Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - Kitchen Laminate
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fredmorrison
09-03-07, 09:16 AM
I am planning to install laminate flooring over vinyl in a kitchen that is attached to a laundry room and pantry room. There is also exterior doors to the garage and deck/swimming pool. I picked up some instructions that mention special rules for areas where water may be present and the planks are to be glued continuously with laminate flooring glue. With wet kids coming in from the pool to the bath room/refridgerator and snow boots coming in from the garage and a laundry room attached it seems like I need to glue the entire area. It also states that the expansion areas need to be filled with 100% mildew resistant silicone sealant.
If the expansion areas are all filled with silicone how does the floor float?
Should I go with the laminate or select some other type of flooring for this area?
If the expansion areas are all filled with silicone how does the floor float?
Should I go with the laminate or select some other type of flooring for this area?
ZoeyL
09-04-07, 08:04 AM
If I were you & I was SET on doing laminate in that area I would use the glue over the entire floor. With it being in a kitchen with a door to a pool, laundry room & garage not to mention the kids, it will see PLENTY of water over time.
The flooring will still be able to expand & contract with the silicone sealant in the expansion gaps.
If I were you I'd go with tile in that area due to ALL the possibilites of something bad happening to the laminate, just my 2¢. Hope that helped.
The flooring will still be able to expand & contract with the silicone sealant in the expansion gaps.
If I were you I'd go with tile in that area due to ALL the possibilites of something bad happening to the laminate, just my 2¢. Hope that helped.
fidoprincess
09-04-07, 10:15 AM
Just adding my experience as well. We recently had hardwood put in and you do/will have to change some aspects of your lifestyle to keep your new floors looking good. I know laminate is different from the hardwood but hey, it is money you are investing to make your house look good and a few simple changes make a world of difference.
My kids would run from swimming into the house soaking wet all the time when we had the carpet/lino and wear their shoes in the house. NOW-they must dry off before coming in, no dripping at all. Most times, they take their dry clothes out with them and dress before they even come in the house to play but we have a totally private yard and no one can see in. They hang their suits and wet towels outside so my floors stay nice and dry! I also bought beautiful benches for all the exterior doors to take off and leave their shoes outside. In the garage, I also hung hooks by the door to hang wet coats, umbrellas, dripping backpacks, etc.. It has made a world of difference, keeping the house cleaner plus the added benefit of having everything organized means no frantic hunting for shoes in the morning before school. Another thing that has really helped is using rugs! We have rugs by all the doors and also in the kitchen under the table, a long narrow one in front of the sink and dishwasher and thanks to this board, in front of the fridge! What a difference it makes protecting the floors and so easy to just shake the little ones out.
My youngest is 7 and has had no trouble adjusting to the new "rules". When her friends come to play, she even reminds them to take off their shoes. It is becoming common place where we live to take off your shoes before entering someone's home but I admit, I still have a bit of shyness asking ADULTS to do it. Many just automatically do it much to my surprise. These ideas might not work for you depending on your kids ages but they have really made a difference for me.
Still, I would do the glue all over just to be safe, the kitchen is constantly getting drips just from condensation on glasses. By the way, the silicone is rubbery stuff so it can flex with the floor.
My kids would run from swimming into the house soaking wet all the time when we had the carpet/lino and wear their shoes in the house. NOW-they must dry off before coming in, no dripping at all. Most times, they take their dry clothes out with them and dress before they even come in the house to play but we have a totally private yard and no one can see in. They hang their suits and wet towels outside so my floors stay nice and dry! I also bought beautiful benches for all the exterior doors to take off and leave their shoes outside. In the garage, I also hung hooks by the door to hang wet coats, umbrellas, dripping backpacks, etc.. It has made a world of difference, keeping the house cleaner plus the added benefit of having everything organized means no frantic hunting for shoes in the morning before school. Another thing that has really helped is using rugs! We have rugs by all the doors and also in the kitchen under the table, a long narrow one in front of the sink and dishwasher and thanks to this board, in front of the fridge! What a difference it makes protecting the floors and so easy to just shake the little ones out.
My youngest is 7 and has had no trouble adjusting to the new "rules". When her friends come to play, she even reminds them to take off their shoes. It is becoming common place where we live to take off your shoes before entering someone's home but I admit, I still have a bit of shyness asking ADULTS to do it. Many just automatically do it much to my surprise. These ideas might not work for you depending on your kids ages but they have really made a difference for me.
Still, I would do the glue all over just to be safe, the kitchen is constantly getting drips just from condensation on glasses. By the way, the silicone is rubbery stuff so it can flex with the floor.