We are trying to decide between the Durvana (Urban Mist) and the Dream Home 12 mm Waterproof Laminate (Valley Crest).

We bought a box of both. Hubby loves the Durvana Urban Mist. I am nervous about it because the reviews I've read are mostly bad regarding chipping (*after* the floor is laid). Also? The pieces we've seen in the box have some odd dark blemishes (some look like knots, which is fine, but some are so small it almost just looks....dirty.)

The Valley Crest laminate is beautiful, and at 12 mm quite thicker. Hubby doesn't like it as much because there's a tad bit of rose/tan hue to it (just barely, I think it would be fine). But there are zero blemishes in it.

I'm also fine with laminate. We had laminate previously (11 years - dream home driftwood dunes) and it still looked new the day our contractor pulled it up (just last week.) The ONLY reason we are doing a new floor is because we are actually doing a full reno - down to the studs, moving walls, new cabinets, raising ceilings, etc.

Those of you that loved your Durvana when installed, how has it held up? Also, anyone have installed in baths? We want a nice flow of floor so we are hoping to install *everywhere*.

@J Melton - We have had our Duravana Bay Bridge Oak floors installed for about 6 months now and with 3 crazy dogs running around and renovations still going on, they have held up great! The only issues we had with chipping was during the installation process. We’ve had no issues with chipping or scratching of these floors, which is amazing considering what our dogs put it through!

We had our Durvana installed 9 months ago and we love it!! Very durable. I’ve read reviews about the chip and I think that is people installing it not know how to cut or work with the product. So, we had LL flooring do the install so we would have a guarantee on any issues that might come up.

We've had it installed for only 2 months, but we've experienced no chipping. We're still pleased with the product. It's easy to keep clean. We have a small dog, and as a couple, don't really expose the floor to much "stress" - we don't have grand kids running around, we don't bowl or play floor hockey in the house, so I'm not sure how representative we are of a high activity household that might challenge the flooring!

First, no offense to anyone who has this product installed, but I conducted my own durability tests against SPC based vinyl planks as part of researching a new home build. The Durvana chips and gouges WAY easier! In defense of this product it is essentially "waterproof" laminate, at least that's what it appears to be. For about the same price one could do something like SuperCore which is a much more durable SPC based LVP with a really thick wear layer and crazy dent resistance.

Following back up - I wish I had never purchased. As part of a full renovation, we purchased Durvana Urban Mist and our contractor installed (and his crew was familiar with Durvana and installation requirements/methods).

Before we even were able to sleep in our home, after being out for almost 2 months, we found chips all over on moving day (since we had taken down to the studs, our GC had everything moved out before the reno, and then moved back in).

These were professional movers - nothing was broken, etc.

Yet the floor is chipped in soooo many places.

Buyer beware. :(

Oh no, so sorry to hear this!

Do NOT buy. This stuff chipped so easy while installing and continues to chip after installation. In addition to the edges being very fragile it top surface is now chipping and pitting

More pics

Do not buy

@Nanamorr thanks for updating the thread with your experience though I'm sorry that happened for you. Did you ask the company to replace the flooring?

I'm in the process of filing a claim with LLF. Flooring was tested by LLF test center in VA, supposedly no issues... waiting for inspection. I'm trying to hire an inspector, but LLF says they have to be NWFA certified, but the few NWFA certified inspectors I talked to said they won't do it since the flooring is not wood. LLF says they will pay for inspection using a company out of Florida, but if they are paying for the inspection, I have no access to the report

It seems warranties are pretty much worthless on must of the things we buy regardless of price.

I installed the Lake Worth Oak throughout the house myself. At first my planks were chipping, maybe wasted 3 on that, but after following the recommended installation procedure by putting a small piece of plank in between the plank and the plastic piece before hammering, chipping didn't happen with that. But unfortunately, if you drop a sharp object on it, it will chip. Ironically, dropping a hammer on it didn't damage it at all. If it does chip, fill it with wood filler and color it with a marker. It mends well with glue and you won't even notice it after a while. Another good thing with this floor is it seems to have no fumes or bad smell, it just smells of wood and it weighs much less than vinyl plank. To avoid chipping from furniture, put felt on all furniture feet. I tested this flooring's waterproof feature by submerging a piece in water for a week! That piece did not change in hardness or shape, that tells me it is indeed waterproof.

