Finished a good week and a half prep on floors for 3 bedrooms in my house. The floor I’m replacing is a pergo laminate from 10-11 years ago. I was dead set on getting vinyl flooring but ended up going for the Allen & Roth laminate. It was just better at every test I threw at it. Looked better, thicker, heavyier, but the locking system is what ultimately swayed me. It took pliers to break it when I tested the strength. And definitely not cutting through it with a box cutter. Oh yeah it was cheaper as well for the Cherry on top. I recommend it 100%.
I have completed several flooring projects using laminate floors, all labeled as “water resistant.” In a mudroom where we enter our house, we had to replace some boards because the constant dampness from wet boots, became damaged. The joints showed expansion and discoloration. We replaced the floor with a totally water proof vinyl and after two winters, no evidence of damage! The words “water resistant” do not mean water proof.
We own a business installing LVP and other hard surface flooring. Ive seen many different brands. 24-hour water resistance is very misleading... thats just for on the SURFACE. It'll still seep between, getting underneath, causing issues if it's repeatedly happening.
The core is impregnated with epoxy resin, in Europe 72H laminate is the norm we sell. Problem with LVT is it costs the same as honed filled travertine and limestone, most customers go for proper luxury at the price...
Just bought a house that has Pergo. Can't wait to get rid of it. It looked nice at first glance, but it scratches easily with pet nails and any liquid spills make the floor raise around the edge of the piece. I wanted to love it so bad!
Concrete, stone, brick, wood, etc. all last if you don't mess them up. Only reason laminate hasn't "lasted the test of time" is because it's a new product. It should last indefinitely if taken care of.
@@HappyBeeHoney Sure, if your house is 8,000 square feet . Hardwood is barely more expensive (depending on what you get). I got Brazilian Teak for 2.5/sqft (at a builder auction a few months ago), and you can get oak for mid 2's as well. I mean, sure you can get an exotic $20+sqft wood, but most people just get oak. Laminate is usually around 2 so you spend, what, a dollar more per square foot? So a lot closer to $2,000 more than $20,000 (unless you live in an 8,000 sqft house of course).
@@user-nh3gu1ge3d It's about $7/sqft for 3/4" red oak in CA, plus install is a bit more technical than snapping laminate together so you might be looking at install costs. And I prefer unfinished wood that is finished after install, so add finishing costs to that price.
@@HappyBeeHoney CA being overpriced is an issue with CA, not wood. But yeah, it's definitely more labor esp if you don't get prefinished. Like I said, I got my Brazilian Teak for 2.5/sqft which is about what laminate costs, but then install and finishing was def. more expensive than laminate (because there is none). It cost me about 3k more than laminate per thousand sqft. I think that's a relatively small price to pay for a vastly superior product but to each his own, I suppose. You're only going to spend 20k (total or extra) if you get gouged for living in cali, get gouged at the store for the product, have a ginormous house, and/or get gouged on install. I picked mine up myself from the auction so it's a lot less convenient, have to organize your own transport via truck/trailer, and wait for an auction to roll around. But for a once in 30-50 year event, a little extra leg work is well worth it. Again, just my opinion. YMMV.
I've installed both laminate and lvp. Only lvp for builders I've worked for, and I prefer the way laminate feels. My boss always recommended lvp but it seems cheaper than good quality laminate. The way pergo snaps together, is bulletproof and has a more robust texture makes it feel like real wood
My experience is get the thickest laminate you can. 15mm and a good underlayment. Don’t skip the underlayment even when going over wood subfloor. The thin vinyl seems to flex more when walking on it. Just my opinion.
Floor Prep is a must. Thinner LVPs are failing at an alarming rate because floors aren't being prepped correctly, or the house is shifting and pushing them out of the floor's tolerances for height variations. Laminates have more meat behind them, gives them more to work with when it comes to that variation. Floors still need to be prepped/leveled, but the tolerance for failure is far far better on a product that has some thickness to it. They make LVPs that do the same (7mm or more), but you start seeing the price point start to increase drastically. There is nothing a vinyl does that a good laminate can also do, often times better.
Some have underpayment on the planks some don’t. Also factor in the locking style tung and groves the best because you can slide the planks to fit them in place
@@denisemartin3603It stands for luxury vinyl tiles but I misspoke because we actually used a laminate wood flooring. We went with Mohawk in Townview Oak. A year later, still looks brand new and we still love it!!
@@denisemartin3603 It stands for luxury vinyl tile. Unfortunately, though, I misspoke because we actually used a laminate wood flooring. We went with Mohawk in Townview Oak. A year later, we still love it!!!
@@denisemartin3603 It stands for luxury vinyl tile. Unfortunately, though, I misspoke because we actually used a laminate wood flooring. We went with Mohawk in Townview Oak. A year later, we still love it!!!
@@denisemartin3603 It stands for luxury vinyl tile. Unfortunately, though, I misspoke because we actually used a laminate wood flooring. We went with Mohawk in Townview Oak. A year later, we still love it!!!
I work for a flooring distributor and you are 100% right. Our LVP sales have plummeted and with the new laminates that are coming out, we’re going through so much we can barely keep it in stock.
I sell floors for a living and have moved into my second market. I am doing my best to turn people away from LVPs here too. To much hassle. We are about 4-5 years into the current LVP trend of thinning out those cores to 4-5mm thick and the claims are starting to roll in... especially on the DIYers. Similar to the 10 year mark when people started to realize their LVPs scratch alot easier than they were sold on and their floors don't look as good. With laminates basically solving their water issues in the last few years you have the advantage of a floor that doesn't really scratch easy and can handle moisture. People just have a bad taste in their mouths from the old Pergos from 30 years ago. They couldn't handle moisture and they installed them in wet areas. They see the bubbling and think its a terrible floor and conviniently forget that in their living room it usually still looks great because it wears like iron.
@@bman041 RevWood from Mohawk. Their Premier line specifically. Looks amazing. Its functionally water proof. You can steam mop it and installed right can go in wet areas like bathrooms. Its about as close in appearance that you can get to actual hardwood without it being wood. It will make pretty much any LVP look like the hunk of plastic that it is.
I put some 1/2 laminate from the big blue store in my grandpa's a few years ago. I've installed over 10k sq ft of different vinyls and so far that laminate was my favorite!
We've had 1st generation glue together Pergo laminate in the dry rooms of of our home for almost 30 years. Its held up against wear and tear and spills and we're only replacing it because of remodeling. I'm skeptical of the durabilty claims of LVP so we're leaning toward laminate again which has a proven track record. We're be searching for a brand that is also bathroom and kitchen friendly..
Now you can get laminate that’s completely waterproof. The pergo pro stuff can be had on sale for dirt cheap too. I’ve tested it myself by soaking a sample piece in water for a week. It got wet, but never expanded, and once dry again it was good as new. Kicks ass in many applications where you just don’t need to spend a fortune on flooring but need something that looks nice and is durable.
We did the same with our mannington restorations flooring before we purchased it. The mistake we made was getting a puppy because they say they are pet friendly. They aren’t. Our dog didn’t have a lot of accidents and we cleaned up quickly when he did, but the damage was done within seconds. Company says pet friendly is only for water.
