Kitchen Renovations: 5 Things You Need to Know About Laminate Floors

Assess laminate kitchen flooring through its water-exposure limits, installation details, wear rating and replacement options. Ask for the exact product instructions before adopting a sealing routine or assuming all laminate floors perform alike. Discuss the proposed kitchen remodel.

Kitchen Renovations: 5 Things You Need to Know About Laminate Floors

Selecting the best floor material for your kitchen comes down to key factors. For instance, the budget you have, the foot traffic of your kitchen and the style you want to go for.

There are many beautiful flooring options you can choose for your kitchen renovation. However, it’ll take careful research to determine what’s the best choice for your home.

And that’s exactly what we plan to do in this guide – layout all the things you need to know about laminate before installing it as your kitchen flooring.

Let’s get right into it!

The Argument About Laminate

Before we go into the facts about laminate floors, it’s important for us to go over the arguments surrounding it. Some believe it’s not a good option for the kitchen because of issues revolving around moisture, which can harm it.

Then those that are for installing laminate in the kitchen say it’s a great choice for kitchen because moisture is something you can control.

When it comes to wear, those against it say it isn’t that durable since it only has a fiberboard as the surface cushioning the material from abrasion. However, those for it say that the thin surface is surprisingly durable.

And as for maintenance, those against laminate say that static is an issue and that replacing a laminate plank is the only way to restore it after it’s been worn down. Others say static is controllable. However, if replacement is required, it’s rather easy, since it’s floating versus being attached to subflooring.

It all comes down to your own preferences, which you will have by the end of this article. Let’s review the five things you need to know about laminate, so you can make up your own mind.

1. Water Damage and Laminate Kitchen Floors

This is very important since the kitchen is known for liquid spills. And as with any floor, moisture tends to be a bad thing, especially when not wiped up quickly enough. Even water-resistant materials like ceramic tiles have limits to water absorption.

However, if you compare laminate to another material, it would be on the level of solid and engineered hardwood.

Check how the selected floor should be treated after a spill or leak. Follow its water-exposure and drying instructions instead of assuming all laminate behaves the same way.

Check the specified laminate installation instructions

Use the care instructions for the exact laminate product. Ask the installer whether any joint or perimeter treatment is required; do not apply a generic recurring sealing routine to an unspecified floor.

Ask how the selected floor handles joints and edges. Follow its installation requirements instead of assuming every laminate plank has the same construction.

Discuss joints, expansion space and perimeter details with the installer. Do not use trim as a substitute for the product-specific moisture and installation requirements.

Check the product's water-exposure limits

The naysayers against laminate floors claim this material is nothing more than a pressed board and not really wood. So, in a sense, it’s fake wood. However, this fact can be a major pro.

Laminate products differ in construction and water-exposure instructions. Compare the exact product documentation before deciding whether it suits the kitchen.

Review the wear rating and care instructions

You can think of laminate as a sandwich – it consists of the core substrate, image layer and wear layer. The wear layer, which is a clear melamine is good for only one purpose – protecting the fragile image layer from wear and tear.

Ask how the selected floor is rated for its intended use and what conditions apply to the rating. Compare that information with the traffic and cleaning routine in your kitchen.

Plan for damage and replacement

Now, this fact can be both a pro and a con. The ability to easily replace a section of the floor that’s damaged makes this floor very easy to maintain over the course of years. This is because the floor is floating rather than attached to the substrate.

If a plank needs replacement, ask the supplier about the matching product and installation method. A new purchase is not a guarantee of an exact visual match.

Finding Quality Laminate Flooring

At GBC Kitchen and Bath, we have a great selection of laminate floors. We carry laminate products from leading brands in the industry, which includes Armstrong and Bruce.

Before selecting a contractor, ask for the documents relevant to the proposed work. Discuss the installation scope and product warranty terms directly; this article does not verify credentials or promise coverage for every product.

We have a local showroom our customers and prospects can visit to see our products firsthand. This allows you to see exactly which product you want for the job.

Confirm the availability and delivery schedule of the selected floor in your proposal.

With us, you’re getting the best of both worlds – quality at a great price. We are a local company that takes pride in uplifting its community through bathroom and kitchen renovations.

If you’re looking to redo the floors in your kitchen with laminate or another material, then give us a call today!

Frequently asked questions

Should I seal every laminate kitchen floor regularly?

No generic schedule is established here. Follow the exact product instructions and ask whether any joint or perimeter treatment is required.

What should I check before ordering laminate?

Check the intended use, water-exposure limits and installation instructions. Review replacement availability and care requirements alongside the appearance.

Planning and material-removal references

For the wider kitchen-and-bath design discussion, consult the National Kitchen & Bath Association. If your plan removes existing finishes or cabinetry, read the EPA construction and demolition debris resource before discussing what will happen to those materials.