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Laminate flooring in a kitchen?

7 replies

404UsernameNotFound · 20/01/2020 11:59

Moved into this house two years ago. Its previous occupiers seem to have spent an extraordinary amount of money on a solid marble floor throughout the entire ground floor. It's not a nice floor, it's not been looked after in any way and so the kitchen especially is stained and marked.

Gradually we've covered this floor throughout the house and now it only remains in the kitchen.
The units themselves are relatively new so ripping the whole thing out, including the floor is a huge waste of money.
I'm pondering a laminate, fitted up to the plinth and then in 15 years or so when we do replace the kitchen we can rip the lot out.

Has anyone fitted a laminate in the kitchen? It's not really high traffic, just DH and I (and small dog). I'd also thought of vinyl but boarding out would be more expensive than laminate and laying it over the marble would surely show the grout lines through eventually.

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MTJTD · 20/01/2020 13:03

You can get rigid T&G vinyl flooring these days; depending on your budget there's Karndean that's widely available and Amtico if you don't want to spend that much.

Malmo is a lesser known brand but very cost-effective.

If you do decide to go with laminate though, be sure to check the ratings and warranties. Some are not suitable for kitchens and if you fit it and have a problem, you may find yourself having voided your warranty.

mencken · 20/01/2020 13:14

I was going to suggest vinyl instead but not with a dog. Had laminate in our last kitchen in an intermittently rented house. Something heavy dropped on it by someone left a crack, but otherwise was fine.

404UsernameNotFound · 20/01/2020 17:01

Thanks both.
I've just done the dining room in a laminate I like and was thinking of using the same stuff. It doesn't say on b&Q that it's suitable for kitchens, just says bedrooms, living rooms and high traffic areas but as it's not waterproof I have no doubt I'd invalidate any guarantees. That said, the flooring (without underlay etc) works out at about £150 so not a huge outlay if it doesn't last that long.
Budget isn't rigid so I could have a look at Karndean etc. I'll have a nosey now.

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Howcouldyoubelieveme · 20/01/2020 17:09

We have laminate in our kitchen. It’s ok but has sunk underneath the free standing fridge freezer and warped a bit where my daughter spilled an entire bottle of undiluted squash (don’t ask) and it’s gone underneath the plinth and then underneath the laminate.

I probably wouldn’t do it again to be honest but it’s ok and without clumsy children and if you’ve got a built in fridge freezer you’d be fine.

404UsernameNotFound · 20/01/2020 17:15

Fridge Freezer is an American thing and kind of slots in an area under the stairs with the washer and dryer so if it did sink it probably wouldn't be noticeable.
The existing marble (though hideous) was exceptionally well made and has made for a really good base for the wood we've fitted in every other room. I'm just not sure I can live with it until the kitchen needs replacing again.

I keep reasoning that spending £200 to not have to see it again for ten years is absolutely worth it Grin

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filka · 21/01/2020 17:05

We have laminate in our new-build house. We had a leak from a bad joint under the sink and didn't notice it for some while. As a result, water found its way under the laminate and we had to replace most of the kitchen floor. Fortunately this was under warranty, but the moral of the lesson is that you need waterproof flooring in the kitchen - so laminate doesn't cut it for me.

Could you lay ceramic tiles straight onto the existing floor?

Otherwise vinyl would be OK, provided you aren't in the habit of walking around in stilettos in the house as they will mark vinyl.

404UsernameNotFound · 21/01/2020 23:03

Been to look at flooring tonight and found some laminate for kitchens in b&q. It's listed as splash proof. Worse case scenario if there is a flood it just over £150 to replace it as dh will fit it himself. I can live with that.

Vinyl over the marble will just show the grout lines with wear and tiling over the existing floor will cause issues in time when the kitchen is replaced so for us this is the best solution We feel.

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