Kitchen Flooring

[c_shah]

I am looking for replacing my existing sheet vinyl kitchen flooring.

I live in a townhome (the house is on a slab) so I have been told I can't use real hardwood but floating wood floor is only choice.

I have a child and sometime there is an occasional spill here and there. Also, we love to cook and so floor is subject to stain and scratch.

I called flooring company nearby and they suggested Flexitec cushion vinyl.

Is anyone used this product? How durable/stain resistant it is to use in the kitchen?

[Colbyt]

I have not heard of that brand (means nothing). Full ceramic or a cushioned (loose lay) vinyl are your best choices.

I think but do not know for sure that there are some engineered wood products that can be glued to above grade concrete.

A quality piece of vinyl should last 10-15 years if not abused. Most don't stain from normal household spills.

Colbyt

[Oren]

It's true. Mohawk Flooring has such a product. 5/8" thick, 10 ply. The glue is expensive.

An index here:

See the "Sub-Floor & Sub-Strate Requirements" in that *.pdf file.

Vinyl has come a long way over the years. Many more colors, patterns, etc.

[ransley]

I used Pergo in my kitchen, I wish I didnt, its so smooth any dirt shows and it dents easily and i cant fix just one board. Sheet vinyl is nice but consider individual squares, when you damage one, not if you will damage any, you replace just one. With sheet goods you will be sheet out of luck. I used a nice preglued pattern that looks like stone from HD [ some name brand stuff] in 12 kitchens in a rental in

07 and have had 0 issues. There are alot of nice 12"x12" vinyl tiles made, some look like stone and cost alot but they last awhile. Kitchens get heavy wear, I had a pattern of 12"x12" that looked like brick and wore great, the secret is they were color through, not a layer of color, they lasted 35 years with 3 dogs in a kitchen. Shop and research before you buy, there are some very good products avalaible that take abuse, when you put a few dings in a sheet product, its ruined. The preglued I used has a 2 layer epoxy that only activated when a 110lb steel roller broke the seals. Color through is hard to find in nice styles, but some new stuff is almost as good. Wood in a kitchen would need about 7 coats to take my abuse. Shop around.

[c_shah]

Thanks all. While searching online I found StrataMax by Armstrong (Loose lay)

are these any good?

[HeyBub]

Dunno 'bout that, but cheap laminate will work swell. Damn stuff is impervious to almost anything (although it will burn).

[Wayne Boatwright]

On Tue 26 May 2009 01:40:18p, Colbyt told us...

After having real hardwood, quarry tile, and sautillo tile floors in previous kitchens, our present kitchen has a top quality sheet vinyl that is loose laid, secured at perimeter only. It may not have the classiest or most fashinable look, but it sure is easier to take care of. I had forgotten the advantages of good quality vinyl.

[postacct]

I saw some vinyl "plank" flooring at either HD or Lowes recently. I think it was 6" X 36" or something like that and was available in a couple of different "finishes" that looked pretty good.