pick another floor for kitchen, bath, laundry and entrance if you wish to work with laminate.