I'm a big fan of mohawk products and we have a manufacturing plant right here in NC. Some of their products have up to 72 hour water proof warranty. I've been selling flooring for over 10 years and I didn't realize laminate is often times more scratch resistant than vinyl and the textures and colors have improved so much from the old plastic looking vinyl. I think the thickness of laminate adds some insulation and sounds better in big open spaces compared to the thin vinyl I often experience echos in those type areas. Last thing, I imagine laminate is much more environmentally friendly as the floor gets replaced over the years and goes to the landfill
I'm a huge fan of the laminate from Sam's Club. Good quality, built in padding, and a very good price. Vinyl scratches to easily. The only place I'll use it is in a bathroom.
My parents have had laminate for about 20 years and it's only now just showing the wear. It was on clearance at Value City way back when. Laminate is good, just take decent care of it. Hardwood will last much longer, but we don't all have that budget.
I used Mohawk Revwood plus a couple times. Still dusty to cut but super easy to install. Two and a half years, three young kids, and a 60lb dog later, and the only damage to the floor is the one or two spots where a knife was dropped point-down. The floor looks fantastic, always getting compliments on it. The buyers of that house were shocked when we told them the floor was over two years old. Some styles of revwood appear to be slightly more scratch and dent resistant, but we liked it enough to put it in the next house too.
So the top is waterproof yes but once that water infiltrates into the seams that's not waterproof is it? especially areas that have been cut. So, unless you seal those cuts up, it's going to suck up the water and it will begin to bulge. same thing if you ever get a scratch on the laminate It will allow for that pressed sawdust inside to take a drink... What do you think?
@@El_Prophet11 Pretty much any quality floor (LVP or Laminate) will serve those purposes... at least for what it actually matters. Nothing really lasts forever though. Water resistant Laminates have the edge up on durability though. Waterproof is a loaded term for flooring. It doesn't really mean what most people think it means. A piece of LVP is waterproof. You can throw it in a pool for a week, take it out, dry it and install it.... but if your dishwasher explodes you are going to lose it anyway, because they are going to tear it out to get to your subfloor or slab to repair damage/remediate.
i have had a 12mm laminate floor in my kitchen for 13 years. No scratches, warping, water damage, chipping, nothing. Still looks brand new. I was looking into vinyl lately but has heard alot of people having problem with the vinyl planks separating in tje joins and getting all wavy after just 2 years.
Seperation in joints is often from a improperly leveled floor, combined with LVPs getting thinner and thinner to keep costs down. Makes the locking mechanisms pretty brittle. One of my top sellers I can snap with my thumb. If I can't convince them to make the switch to laminate (which nine times out of tens happens with a key test), I take them to a thick LVP that has some meat on its bones.
@daleludtke7803 I've been reading your responses to other commentors and feel like you know what you're talking about. My house is 1,000 sq ft on slab in Florida. For years I've been convinced that I wanted to use LVP throughout the entire house including kitchen and bathrooms. Now I'm wondering if I need to rethink that. What's a brand of laminate in a mid-range price that you recommend? Thanks in advance.
Hey I'll take either if it's the right price, a jigsaw with a good blade helps the dust on laminate if you cut it over plastic not dust free but not nearly as dusty as circular saw and blades are cheaper if that's a concern
I’m looking for this right now, and I was about to buy vinyl flooring based on your videos, but if laminate is making a comeback and it is waterproof, then I am interested. Brands, where to buy, please?
I used laminate flooring when I recently renovated a bathroom in my home. I had to take out the dry rotted subflooring, which I replaced with pressure treated plywood, and sister one of the joists. Two years later I don’t see any water leaks, and the flooring still looks pristine. When I get around to renovating my other bathroom I will use laminate in that one too. The real tile floor looks great, but the grout gets stained and gross and makes the bathroom stinky.
Yes but what are some good brands , so many at the big box stores have have a inferior product who's joints that are paper thin and break or don't lock in to said joints or both , same thing goes for vinyl plank flooring. Had to replace some procore brand vinyl plank with ceramic tile flooring because the joints were fragile and wouldn't lock in.
I just placed an order to do my entire home with laminate. I was shocked when sales guy started talking about it. This stuff is amazing and nearly half inch thick!!
Your salesperson was smart. I am a project manager who sets up home installs, helps pick and sell floors, and organizes the jobs for labor or sundry. You buy a good laminate, install it correctly and it will do anything an LVP can do, and in many cases better.
@@luccib7225 there are alot of good laminates out there too. Just avoid the crap they sell at the big box stores. Go find yourself some Revvood Select/Plus/Premium (the premium is gorgeous). Karastan has just released a set of Laminate that is 9.5 wide, and 80 inches long that is steam moppable. Just be sure to ask your sales person who is selling it to you "what makes it water proof/resistant." You want one that adds water resistant materials into the core construction as well.
You don't normally see actual linoleum anymore. But Forbo does Marmoleum, which is the same natural products. What most people today think is linoleum is actually sheet vinyl. Prices can range from dirt cheap to more than most LVPs/Laminates. The install is more complicated than most people realize, with more embossing and prep required than floating floors.
Okay so here's the deal with sheet vinyl (what you're probably talking about): It is AMAZING to walk on, if you get good quality thick kind. Sort of between carpet and hardwood, where sturdy glasses won't break and it's comfortable to kneel on. And if you have pets that like to piss all the time, you wipe it up and you're done. No gaps, no cracks, no grout, and if you put a 1/4 inch ridge below the edge of it at the walls, piss won't go under it. it's effortless. BUT IT RIPS IF YOU LOOK AT IT. Every single item you own will need to be put on furniture sliders, or their feet will rip it. And you will need to glue it down if you don't want to go insane with how loud claws are while pets walk on it. But none of that is super hard, and the benefits for pet owners and for general livability (again, it feels much more like carpet than laminate or hardwood or LVP) make it worth the hassle imo.
As a pet owner, sheet vinyl is my bestfriend temporarily. No cracks at all. I got Shaw wood-look ones. Wish i had it prior when I had a geriatric dog 🐕 For my next build I think im going to go with stained and sealed concrete. I dont wanna deal with anything that will rot or hold mold like carpet or wood, pop/fail like my past builder grade LVP, or have microscopic cracks or hold moisture inbetween the slab and LVP. Ready for my steel barndo with sealed slab. 🐶😺
I Have kiddos and I made the mistake of putting laminate flooring 😞 We have recently purchased a house with Vinyl flooring and I will forever be a fan of vinyl flooring…. If you have young kiddos who play sports ⚽️ 🏈 🏀 I highly recommend Vinyl flooring…
My flooring that we installed has started to buckle up sort of, where the edges touch. I’m not sure if we hammered them too tightly or if weight distribution is off with the fridge/sofa areas, we even thought we had leveled a crucial part of hallway with self leveling cement but we still have this issue. I’ve been thinking during the warm summer days if they’ll flatten out relatively normal. If not then chip away the risen edges and fill it with epoxy and then color match it to our flooring.