Any anyone steam mopped this type of flooring? I'm not seeing very much information on it, but if it's indeed waterproof, I would think that it could handle a steam mop?

i would not recommend

We had Duravana flooring installed in our new house in Aug 2022 and have experienced a lot of buckling. it was installed over a raised cement slab. initially the buckling was isolated to one area. After we moved in we were told to wait until the air conditioner has been run for a few weeks. We waited for approximately 3 months with no appreciable change. The installer came back and trimed the flooring in the affected area and made it right. However, more buckling started to show up in new areas in addition to the area previously addressed. My builder has been trying to work with LL Flooring for months now and has been getting the run around.

I’m interested to hear if others had similar experience and resolution.

I installed Duravna flooring early spring 2023 for my kitchen. After damp mopping for weekly cleaning I've already got one are wherethe floor is chipping at the edges.

Also on the opposite end of the kitchen along my bathroom wall I had a leak inside the wall which drained down and hit the floor this area of the flooring decompossed.

I installed vinyl plank flooring in the basement and although is scratches more easily it has performed better and my next flooring job will not be Duravana.

Chips and dents very easily, I would not recommend

We installed this floor in Chapel Bridge Oak in the fall of 2021 and right away there were noticable chips! We have 2 small dogs and one is older with bladder issues, even though the area where he would pee would be wiped up immediately, that area has buckled/warped so it is obvious the floor is not waterproof at all. This was not a cheap purchase and we thought we were buying a quality product that would hold up to many years of living in the home. We installed a very inexpensive LVP in the basement/family room area of the home and it is holding up VERY well in comparison to this product. We are now in the process of looking for a new floor (AGAIN) and will be much more cautious this time around! I would NOT recommend this product!

Just checking in---our Durvana Bay Oak is still wonderful! Installed Dec 2021, almost 2 years.

Man, its shame this floor looks so damn good. It chips like no ones business. Not that there are bullet proof LVPs out there.....but damn does this floor get damaged EASY.

Another buyer beware for anyone looking into this flooring. This stuff chips like its no ones business. I've installed numerous LVP's, this one is no question the best looking and feeling of them all.....but this top coating is incredibly brittle. Just getting my cabinets and island finished up in the kitchen and found this beauty this morning. Pissed as can be.

I cannot recommend enough for everyone to stay far away from this product as possible, and LL Flooring! They sold our contractor a huge amount of it for a whole remodel, and the product did not make quality inspection, so they didn't release it. Then they sent out more and let it pass. It was the same flooring. It has chipped all over, and not just the edges, right in the middle of planks. LL will not do anything to fix it. And on the edge of a pattern repeat, there is an off opaque flaw in the finish. So every few planks, you can see the irregular texture...What warranty? Apparently non-existent. Now my poor contractor is having to go the Contractor's board in our state to try and get help to intervene and mediate. We are talking about over $15K in flooring that they have washed their hands to...

I loved how the floor looked and trusted LL Flooring, even though the product was new. That was an almost 16,000 dollar mistake! My floor is buckling eveywhere and its a trip hazard. Wish I could attach videos because it is crazy! Some of the floor is 4-5 inches high and is dangerous to walk on! Oh and this is the second time this has happened. Just alot worse this time!

I'm a contractor in Saratoga Springs, NY. I've got a lot of years in contracting, but I'm no primo donna-I READ DIRECTIONS !! You have to install as the manufacturer suggests. You don't second guess them ! There's a couple of extra steps involved that CAN'T be bypassed ! We just completed 1000sf home and it turned out beautiful ! Pix upon request. (518)330-4490

I used one of LL floorings installers. it was beautiful at first and then it started. He’s already been out once.

Purchased Sagrada Oak duravana flooring and used their installer. NIGHTMARE. Installed abour 1.5 years ago, already replaced entire first floor through warranty, took FOREVER. Littersly a year. Now- fast forward, the second installation the floors are seperating at the seems. They were supposed to replace ALL, but corporate refused installer entire shipment of materials, forced to reuse old pieces. (arguing again, i have a signed document all was supposed to be replaced.) Now pieces are chipping on the edges since the old needed to be broken from the other planks. Warranty will take MONTHS. Not worth the headaches.

