I went with a basic laminate over vinyl plank in my Mill Woods kitchen and I'm glad I did.

Everyone in my neighborhood was putting in that waterproof vinyl plank, but my budget was tight at about $2,500 for the whole job. I chose a decent laminate from a local shop and, after a year, it still looks perfect with no issues from spills. Has anyone else gone against the vinyl trend and been happy with it?

3 comments

3 Comments

patricia_king233mo ago

My aunt in Leduc put laminate in her sunroom about three years ago... she has two big dogs that track in snow and mud all winter. She was so worried but it's held up fine, just a few scratches near the door. I helped her pick a darker color to hide the dirt. Sometimes the cheaper option just works out for how you actually live.

eric_carr3mo ago

Did she get the kind with a textured surface? I've heard that can hide small scratches way better than a smooth finish, which might explain why it's held up so well with the dogs.

charles_green17d ago

Pick a darker color with a textured finish and you're basically bulletproof with laminate. @patricia_king23 your aunt nailed it, that darker color hides everything. I helped a buddy do his kitchen in Mill Woods with a similar laminate and his kids drop stuff all the time, you can't see a thing on the darker wood grain. The only spot that showed wear was right under the dog bowls where water sat for a day, but a quick wipe fixed it. For most families, the premium vinyl hype is overkill if you just match the color to how you live.