You probably have some pinch points that are causing the material to bind up. Even with floors that can be run for 40-50ft we sometimes see this near door ways, or if the area has a bunch of walls and is a bit twisty. I won't accuse of a bad install, but most of the time, this is caused by expansion gaps not being protected around doors and corner.
The vinyl I’ve installed wears my blades out faster and is also so flimsy and easy to break and crack. I have to be so gentle with it to avoid chipping.
Was looking for either carpet tile, end of the roll carpet to keep the cost down, or laminate for a sunroom we are finishing building. Vinyl never crossed my mind until I came across more than I need for the sunroom for just a case of beer. Left over flooring from a commercial build. Hoping it’s good.
After remodeling a severely water damaged home I made the choice to go with the more expensive vinyl flooring. I could have gotten some great laminate flooring for almost half the cost but I just didn't want to take the risk of moisture getting somewhere it shouldn't be and doing damage.
If it was a good laminate it wouldn't have caused any issues. When you have floods, it usually your walls that fall you, not the flooring. Water finds the easiest way to go down, which normally means rushing to the walls and then under.
Mohawk Revwood. Its my go-to for Laminate. Their plus and premier (which is gorgeous), are functionally waterproof, you can steam mop them and if installed right can do anything that an LVP can do... while offering superior scratch and wear protection.
The aquaguard laminate from Floor and Decor is way more substantial and looks much better than any of their vinyl floors. It's almost like having second subfloor. Cost is a little less also.
Its a good floor. Though I am having a hard time seeing who makes it for them. Floor and Decor is basically the costco of the flooring world. Its great for DIYers.
Vinyl, especially if it's getting thinner, mean you need a PERFECT subfloor or you will see every seam in underlayment or trowel marks. Laminate floats over everything and is far more resilient to scratches and punctures.
@@RaindropConstruction No he doesn't. I wear keys out on laminate at my job while I shred the wear layers on vinyls. Laminate are more prone to chipping when you hit them with weight as they are harder though. We are seeing waaaay to many claims on 4-5mm vinyls due to installs where the floors are properly leveled. Almost always due to self installs. Tons of board separations and broken joints.
@@RaindropConstruction not all laminates require acclimation, just like not all vinyls (SPC core). They all have a temperature range to follow. Not sure what an install has to do with the difference between a wear layer made of urethane plastic, and one of melamime.
Much cleaner job for the worker... here in France also pvc flooring already has underlay attached to the bottom ... french do know how to make life easy 😅
24 hour coverage is pretty useless. Where you find laminate failures are typically at noticed leak points ie refrigerator, freezer, water heater, etc. so unless you notice the leak in 24 hours. You are still screwed.
Recently installed LVP from Home Depot’s line. It’s good enough and it’s way cheaper than anything else on the market (even for DIY) but I don’t see it lasting for more than 5 years. The boxes also only had 4 patterns, with 2 of those 4 being much more common in each box, so it doesn’t even look “natural.” Yeah it has a “lifetime warranty” but that means tearing up your floor and going to HD to get a new box. If I knew then what I know now I would’ve absolutely bought waterproof laminate and called it a day.
I tell people all the time that the wear layer on a vinyl is not as important as you think. I sell flooring for a very large company in my area of the US. 12 or 20 mils doesn't matter that much. Its the same material. It all scratches the same. The 20 mil will "last longer" because it is thicker, but by then people will have long replaced it for looking terrible. The primary drivers for cost are shipping (since most of this is made in china, vietnam or korea), how thick the material is (the core), and the fix and finish. The Fix and Finish is how many scans (images) there are, and embossing. Which is further broken down by if its embossed or not, or if the embossing is registered. 4-5 is usually what you would find for bottom barrel value floors. 8-12 would be considered "standard". My favorite has 23, with large planks... means you are running like 80 square feet without a repeat. To one that I sell that has no pattern repeat. They run the images through a photoshop scrambler. The images of the knots and stuff may be the same, but they won't appear on the same place on a different plank. Embossing is the textured feel. Registered embossing is when that textured feel actually matches the image underneath it. This goes for LVP and Laminate.
Yeah I did my vinyl floor 1 year ago and almost every end joint moves a little when you step on the joint. You can not put any sort of sound proofing under it because it is to much movement for the skinny connections
With the AC5 rating, I would not be surprised if it is made by InHaus (in germany). Floor and Decor is super protective of where they get it from. They make a great product, and by all accounts Aquaguard is a good one.
Here in Australia it's came back everyone is going for laminate for about 4 years . If they could find a way to put it into wet areas they would and ill be out of a job as a tiler.
I'm building in NSW at the moment and I think I saw options for wet areas while looking at my choices. (I went for tiles in my laundry, bath and WC anyway)
I just find vinyl to have a really cheap feel. Like I'm walking around at Walmart (before they pulled it all up). Pergo looks good and holds up well if you don't abuse it. Nothing lasts like hardwood flooring though.
Karndean better have the best looselay product. They invented it. The owner is also a massive Star Wars fan, and use the looselay and some nifty bladework to make scribe in mosaics of Darth Vader and Boba Fett in his house. There are a number of great products though, Drop n Done and Flexiplank from XL-Flooring are also great options.
i didn't know it went away. i still want it, but i think i can stain concrete for less. if it looks like crap, i can always put laminate over it later. anything but carpet
Hi, is it possible for you to make a video toward different types of floor? There are so many, wood look tile, laminate, vinyl, bamboo, hardwood, cork…….so confusing 😢
I had Home Depot measure my townhouse for new laminate flooring and I got a call saying I had crowns on my floor - and that my only option was vinyl sheeting or carpet. Anyway around this without ripping up the previous floor and dealing with releveling the floors. It’s not even noticeable.
I ripped up my old floor and after screwing down the subflooring to remove squeaks, I didn’t have more than an 1/8” dip anywhere. But you might not have the same luck, so I’d have leveling compound on standby if you go that route
crowns mean you have joist with a hump. remove subfloor and plane the joist. laminate with a 2x4 and then close. Cheers no leveler needed. we have a video on this!
I got two boxes. 😐🙄 Each box has six or eight in one. I have to go check. I opened it and realized we had a problem. Lol The boxes are so heavy that I would've thought it was fine. Heavy doesn't mean quantity. I like them though. I thought the flooring was pretty. I bought both boxes off a someone who didn't need them. They gave me a chance to check them out first. I didn't pay attention to number of them. I remember hearing something about "being able to buy more at ......." 😂 My husband stared at me real funny. Then he said, "I will use them in my travel trailer if you can't get more. That was the first of many mistakes.
A huge problem with the drop in LVP popularity is due to its long period of off gassing and the chemicals used during production. A lot of homeowners are researching vinyl flooring and are choosing healthier more sustainable options for their homes.
Depends on the LVP. Most SPC core materials have no PVC in them so they don't really outgas. WPC vinyls do however, but those are not as popular as they were. Laminates on the other hand, will outgas more. Which is why you have the two rating systems. Floor Score safe, which tests like 28 different chemicals that make people sick, and is a government rating system. Then Greenguard, which is more of a independent testing system, that tests for more. Greenguard is technically a higher rating, and is usually only found with SPC cored LVPs.