Yeah their case manager told me that expanding isnt part of the warranty. I have three months left on the install warranty. The installer came today to fix everything. I will see it tomorrow. They tried to say it was an installer problem, but that isn’t the case. I know I’m going to have issues with LL and I already have an attorney just in case! I think they should replace everything with a better floor and install it, all free of charge! They definitely got over on me and I see many others too. 🤦‍♀️ I will say the floor is beautiful, just not a good product. This was before it started bowing.

In the past year and a half the installer has probably been to my house 11 times. Mine is 100% a combo of product and installer issues. There has to be 20 or so planks all throughout separating.

I have ones were you can move a nickel around in it

People on this Houzz thread ought to unite and file a class action lawsuit against Lumber Liquidators for the shoddy product they continue to misrepresent as well as their phony warranty. I decided against the Duravana product because even though there were very few reviews most of them reported chipping. I was also influenced by family members to buy from Floor and Decor. My flooring was installed by an amateur and I’ve had zero problems. I am very happy with the Nucore cork back vinyl plank I bought for around $2.79 sqft that is now $3.19 sqft and I get lots of compliments. Lumber Liquidators should discontinue the Duravana product that has so many problems and quit scamming people out of thousands of dollars and causing so much strife and headaches.

I agree and I should have listened. My family was concerned due to it being so new and not many reviews. I thought the floor was so beautiful and the color was perfect! I’m down to file a suit so if anyone is interested, lets do it!

As a builder, I have personally installed this type of flooring. In the beginning, I used ti have to use a tapping block and or a small piece of the flooring (as instructed per the directions). Now, Duravana/LL Flooring has a tapping block specifically designed for installing Duravana flooring. The chipping on the edges is usually from poor installation. ALSO, I have noticed that every so often, a board will have excess lamination over hanging the edge. If you don't lightly sand that down and try to install it as is, it will chip. Duravana is a fragile product until it has been properly installed. Also, I have noticed in several photos that were posted that the boards are not even fastened together properly which tells me that it was installed improperly. As another contractor stated in the comments, read the directions. I install Duravana floors often and have had no issues. Stop watching HGTV and ask a pro.

Professional installer............... Chips like crazy using the traditional tapping block method. I switched to a softer plastic block and dont really have any problems. I see it says to use a scrap piece locked in as a buffer for tapping which I'm an idiot for not seeing. A classic case of being "over-qualified"....I'm embarrassed and have fixed my mistakes so far but I added at least another day to this job. My help will need this trick but if it chips this easy installing it- it aint gonna last. Its a true laminate and laminates have been pretty much phased out by vinyl for many of the reasons listed above. My customer would sure be dissapointed to see this. He paid an awful lot for this floor.

Well this thread has terified me!! i currently have 40 boxes of Lake worth oak sitting in front of me ready to be installed by LL floorings installers in our whole first floor in three days! we walked into that store asking for the best, most resilient, going to last us 50yrs flooring and this is what they said we needed.

we have already paid in full, anything i can do? are we basically scrued?

No, you're not scrued [sic]. I installed the same flooring, been two years and it is holding up pretty well. I soaked a piece of it in water for 2 weeks, it didn't change at all. It does chip if not installed properly (instructions online) and if a sharp object falls on it. Chips can be repaired with wood glue. Besides, wood floors get dented too. Anyhow, I am happy with my installation. By the way, the samples I got for this floor (Lake Worth Oak) was made in Germany. I would think this flooring is made in Germany.

@ryanne This is an old post but we are considering durvana bay bridge and are extremely nervous/skeptical. How has yours held up? Do you have kids or pets?

We have had it for over a year now it is absolutely terrible. We have two dogs and two kids that are not too young and not hard on things. Iit is pitted, chipping, warped and some places, starting to buckle Do not buy this product. We had to get the contracting board and consumer affairs from our state involved, and we still have not seen any of the money back LL promised in writing. they do not stand behind this lousy product. The only reason we arent ripping it out, is because we remodeled a whole level with it and installed, cabinets, counters, tile, etc on top.

