Laminate, vinyl flooring for Living room - All and any advice pelase

I have laminate, but now wish I had gone for vinyl.
There are some beautiful ones around, which look like real wood.

Think I’ll have to grit my teeth and go looking and feeling floor coverings there’s so many designs and textures these days. Something easy to clean seeing as how we’ve taken in a lodger and her wee doggy who likes a quiet moment in one of our rooms when she locks herself in.

Franbern wishing you luck and thank you, your post has spurred me into action. New kitchen being fitted in November, so just made an appointment to have that measured, also l, room, hall stairs and landing (for carpet). I was erring towards vinyl for the kitchen/diner, much to husband chagrin, he’s a ceramic tiler! So your post has helped me too.

Oh dear, even more confused than ever. I know with my Amtico floor had to be careful if there was a fluid spillage - to mop up quickly. I found this so easy to keep clean, just sweep most of the time, with the very occasional mop over with Amtico's own floor cleaner.
I do have vinyl in both my bathroom and en-suite and kitchen and they are lovely and easy to keep clean and warm underfoot. I would never have the very expensive tiles, that were laid in my en-suite at the house, which were so cold to walk on in the winter, that I had to keep a special pair of mules next to them for when I used it in the night AND they cracked easily if anything fell on them.

I am really taking note of all your comments on here and will keep them in mind when I start to trawl around the shops for this flooring. I do have a patio door opening onto my large patio balcony - but as the much smaller balcony of the flat directly above me overhangs this, I have never had an rain come in through it.
There is only me living here, and although I do have visits from g.children, none of them are very young. Obviously, part of my living room is the dining area, so there are the occasional spills from the table there, but do not think I really need to take those into consideration.

I have a very querky shaped room ( think the architecture to these flats had some weird ideas or he was on something (mid-80's). He quite obviously did not approve of any room being just four straight walls. Does make it all very interesting!!!! I really would like something which can have a border all around the Living room if possible, and do not think that vinyl sheets would be able to cater for that.

We have engineered wood in the hall and dining room. It is wood layer with a finish that is quite easy to maintain. In fact it has been down for 10 years and all I do is mop it. I used to use a steam mop but lately have a microfibre one which does the job in no time.

I would have the opposite argument re vinyl which is laid all in one piece versus laminate which is laid in individual panels.

Unless you are absolutely sure you will never have any spills or leaks, I would advise against the laminate as even a real wood veneer is mounted on a base of chipboard and this will swell up if water gets into the join.

We have this problem. However, it probably wouldn't apply in your case because it is mainly caused by rain getting in through the patio doors if they are inadvertently left open.

A vinyl covering would not have any joins, and spills can just be wiped off.

Swings and roundabouts.

Error Sheet vinyl won't come apart at seams when it gets wet. I expect it can be laid in a fraction of the time it takes to lay stick on tiles.

sheet vinyl flooring will not lift and might come apart at seams when it gets wet, so is better for kitchens and bathrooms.

Laminated flooring comes in rigid planks that click together lengthwise, so there is always going to be a series of joints that are not entirely impermeable.

Many thanks for all these comments. Please keep them coming.
I have decided - probably - not to go for Amtico. In my house it was lovely - herringbone pattern with my individually designed border all around. Took a week to put down, tile by individual tile. 20 year guarantee and it looked just as good when I left the house some 15 years later. However, it was dreadfully expensive - I can remember at the time, being horrified at how much I was paying out for one room flooring - although from the moment the last tile was in place I never regretted it.

But do not really have that sort of money to spend now - and at my time of life 20year guarantees are not really important. So, will be looking for cheaper alternative. Karndean is one that I am seriously considering and have found out where my local dealer is - so will go sometime to that shop to have a look.

I take the point about a single sheet being more difficult to replace any one area if damaged -
My flat is a very warm one, I will have the 5cms underlay put down - In actual fact - although the ground floor of this block is taken up with garages, my flat actually goes over the main entrance foyer which is kept very well heated throughout the winter months - so no worries there. Been here nearly a year now and never had any noise from that foyer area.

We have a German made laminate in our hall, lounge and dining room. It was quite expensive and after nine years it still looks as good as when it was put down. It’s not cold underfoot or noisy. We had Quick Step in our last house and were pleased with that too. My daughter has Karndean; very hardwearing and keeps its good looks. A good option if you can afford it.