@@Aeroliten in certain situations, like on a slab the hydrostatic pressure can cause the boards to peak. I work in restoration and see it all the time from fly by night builders who are like, "its water proof, I don't need to spend the 20 cents a square foot for a vapor barrier.: Water proof itself is an incredibly loaded term. Most modern floors (vinyl and laminates) that are quality are functionally waterproof.. once you get to this area, it normally becomes a insurance claim.
Even if your prediction somehow comes out wrong, Jeff, you lay out some great reasons for a homeowner / DIYer to use laminate. Heck, I've got vinyl in my bathroom that I'm dying to replace and you basically just sold me on going that route. Thanks for the vid!
I would suggest sheet vinyl for bathrooms. it has always been the best flooring for wet areas in the home when it comes to durability and protection from water.
@@HomeRenoVisionDIY upon further reflection, I am sure you're right. And my big problem with the current vinyl sheet I have is that it was cut poorly along the tub border (gaps more than a quarter inch) and is bubbled and a tad short of the wall in the corner behind the toilet.
I installed laminate and have a huge dog (100lbs) who laps water all over the floor and drools and is a mess generally. He's also got long nails and runs around. No damage yet, 6 months in. Seems like a good product.
Joe! What should I do when installing at the top of a staircase? (The stairs are carpeted). I'm having to redo my whole house again because the flooring I got the locking joint was so brittle the entire floor is cupping, chipping and coming apart. At the top of the staircase should I glue my free floating floor? I just don't want it to come apart again (I have better flooring this time)
I got a really really good deal on laminated mdf, homedepot had a dark oak life proof laminate on sale i ended up buying 17 24 sqft cases of 8mm for 150 bucks out the door lol, did my whole basement for 300 bucks with underlayment and leveling cement and Jeff's vids
I have a bi level that where the first floor was never finished. I’ve recently finished it excluding the floor. The floor is a 4in slab (please, I did not build this house and I didn’t know the thickness of the slab until after I purchased) I believe it has a moisture barrier under the slab. I’ve used the first floor as a storage for 2 yrs (bags, boxes, wood, etc directly on floor and never seen a wet spot.) My question is can I make sub system of 6mil Barrier, osb, then laminate?
Laminate is superior when water/moisture isn’t a concern. My laminate floors feel better on the feet, and look better IMO. The high end LVPs that look like tile almost are nice and hold up better than cheaper lvp. But they cost 7$-$10 a sq/ft.
I sell the modern Pergo laminates myself at my store. Outlast is just protected by the big box stores. Installed correctly, it will do anything an LVP can do, and in some ways, better.
Yes. Though laminates are thick, so you will be raising your flooring height by a decent amount. It is a good idea to level the tile to emboss your grout joints to totally fill them in before you install. Helps prevent movement on locking joints if they are installed over low grout joints.
Let me know when dirt floors are coming back. Want my DIY projects to be as cheap as possible
LOL. Cheers!
dirt cheap!
Hahahahahhahahah.
Best reply yet ! 👍
Rammed earth floor
Finished a good week and a half prep on floors for 3 bedrooms in my house. The floor I’m replacing is a pergo laminate from 10-11 years ago. I was dead set on getting vinyl flooring but ended up going for the Allen & Roth laminate. It was just better at every test I threw at it. Looked better, thicker, heavyier, but the locking system is what ultimately swayed me. It took pliers to break it when I tested the strength. And definitely not cutting through it with a box cutter. Oh yeah it was cheaper as well for the Cherry on top. I recommend it 100%.
I would love to know how it’s holding up…
What about bathrooms? Laminate still has particle board core so if you sill water what happens?
@@denisemartin3603 Laminate is not the best for bathrooms.
@@seth101-hv4st what do you recommend for bathrooms? thx
@@DeepakKumar-lv4te Probably vinyl plank. Although waterproof laminate is a lot better than it used to be. You could try it.
I have completed several flooring projects using laminate floors, all labeled as “water resistant.” In a mudroom where we enter our house, we had to replace some boards because the constant dampness from wet boots, became damaged. The joints showed expansion and discoloration. We replaced the floor with a totally water proof vinyl and after two winters, no evidence of damage! The words “water resistant” do not mean water proof.
What about the ones that say waterproof
@@erbrooks only man made materials that don't absorb water are waterproof
water resistant means you still had to mop up the water, rather than wait for it to air dry
You're absolutely right!!!😊
Just tile it. Nearly as cheap
We own a business installing LVP and other hard surface flooring. Ive seen many different brands.
24-hour water resistance is very misleading... thats just for on the SURFACE. It'll still seep between, getting underneath, causing issues if it's repeatedly happening.
The core is impregnated with epoxy resin, in Europe 72H laminate is the norm we sell. Problem with LVT is it costs the same as honed filled travertine and limestone, most customers go for proper luxury at the price...
Whats LVP?
@@denisemartin3603 Luxury Vinyl Planks or the wood looking floor planks
Luxury vinyl plank @@denisemartin3603
@@daysofgrace2934what core is epoxy? Laminate or vinyl?
I DIY installed thick vinyl planks (6.5mm) for the bathroom, best of both worlds, never been happier
My right ear enjoyed this a lot more than my left.
Hahaha I was looking if anyone else had this issue. Glad to know I'm not alone.
on god!
😂😂😂😂 mine too. What’s that about!
Thanks for this comment. I only had my left in and was wondering why was going on
Same, I took my headphones off like🤨
The original Pergo laminate floor glued together is the perfect laminate floor little harder to install but perfect. Kitchen 23 years and counting.
Just bought a house that has Pergo. Can't wait to get rid of it. It looked nice at first glance, but it scratches easily with pet nails and any liquid spills make the floor raise around the edge of the piece. I wanted to love it so bad!
Ye-olden hardwood floors are just about the only thing that has lasted the test of time.
Concrete, stone, brick, wood, etc. all last if you don't mess them up. Only reason laminate hasn't "lasted the test of time" is because it's a new product. It should last indefinitely if taken care of.
Wood floors are great if you have $20000 to spend on flooring. And water can still ruin it.
@@HappyBeeHoney Sure, if your house is 8,000 square feet . Hardwood is barely more expensive (depending on what you get). I got Brazilian Teak for 2.5/sqft (at a builder auction a few months ago), and you can get oak for mid 2's as well. I mean, sure you can get an exotic $20+sqft wood, but most people just get oak. Laminate is usually around 2 so you spend, what, a dollar more per square foot? So a lot closer to $2,000 more than $20,000 (unless you live in an 8,000 sqft house of course).
@@user-nh3gu1ge3d It's about $7/sqft for 3/4" red oak in CA, plus install is a bit more technical than snapping laminate together so you might be looking at install costs. And I prefer unfinished wood that is finished after install, so add finishing costs to that price.
