Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - Hardwood vs. Laminate

I am sure this question has been asked a thousand times, but I am trying to decide between Hardwood and a Laminate (ie. Pergo Select).

I am planning to have a contractor install what ever I choose.

I would like to have either installed in my foyer, hallway and kitchen. I have three young children, but no dogs. After reading all the websites on Hardwood and Laminates, my wife is paranoid about installing HW in our kitchen. The main reason for this is the reality that liquid (water or juice) WILL get on the floor and often no one will no until it gets "sticky". Kids have a way of helping themselves and not cleaning up when they make a mess.

I like the look of HW, but all of the cautions on needing to wipe spills immediately concerns me and my wife.

Laminates appear to be an option, but they also have this disclaimer about spills - though they seem more resistant than HW. My issue with laminates is that they look cheap. I don't mean to offend anyone, but they just don't look as nice as HW. I have seen laminates installed and over time they appear to get dirt between the planks (separation due to humidity change or whatever reason) which make laminates look worse over time.

I am also concerned about dent resistance, but not as much as moisture/spills. Kids do tend to throw/drop things (cars, trucks, toys, etc.) and our kitchen is next to our family room, which is used heavily. If HW is chosen we will use BellaWood Select, Red Oak due to its very durable finish and the oak grain would hide a lot of the scratches and dents that will occur.

Ultimately, price is not an issue. I want a floor that will last and look very nice. I don't want to have to do it twice. Something else to consider is that I may also finish my living room, dining room and family on the first floor at a later date (2-3 years). Total area is about 1250 sq ft. I am not sure laminates will look good in such a large area.

Any insight that can be provided would be helpful.

I am very partial to wood but there are some great laminate products out there. I would not be too concerned about the wood in a kitchen area. I would place a mat in front of the stove and sink to help prevent any water or grease drips. I think when you said you want something to last than wood seems like a no-brainer. If it starts to look nasty in 15 years then refinish it and you have a brand new floor again. Wood floors bring the value of a home up, laminate does not. If you scratch a wood floor badly you can screen the area then put a coat of poly on top of it and you're good to go. If you scratch laminate or damage it badly then you have to replace it. I also agree with you when you say laminate looks cheep. I am also not trying to insult someones investment because for many people laminate is the best way to go for them. I just have this thing about material that try to look like the real thing. It never really does in my eyes. That is why I am itching to take the linoleum out of my bathroom that "looks" like tile so I can put the real macoy in :).

So many people are putting wood nowadays in a kitchen that people think that it is the new thing to do. However if you look into home built in the 1800's to early 1900's most of them had wood in the kitchen. Yes I know that is partly because wood was one of the only flooring materials but these homes still have wood in them today with the availability of other material. That also speeks volumes for its durability. Good luck in your decision. Maybe someone with laminate floors can chime in and share their view-point on how it works in a kitchen.

I second evans advice. We install both every day Go with hardwood. It can be refinished 3-5 times it will outlast you and your kids abuse. In my opinion laminate is a disposable flooring.

Phil

I agree with both Evan and Phil.
I also install both and agree with Phil on laminate being a disposable flooring.

Edwin

A year ago I did a massive kitchen remodeling job: pushed out walls, took down walls, etc. All along I was looking at hardwoods for the kitchen until I read about the caveats. Put a rug by the sink, high heels and rubber shoes will cause marks, water will stain, etc. In the end I went with 12 x 12 inch ceramic tiles in the kitchen and powder room and they are fantastic. I have to remind myself to clean the floor cause the smoky blue color doesn't show any dirt.
I did put hardwood-Brazilian Cherry in the foyer, with a small area rug by the door and that has worked out great as well. Different areas can have different floor treatments, even when they ajoin each other. I used a thick pile carpeting in the living and dining room, but am thinking about laying the Cherry in the den since it's such a beautiful color.

I don't blame your wife for being fearful about using wood in the kitchen...that's the most heavily used room in the house. Something has to be wrong when all the manufacturers tell you to put a carpet by the sink.
Good luck,

Bobby - thanks for your reply. My wife and I also looked at the Brazillian Cherry. Yes it is beautiful and is harder than Red Oak, but the uniformity of its color leads me to think it will show scratches and dents much more than a wood with a more pronounced grain structure - like oak.

It took some samples from Lumber Liquidators and performed the 3-year old torture test on both Red Oak and the Brazillian Cherry.

Torture test was as follows: Simulate 3-year old temper tantrum by throwing "Hot Wheels" down on the wood and see how noticeable the marks were. While the Cherry was beautiful, the dents caused by dropping the cars were significantly more visible due to the lack of wood grain relative to the oak.

If my kids were grown, I would have selected the Cherry, but the reality is, I have three very young kids and oak seems to be the best as hiding the damage that will invariably happen.

I tried to get my wife to consider Ceramic for the Kitchen, Laundry Room and Bathroom, but she feels it is too cold (to walk on). I guess I do not need to say how that discussion ended. Vinyl remains in Laundry Room and Bathroom and Red Oak Hardwood in the Foyer, Hallway and Kitchen.

For those looking for a great place to purchase Hardwood with great service, check out Lumber Liquidators (www.lumberliquidators.com). Prices are great and service is excellent as well. I am not affiliated with them in ant way, but they seem to have a good product and a knowledgable staff, with excellent price.

I'm glad it worked out for you...I didn't mean to talk you into the Brazilian Cherry, but just wanted to show you that there might be different options to hardwood. Red Oak is a beautiful wood.

Your wife is right, the tile is cold 1st thing in the morning in winter, but each has to weight the negatives and positives for themselves. And I couldn't stand the constant maintenance that seemed to accompany the wood.
Well, enjoy your new floors and don't drive the kids crazy if something happens, it's not worth it.