I just looked at the colours again, mine is soft oak natural
www.quick-step.co.uk/en-gb/find-your-floor?filter=floortypecode.eq.lmp&page=1&page_size=18&view_size=18

Hetty it was the best decision, I wanted good quality, silent and warm easy care. I just give it all a quick wipe with a damp microfibre mop. It is called impressive because it has texture, like real wood. It feels like real wood, not the old smooth shiny laminate. I got samples first and any carpet fitter can put it down

I remember when we had to sand and re-seal our wooden floors, never again

Whatever you decide on - preparation of the subfloor before laying is paramount!
This can actually take as long as putting down the finish.

Laminate is just a photograph of wood, bonded to a backing and sealed - hence it’s relatively inexpensive. There’s a wide range of ‘underlays’ available and you should opt for the best you can afford - otherwise the laminate will be noisy and echo.

We have Tarkett golden oak, laid in a herring bone pattern from the front door, across the hall and through the lounge. It was laid on two layers of plywood, first installed in opposite directions - so the floor won’t move nor will it echo. As it’s ‘real wood’ it can be sanded every 5/8 years to remove any dents/marks, then resealed and polished. This can be done 5 times, so it’s here for life! It’s not cold underfoot, but we do have a rug in the lounge.

It was eye wateringly expensive but looks a work of art and took 3 chaps best part of a week to put down. Easily cleaned using a steam mop as it’s designated sealed hardwood.

craftyone, I have that in 'soft oak light'!

We have Amtico, fitted by their fitters and have many compliments about it. The dogs claws don’t clack on it, unlike laminate and it is warm underfoot.

I have had karndean and prefer the quickstep that I have everywhere now, apart from bathrooms. I got the more expensive one that looks like a golden oak, it is lovely and warm underfoot and very easy care. Cheap laminate looks completely different, mine looks like wood. I have had a wooden floor in the past, they need special care to maintain them
www.quick-step.co.uk/en-gb/laminate/impressive-ultra/imu1848_classic-oak-natural

Don’t get sheet vinyl (roll) get strips or tiles, with a few extra, if it gets damaged, it’s easier to replace.

Generally, laminate (unless it's the waterproof kind) can only be damp mopped whereas vinyl planks, that look very similar, can be washed.

I have Quick Step waterproof laminate in the hall and kitchen diner, laid diagonally. It's quiet (good underlay), hardwearing and easy to clean - very practical and attractive. It was expensive but you get what you pay for.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202009/medium-821338-20200928-192912.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202009/medium-751028-20200928-192810.jpg

I got these huge directories delivered today Franbern..Heaps of ideas. Tonight's bedtime reading!

We have vinyl throughout downstairs, more than one visitor has thought it was engineered wood!

Large rugs in the sitting room, 1 heavy pure wool, 1 flokati.

Easy to maintain.

Enjoy choosing your new floor but don't forget that as it is garages underneath you there wont be any heating down there.

I’m hoping to get my hallway carpet lifted it’s had many a professional wash I’m looking to put another floor covering down can’t say I’ve heard of Karndean or Amnico I’m just going to google them now. I fancy putting a runner down too these can be changed every few years or so.might be cheaper in the long run. What’s the best advice anyone can give me. I’ve got some main rooms with wood covering which Ive taken very good care of. (So expensive in the day) These past 20 yrs I just love the colour of it and I’ve some flooring covered with laminate which has taken loads of hammering over the years.

Don’t go for laminate the clacky sound will drive you mad we used to have it in our conservatory. We have Karndean in our very large hallway and it looks as good as new after 8yrs of multiple dogs and people trailing over it. Go to Karndean or Amtico approved installers.

I've just had LVT (luxury vinyl tiles) laid in my hall by a local company. They're 3' x 18" and can be swept, vacuumed or mopped.

I've had laminate and Karndean flooring and imo, there's no comparison; Karndean or Amtico is far superior.
Laminate flooring does chip, scratch and mark, no matter what the sales blurb tells you. It's "clicky" to walk on and feels cold underfoot, even with insulation underneath. If you're unlucky enough to have water spillage on it, the edges of the planks swell and lift, making it uneven and dangerous. In bright sunlight, it fades unevenly.

Karndean or Amtico is warmer, is very forgiving if you drop anything heavy or sharp on it. Water ingress isn't a problem. In the rare event that water does seep underneath it, that part can be lifted and replaced with no problem. I had mine down for 12 years and it looked as good as new, with no sign if damage or fading. The range of styles, patterns and designs is huge.