@@HappyBeeHoney CA being overpriced is an issue with CA, not wood. But yeah, it's definitely more labor esp if you don't get prefinished. Like I said, I got my Brazilian Teak for 2.5/sqft which is about what laminate costs, but then install and finishing was def. more expensive than laminate (because there is none). It cost me about 3k more than laminate per thousand sqft. I think that's a relatively small price to pay for a vastly superior product but to each his own, I suppose.
You're only going to spend 20k (total or extra) if you get gouged for living in cali, get gouged at the store for the product, have a ginormous house, and/or get gouged on install. I picked mine up myself from the auction so it's a lot less convenient, have to organize your own transport via truck/trailer, and wait for an auction to roll around. But for a once in 30-50 year event, a little extra leg work is well worth it. Again, just my opinion. YMMV.
I've installed both laminate and lvp. Only lvp for builders I've worked for, and I prefer the way laminate feels. My boss always recommended lvp but it seems cheaper than good quality laminate. The way pergo snaps together, is bulletproof and has a more robust texture makes it feel like real wood
100%
So which one do u recommend??
Say no to particle board.
My experience is get the thickest laminate you can. 15mm and a good underlayment. Don’t skip the underlayment even when going over wood subfloor. The thin vinyl seems to flex more when walking on it. Just my opinion.
Floor Prep is a must.
Thinner LVPs are failing at an alarming rate because floors aren't being prepped correctly, or the house is shifting and pushing them out of the floor's tolerances for height variations.
Laminates have more meat behind them, gives them more to work with when it comes to that variation.
Floors still need to be prepped/leveled, but the tolerance for failure is far far better on a product that has some thickness to it.
They make LVPs that do the same (7mm or more), but you start seeing the price point start to increase drastically.
There is nothing a vinyl does that a good laminate can also do, often times better.
Some have underpayment on the planks some don’t. Also factor in the locking style tung and groves the best because you can slide the planks to fit them in place
I agree. Always use a nice underlayment; I used HDs cork one and it was excellent. I always go LVP though, no laminate.
@@daleludtke7803is LVP’s better for bay house then vinyl?
@@xxmahrooxx LVP is still a vinyl, it's just not sheet goods.
Just follow the install instructions.
We just installed LVT and are so in love with it. We are only mad it took us this long!!
Lvt?
@@denisemartin3603It stands for luxury vinyl tiles but I misspoke because we actually used a laminate wood flooring. We went with Mohawk in Townview Oak. A year later, still looks brand new and we still love it!!
@@denisemartin3603 It stands for luxury vinyl tile. Unfortunately, though, I misspoke because we actually used a laminate wood flooring. We went with Mohawk in Townview Oak. A year later, we still love it!!!
@@denisemartin3603 It stands for luxury vinyl tile. Unfortunately, though, I misspoke because we actually used a laminate wood flooring. We went with Mohawk in Townview Oak. A year later, we still love it!!!
@@denisemartin3603 It stands for luxury vinyl tile. Unfortunately, though, I misspoke because we actually used a laminate wood flooring. We went with Mohawk in Townview Oak. A year later, we still love it!!!
Thank you for this information, I watching your videos help me prepare to do my flooring 🙌
I work for a flooring distributor and you are 100% right. Our LVP sales have plummeted and with the new laminates that are coming out, we’re going through so much we can barely keep it in stock.
Can you recommend a laminate?
I sell floors for a living and have moved into my second market.
I am doing my best to turn people away from LVPs here too. To much hassle. We are about 4-5 years into the current LVP trend of thinning out those cores to 4-5mm thick and the claims are starting to roll in... especially on the DIYers.
Similar to the 10 year mark when people started to realize their LVPs scratch alot easier than they were sold on and their floors don't look as good.
With laminates basically solving their water issues in the last few years you have the advantage of a floor that doesn't really scratch easy and can handle moisture.
People just have a bad taste in their mouths from the old Pergos from 30 years ago. They couldn't handle moisture and they installed them in wet areas.
They see the bubbling and think its a terrible floor and conviniently forget that in their living room it usually still looks great because it wears like iron.
@@bman041 RevWood from Mohawk. Their Premier line specifically.
Looks amazing. Its functionally water proof. You can steam mop it and installed right can go in wet areas like bathrooms.
Its about as close in appearance that you can get to actual hardwood without it being wood.
It will make pretty much any LVP look like the hunk of plastic that it is.
@@daleludtke7803bathrooms too? Even with constant dripping from tub? Doesn't warp the particle board core?
@@denisemartin3603 yes they can warp in wet areas.
I put some 1/2 laminate from the big blue store in my grandpa's a few years ago. I've installed over 10k sq ft of different vinyls and so far that laminate was my favorite!
We've had 1st generation glue together Pergo laminate in the dry rooms of of our home for almost 30 years. Its held up against wear and tear and spills and we're only replacing it because of remodeling. I'm skeptical of the durabilty claims of LVP so we're leaning toward laminate again which has a proven track record. We're be searching for a brand that is also bathroom and kitchen friendly..
Now you can get laminate that’s completely waterproof. The pergo pro stuff can be had on sale for dirt cheap too. I’ve tested it myself by soaking a sample piece in water for a week. It got wet, but never expanded, and once dry again it was good as new. Kicks ass in many applications where you just don’t need to spend a fortune on flooring but need something that looks nice and is durable.
We did the same with our mannington restorations flooring before we purchased it. The mistake we made was getting a puppy because they say they are pet friendly. They aren’t. Our dog didn’t have a lot of accidents and we cleaned up quickly when he did, but the damage was done within seconds. Company says pet friendly is only for water.
I'm a big fan of mohawk products and we have a manufacturing plant right here in NC. Some of their products have up to 72 hour water proof warranty. I've been selling flooring for over 10 years and I didn't realize laminate is often times more scratch resistant than vinyl and the textures and colors have improved so much from the old plastic looking vinyl. I think the thickness of laminate adds some insulation and sounds better in big open spaces compared to the thin vinyl I often experience echos in those type areas. Last thing, I imagine laminate is much more environmentally friendly as the floor gets replaced over the years and goes to the landfill
I'm a huge fan of the laminate from Sam's Club. Good quality, built in padding, and a very good price. Vinyl scratches to easily. The only place I'll use it is in a bathroom.
My parents have had laminate for about 20 years and it's only now just showing the wear. It was on clearance at Value City way back when. Laminate is good, just take decent care of it. Hardwood will last much longer, but we don't all have that budget.
Just got same for almost $2/sq ft. Installing this week hopefully it lasts us!
I used Mohawk Revwood plus a couple times. Still dusty to cut but super easy to install. Two and a half years, three young kids, and a 60lb dog later, and the only damage to the floor is the one or two spots where a knife was dropped point-down. The floor looks fantastic, always getting compliments on it. The buyers of that house were shocked when we told them the floor was over two years old.
Some styles of revwood appear to be slightly more scratch and dent resistant, but we liked it enough to put it in the next house too.
I just installed Revwood Premier some weeks ago. So far okay…. Hopefully 20 years from now still okay!!!
Revwood is great!
Bathrooms too?