We have had it for a year and a half—the pros, it looks nice and is very scratch resistant. The cons—our contractors (not from LL flooring) hated installing it had a lot of trouble with the edges chipping; if you drop almost anything you will definitely be risking a gouge, ding or pit in the flooring which is not fixable. We’ve had waterbottles, hot wheel cars, a knife etc all cause noticeable dings and gouges from falling onto the floor. weve had this happen in previous (cheap) laminate and vinyl floorings but for the price of this flooring I cant say its worth it. Anytime anything falls we are hold ing our breath to see if it caused damage.

Sorry you're having so much trouble---but I'm pretty sure the instructions said NOT to install cabinets on top of Duravana.

We have Bay Bridge and it was installed the beginning of 2022 throughout the entire home with exception of the main bathroom and the Florida Room. After 2 years, and just my husband and me, things look pretty good. I can say its like any other flooring, and we try not to drop anything on it and have felt slides/ruby sliders on chair legs. Our kitchen cabinets already existed, so only appliances sit on top of the Duravana.

I know there are specific instructions on installation, and especially how its cut (you can't 'score' it for cutting)---we watched our installers cutting pieces with a circular saw. There are a few other differences in installation that need to be followed also.

The only place I would have preferred tile would have been the master bath, but we haven't had any problems there, I just would have preferred it.

I just had Duravana Red Oak installed. Anyone have issue with dog's nails hurting or scratching the floor?

We had our Durvana Sagrada Oak installed about 2 yrs ago throughout our entire first floor. Our installers were wonderful. The only damage done during installation was a 5x5 hole in our wall, accidentally done by one of the installers. We have had no chipping, scratching or buckling. We have had a new regrigerator installed since then and there are no scratches or damage to the floor where they had to slide it in to place. We have dropped pots, dishes, mugs, slid heavy furniture across the floor, with no apparent damage. We have 3 teenagers, 2 dogs, and lots of kids friends over all the time. We love these floors and are currently waiting on a quote to replace upstairs bathroom, laundry room and hallway flooring with the same product. The flooring is beautiful! The pics were taken while it was still dark outside. They are gorgeous when the sun shines in!

LL flooring never stood behind their warranties. In fact, that could be why they’re going out of business.

LL Flooring is not going out of business. They filed for Chapter 11 which is a reorganization, not closing up shop - as in the same way you can still buy a Chrysler or Chevy, shop at JC Penney's, eat Hostess Twinkies, read a Marvel comic book, and buy gas at Texaco. BTW - we have the Lake Worth Oak Duravana for 6 months, which was installed properly (scrap piece between flooring and tapping block). Zero chipping, and it is beautiful - looks WAY better than LVP. Have dropped heavy jars, and once a hammer on it, with no damage. Maybe we're just lucky.

LL Flooring is not going out of business. They filed for Chapter 11 which is a reorganization, not closing up shop - as in the same way you can still buy a Chrysler or Chevy, shop at JC Penney's, eat Hostess Twinkies, read a Marvel comic book, and buy gas at Texaco. BTW - we have the Lake Worth Oak Duravana for 6 months, which was installed properly (scrap piece between flooring and tapping block). Zero chipping, and it is beautiful. Have dropped heavy jars, and once a hammer on it, with no damage. It looks WAY better than any "Luxury" Vinyl Plank I've ever seen. Luxury vinyl seems like an oxymoron. LVP is OK for my rentals, but I wouldn't want it in my own home. It will not enhance resale value.

I bought this flooring in 11/23 from LL Flooring and now having problems with chipping. I used their recommended floor cleaners and had a 30-year warranty and now Freight Liquidators will not honor the 30-year warranty to repair or replace. I would not suggest purchasing this flooring or deal with this company. This bad business to stick a customer with a product that cost $7,000.00

Who did you have install the product? I have NEVER had any issues after installation and I have installed this product numerous times. Perhaps the install was done wrong?

Do you have photos of the damages?

All of the negative comments - are you all talking about out laminate, LVP, or engineered flooring?