I like these videos, coming from Manitoba ❄️
My right ear enjoyed this video.
Hardwood and tile for me. I did the install myself and increased the value of my home. Basically spent half and made double. Win/wjn!
It’s something I like about her. No makeup no wig she’s chocolate well spoken. Stephen a should definitely keep this one ☝️
Very useful explanation 👍🏽thank you!
So the top is waterproof yes but once that water infiltrates into the seams that's not waterproof is it? especially areas that have been cut. So, unless you seal those cuts up, it's going to suck up the water and it will begin to bulge. same thing if you ever get a scratch on the laminate It will allow for that pressed sawdust inside to take a drink... What do you think?
I love that smart core laminate from Lowe’s. That stuff is good quality
As a flooring installer I always recommend that my customers do not skimp on the price of materials on their flooring.
Which is a good flooring material brand anti water anti moist that would last forever ?
@@El_Prophet11 Pretty much any quality floor (LVP or Laminate) will serve those purposes... at least for what it actually matters.
Nothing really lasts forever though.
Water resistant Laminates have the edge up on durability though.
Waterproof is a loaded term for flooring. It doesn't really mean what most people think it means.
A piece of LVP is waterproof. You can throw it in a pool for a week, take it out, dry it and install it.... but if your dishwasher explodes you are going to lose it anyway, because they are going to tear it out to get to your subfloor or slab to repair damage/remediate.
@@daleludtke7803 thank you brother
@@El_Prophet11out of all the flooring that I've installed I personally like the smartcore ultra the best from Lowes.
Any thoughts on bamboo flooring?
i have had a 12mm laminate floor in my kitchen for 13 years. No scratches, warping, water damage, chipping, nothing. Still looks brand new. I was looking into vinyl lately but has heard alot of people having problem with the vinyl planks separating in tje joins and getting all wavy after just 2 years.
Seperation in joints is often from a improperly leveled floor, combined with LVPs getting thinner and thinner to keep costs down.
Makes the locking mechanisms pretty brittle.
One of my top sellers I can snap with my thumb. If I can't convince them to make the switch to laminate (which nine times out of tens happens with a key test), I take them to a thick LVP that has some meat on its bones.
@daleludtke7803 I've been reading your responses to other commentors and feel like you know what you're talking about. My house is 1,000 sq ft on slab in Florida. For years I've been convinced that I wanted to use LVP throughout the entire house including kitchen and bathrooms. Now I'm wondering if I need to rethink that. What's a brand of laminate in a mid-range price that you recommend? Thanks in advance.
@@cyndij8312 . . Pergo Timbercraft (Lowe's) Pergo Outlast (Home Depot). Same stuff.
@@cyndij8312so what did you go with? Im in Florida too and trying to decide
@@denisemartin3603 I haven't done the floors yet! I can't decide.
Hey I'll take either if it's the right price, a jigsaw with a good blade helps the dust on laminate if you cut it over plastic not dust free but not nearly as dusty as circular saw and blades are cheaper if that's a concern
I’m looking for this right now, and I was about to buy vinyl flooring based on your videos, but if laminate is making a comeback and it is waterproof, then I am interested. Brands, where to buy, please?
I used laminate flooring when I recently renovated a bathroom in my home. I had to take out the dry rotted subflooring, which I replaced with pressure treated plywood, and sister one of the joists. Two years later I don’t see any water leaks, and the flooring still looks pristine. When I get around to renovating my other bathroom I will use laminate in that one too. The real tile floor looks great, but the grout gets stained and gross and makes the bathroom stinky.
Use porcelain tile and epoxy grout for your tile joints and problem solved.
@@j.w.r.i2910 thanks for the tip. I have been leaning toward a lazy man solution and just putting down floor leveler and painting it with epoxy paint.
I like the old glue together pergo. I wish they would make that again
Yes but what are some good brands , so many at the big box stores have have a inferior product who's joints that are paper thin and break or don't lock in to said joints or both , same thing goes for vinyl plank flooring. Had to replace some procore brand vinyl plank with ceramic tile flooring because the joints were fragile and wouldn't lock in.
I will be doing a video soon. Cheers!
I just placed an order to do my entire home with laminate. I was shocked when sales guy started talking about it. This stuff is amazing and nearly half inch thick!!
Your salesperson was smart.
I am a project manager who sets up home installs, helps pick and sell floors, and organizes the jobs for labor or sundry.
You buy a good laminate, install it correctly and it will do anything an LVP can do, and in many cases better.
@@daleludtke7803 finding a good laminate is the hard part it's so many out there
@@luccib7225 there are alot of good laminates out there too. Just avoid the crap they sell at the big box stores.
Go find yourself some Revvood Select/Plus/Premium (the premium is gorgeous).
Karastan has just released a set of Laminate that is 9.5 wide, and 80 inches long that is steam moppable.
Just be sure to ask your sales person who is selling it to you "what makes it water proof/resistant."
You want one that adds water resistant materials into the core construction as well.
My parents still have linoleum tiles from the 70s in closets and hidden areas. That stuff is indestructible.
My right ear enjoyed this.
How about sheet linoleum? I'm seriously considering it!
You don't normally see actual linoleum anymore. But Forbo does Marmoleum, which is the same natural products.
What most people today think is linoleum is actually sheet vinyl.
Prices can range from dirt cheap to more than most LVPs/Laminates.
The install is more complicated than most people realize, with more embossing and prep required than floating floors.
Okay so here's the deal with sheet vinyl (what you're probably talking about): It is AMAZING to walk on, if you get good quality thick kind. Sort of between carpet and hardwood, where sturdy glasses won't break and it's comfortable to kneel on. And if you have pets that like to piss all the time, you wipe it up and you're done. No gaps, no cracks, no grout, and if you put a 1/4 inch ridge below the edge of it at the walls, piss won't go under it. it's effortless.
BUT IT RIPS IF YOU LOOK AT IT. Every single item you own will need to be put on furniture sliders, or their feet will rip it. And you will need to glue it down if you don't want to go insane with how loud claws are while pets walk on it. But none of that is super hard, and the benefits for pet owners and for general livability (again, it feels much more like carpet than laminate or hardwood or LVP) make it worth the hassle imo.
As a pet owner, sheet vinyl is my bestfriend temporarily. No cracks at all. I got Shaw wood-look ones. Wish i had it prior when I had a geriatric dog 🐕
For my next build I think im going to go with stained and sealed concrete. I dont wanna deal with anything that will rot or hold mold like carpet or wood, pop/fail like my past builder grade LVP, or have microscopic cracks or hold moisture inbetween the slab and LVP.
Ready for my steel barndo with sealed slab. 🐶😺
Just added real solid hard wood to our home and love it…
Locking matters. A long seam opened in the field of our vinyl floor from minimal connection point.
I had beautiful AquaGuard laminate in my last townhouse and loved it.
I Have kiddos and I made the mistake of putting laminate flooring 😞 We have recently purchased a house with Vinyl flooring and I will forever be a fan of vinyl flooring…. If you have young kiddos who play sports ⚽️ 🏈 🏀 I highly recommend Vinyl flooring…
Why what happens to it? :)
Great information
My flooring that we installed has started to buckle up sort of, where the edges touch. I’m not sure if we hammered them too tightly or if weight distribution is off with the fridge/sofa areas, we even thought we had leveled a crucial part of hallway with self leveling cement but we still have this issue. I’ve been thinking during the warm summer days if they’ll flatten out relatively normal. If not then chip away the risen edges and fill it with epoxy and then color match it to our flooring.
You probably have some pinch points that are causing the material to bind up.
Even with floors that can be run for 40-50ft we sometimes see this near door ways, or if the area has a bunch of walls and is a bit twisty.
I won't accuse of a bad install, but most of the time, this is caused by expansion gaps not being protected around doors and corner.
Picked up 6mil+2mil pad at Costco for $1.42 sqft (on sale). Normally around $2.70 or so.
If you know how to make your floor super smooth there is still good thin vinyl that will stay together well.
The vinyl I’ve installed wears my blades out faster and is also so flimsy and easy to break and crack. I have to be so gentle with it to avoid chipping.
Need to use higher quality and buy the cutting tool off Amazon that Jeff recommends for $80, well worth it.
Was looking for either carpet tile, end of the roll carpet to keep the cost down, or laminate for a sunroom we are finishing building. Vinyl never crossed my mind until I came across more than I need for the sunroom for just a case of beer. Left over flooring from a commercial build. Hoping it’s good.
After remodeling a severely water damaged home I made the choice to go with the more expensive vinyl flooring. I could have gotten some great laminate flooring for almost half the cost but I just didn't want to take the risk of moisture getting somewhere it shouldn't be and doing damage.
If it was a good laminate it wouldn't have caused any issues.
When you have floods, it usually your walls that fall you, not the flooring. Water finds the easiest way to go down, which normally means rushing to the walls and then under.
laminate is warmer, water resistant now. the edges have wax on it now so it creates a water seal.
I just bought laminate and I started getting soooo worried after so many cons. The one I got is water resistance.
Thank you for texting me something new!!
Great video. Do you have a brand recommendation for laminate ?
Mohawk Revwood.
Its my go-to for Laminate. Their plus and premier (which is gorgeous), are functionally waterproof, you can steam mop them and if installed right can do anything that an LVP can do... while offering superior scratch and wear protection.
The aquaguard laminate from Floor and Decor is way more substantial and looks much better than any of their vinyl floors.
It's almost like having second subfloor.
Cost is a little less also.
Its a good floor. Though I am having a hard time seeing who makes it for them.
Floor and Decor is basically the costco of the flooring world. Its great for DIYers.
Your tutorials are really helpful thanks
Got solid 3/4 in 5 inch wide white oak for $2.50 a square the other day! 1000+ sqft godsend on this house restoration!
Was it stolen?
That is a crazy low price.
Vinyl, especially if it's getting thinner, mean you need a PERFECT subfloor or you will see every seam in underlayment or trowel marks. Laminate floats over everything and is far more resilient to scratches and punctures.
You've got those backwards
@@RaindropConstruction No he doesn't.
I wear keys out on laminate at my job while I shred the wear layers on vinyls.
Laminate are more prone to chipping when you hit them with weight as they are harder though.
We are seeing waaaay to many claims on 4-5mm vinyls due to installs where the floors are properly leveled. Almost always due to self installs.
Tons of board separations and broken joints.
@@daleludtke7803 installation error. Broken locks on install or flooring wasn't acclimated and isn't kept within acceptable temp range
@@RaindropConstruction not all laminates require acclimation, just like not all vinyls (SPC core).
They all have a temperature range to follow.
Not sure what an install has to do with the difference between a wear layer made of urethane plastic, and one of melamime.
Keep up good work
Thanks, will do!
Much cleaner job for the worker... here in France also pvc flooring already has underlay attached to the bottom ... french do know how to make life easy 😅
The TrafficMaster laminate floor in my kitchen still looks pretty good. It looks like like, not wood.
24 hour coverage is pretty useless. Where you find laminate failures are typically at noticed leak points ie refrigerator, freezer, water heater, etc. so unless you notice the leak in 24 hours. You are still screwed.
Recently installed LVP from Home Depot’s line. It’s good enough and it’s way cheaper than anything else on the market (even for DIY) but I don’t see it lasting for more than 5 years. The boxes also only had 4 patterns, with 2 of those 4 being much more common in each box, so it doesn’t even look “natural.” Yeah it has a “lifetime warranty” but that means tearing up your floor and going to HD to get a new box. If I knew then what I know now I would’ve absolutely bought waterproof laminate and called it a day.
I tell people all the time that the wear layer on a vinyl is not as important as you think.
I sell flooring for a very large company in my area of the US.
12 or 20 mils doesn't matter that much. Its the same material. It all scratches the same. The 20 mil will "last longer" because it is thicker, but by then people will have long replaced it for looking terrible.
The primary drivers for cost are shipping (since most of this is made in china, vietnam or korea), how thick the material is (the core), and the fix and finish. The Fix and Finish is how many scans (images) there are, and embossing. Which is further broken down by if its embossed or not, or if the embossing is registered.
4-5 is usually what you would find for bottom barrel value floors.
8-12 would be considered "standard".
My favorite has 23, with large planks... means you are running like 80 square feet without a repeat.
To one that I sell that has no pattern repeat. They run the images through a photoshop scrambler. The images of the knots and stuff may be the same, but they won't appear on the same place on a different plank.
Embossing is the textured feel. Registered embossing is when that textured feel actually matches the image underneath it.
This goes for LVP and Laminate.
Yeah I did my vinyl floor 1 year ago and almost every end joint moves a little when you step on the joint. You can not put any sort of sound proofing under it because it is to much movement for the skinny connections
Thank you sir
Can you give an example of these more robust laminate options?
I just put laminate floors in really nice thick waterproof sounds great to walk on and looks extremely close to real wood definitely recommend
72H water resistant laminate is good, was thinking about LVT in the kitchen but honed Dijon limestone tiles cost the same...
Try Aquaguard at Floor and Decor. Fantastic stuff.
With the AC5 rating, I would not be surprised if it is made by InHaus (in germany). Floor and Decor is super protective of where they get it from.
They make a great product, and by all accounts Aquaguard is a good one.
I'd love to see a video about VCT, Jeff. Seems perfect for a church basement lol...!
Down to cellar, that’s where I’ve kept my laminate, didn’t know why at time.
Here in Australia it's came back everyone is going for laminate for about 4 years . If they could find a way to put it into wet areas they would and ill be out of a job as a tiler.
I'm building in NSW at the moment and I think I saw options for wet areas while looking at my choices. (I went for tiles in my laundry, bath and WC anyway)
As a pet owner i decided to only go with full water proof, its expensive but less than changing the whole floor
I just find vinyl to have a really cheap feel. Like I'm walking around at Walmart (before they pulled it all up). Pergo looks good and holds up well if you don't abuse it. Nothing lasts like hardwood flooring though.
I have quality waterproof laminate with hydroseal even for bathrooms and it is amazing
I'm looking for flooring now! What laminate floor is that? It is even the color I am looking for!
Karndean looselay is the best LVP in my experience. Super thick and quiet.
I have a karndean click, select? Drives me crazy, places that sink underfoot, noisy as he'll. Beautiful color but hate walking on it
Karndean better have the best looselay product.
They invented it.
The owner is also a massive Star Wars fan, and use the looselay and some nifty bladework to make scribe in mosaics of Darth Vader and Boba Fett in his house.
There are a number of great products though, Drop n Done and Flexiplank from XL-Flooring are also great options.
@@maryschatz8406 you have improper subflooring not level... otherwise you shouldn't hear any clicking noise.
Yup. Just went house shopping and EVERY SINGLE HOUSE that got some sort of remodel had that exact same flooring in it
On a quality laminate could you wax the joints in the wet areas. Get them sealed.. entrance ways.. once you transistion to dry your gold.
i didn't know it went away. i still want it, but i think i can stain concrete for less. if it looks like crap, i can always put laminate over it later. anything but carpet
Hi, is it possible for you to make a video toward different types of floor? There are so many, wood look tile, laminate, vinyl, bamboo, hardwood, cork…….so confusing 😢
I had Home Depot measure my townhouse for new laminate flooring and I got a call saying I had crowns on my floor - and that my only option was vinyl sheeting or carpet. Anyway around this without ripping up the previous floor and dealing with releveling the floors. It’s not even noticeable.
I ripped up my old floor and after screwing down the subflooring to remove squeaks, I didn’t have more than an 1/8” dip anywhere. But you might not have the same luck, so I’d have leveling compound on standby if you go that route
@@chite3111 thank you so much, Chad! I’ll look into it
crowns mean you have joist with a hump. remove subfloor and plane the joist. laminate with a 2x4 and then close. Cheers no leveler needed. we have a video on this!
I recommend to use the proper dustless cutting saw I use it on most of everything vinyl. Laminate and real hardwood.
Yes it has.. I’ve laid a couple of those.. not easier to lay them lvp but very good grade of flooring
I got two boxes. 😐🙄 Each box has six or eight in one. I have to go check. I opened it and realized we had a problem. Lol The boxes are so heavy that I would've thought it was fine. Heavy doesn't mean quantity. I like them though. I thought the flooring was pretty. I bought both boxes off a someone who didn't need them. They gave me a chance to check them out first. I didn't pay attention to number of them. I remember hearing something about "being able to buy more at ......."
😂 My husband stared at me real funny. Then he said, "I will use them in my travel trailer if you can't get more.
That was the first of many mistakes.
A huge problem with the drop in LVP popularity is due to its long period of off gassing and the chemicals used during production. A lot of homeowners are researching vinyl flooring and are choosing healthier more sustainable options for their homes.
I got my LVP from the orange box place and it hasn't had any issues with off-gassing
Depends on the LVP.
Most SPC core materials have no PVC in them so they don't really outgas. WPC vinyls do however, but those are not as popular as they were.
Laminates on the other hand, will outgas more.
Which is why you have the two rating systems. Floor Score safe, which tests like 28 different chemicals that make people sick, and is a government rating system.
Then Greenguard, which is more of a independent testing system, that tests for more.
Greenguard is technically a higher rating, and is usually only found with SPC cored LVPs.
😂 ok
Can you make a video on replacing a waterproof vinyl that has been damaged
Because of water ?
Didn't even know vinyl could be damaged by water, can you explain?
@@Aeroliten in certain situations, like on a slab the hydrostatic pressure can cause the boards to peak.
I work in restoration and see it all the time from fly by night builders who are like, "its water proof, I don't need to spend the 20 cents a square foot for a vapor barrier.:
Water proof itself is an incredibly loaded term.
Most modern floors (vinyl and laminates) that are quality are functionally waterproof.. once you get to this area, it normally becomes a insurance claim.
Even if your prediction somehow comes out wrong, Jeff, you lay out some great reasons for a homeowner / DIYer to use laminate. Heck, I've got vinyl in my bathroom that I'm dying to replace and you basically just sold me on going that route.
Thanks for the vid!
I would suggest sheet vinyl for bathrooms. it has always been the best flooring for wet areas in the home when it comes to durability and protection from water.
@@HomeRenoVisionDIY upon further reflection, I am sure you're right. And my big problem with the current vinyl sheet I have is that it was cut poorly along the tub border (gaps more than a quarter inch) and is bubbled and a tad short of the wall in the corner behind the toilet.
I installed laminate and have a huge dog (100lbs) who laps water all over the floor and drools and is a mess generally. He's also got long nails and runs around. No damage yet, 6 months in. Seems like a good product.
Joe! What should I do when installing at the top of a staircase? (The stairs are carpeted).
I'm having to redo my whole house again because the flooring I got the locking joint was so brittle the entire floor is cupping, chipping and coming apart.
At the top of the staircase should I glue my free floating floor? I just don't want it to come apart again (I have better flooring this time)
Wonder what brand is good and recommended in Montreal area...
That 24hr water holdout only works from the top if any water gets below it your done
I got a really really good deal on laminated mdf, homedepot had a dark oak life proof laminate on sale i ended up buying 17 24 sqft cases of 8mm for 150 bucks out the door lol, did my whole basement for 300 bucks with underlayment and leveling cement and Jeff's vids
nice job!
If you're a landlord you can't really trust that spills will be cleaned up in 24 hrs. Carpet is also a no-go.
Laminate sheeting 🤷🏼♀️
I'm a landlord and have had carpet for the past 15 years renting. No problems.
I have a bi level that where the first floor was never finished. I’ve recently finished it excluding the floor. The floor is a 4in slab (please, I did not build this house and I didn’t know the thickness of the slab until after I purchased) I believe it has a moisture barrier under the slab. I’ve used the first floor as a storage for 2 yrs (bags, boxes, wood, etc directly on floor and never seen a wet spot.) My question is can I make sub system of 6mil Barrier, osb, then laminate?
Laminate is superior when water/moisture isn’t a concern. My laminate floors feel better on the feet, and look better IMO. The high end LVPs that look like tile almost are nice and hold up better than cheaper lvp. But they cost 7$-$10 a sq/ft.
Laminate flooring from Costco is the best flooring you can buy! I hate vinyl, all high traffic areas you can clearly see joings coming undone.
thank you for your video is it nontoxic?
Went with pergo outlast. Definitely better than lvp for the price.
I sell the modern Pergo laminates myself at my store. Outlast is just protected by the big box stores.
Installed correctly, it will do anything an LVP can do, and in some ways, better.
That’s good to hear since I’m thinking of redoing our flooring. Can I lay that laminate flooring over tile?
Yes. Clean it well, and get a good underlay and have at it.
Yes.
Though laminates are thick, so you will be raising your flooring height by a decent amount.
It is a good idea to level the tile to emboss your grout joints to totally fill them in before you install. Helps prevent movement on locking joints if they are installed over low grout joints.