# Tell me about kitchen flooring materials **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 28, 2016, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-kitchen-flooring-materials/764220 "2016-08-28T00:06:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-kitchen-flooring-materials/764220/41 "2016-09-28T23:46:58Z")
We had a laminate floor over concrete in our kitchen. Wide plank honeyed oak. worked great until a fridge line sprung leak and soaked the underlainment destroying the floor. We considered tile to replace it, but instead we had the floor covered in a metallic epoxy. Looks like a bahamas blue bowling ball with white, gold and black accents. I know it sounds crazy but it turned out freaking great! They add a grit so it’s not slippery. The floor is like looking into a blue lagoon with variations of depth. It really sets off the white cabs and black granite. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-kitchen-flooring-materials/764220/42 "2016-09-29T03:30:12Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > **Eva Luna** , please excuse the hijack, but can I follow up on this? Right now our first floor has hardwood in the living room and dining room, carpet in the den, and tile in the kitchen, mudroom/hallway, and half bath/laundry room. It’s not an open floor plan but I like the idea of all one surface. If I did actual hardwood throughout, is that OK for the watery areas and if so, do they ned extra finishing? I’m heard of having to have them shellacked like a boat deck. Is that necessary? /hijack Hijack away! I consider it a learning experience, if not for this project, then for when we buy a house that will inevitably need work. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-kitchen-flooring-materials/764220/43 "2016-09-30T15:44:49Z")
> [@chela](#): > > We had a laminate floor over concrete in our kitchen. Wide plank honeyed oak. worked great until a fridge line sprung leak and soaked the underlainment destroying the floor. We considered tile to replace it, but instead we had the floor covered in a metallic epoxy. Looks like a bahamas blue bowling ball with white, gold and black accents. I know it sounds crazy but it turned out freaking great! They add a grit so it’s not slippery. The floor is like looking into a blue lagoon with variations of depth. It really sets off the white cabs and black granite. Show us a picture! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-kitchen-flooring-materials/764220/44 "2016-09-30T16:20:24Z")
> [@Eva\_Luna](#): > > … 2. from someone recommended by our real estate agent, a personal friend of 17 years, … This scares the crap outta me for several reasons. 1. Most real estate agents are experts at shoddy repairs. They’re often advising sellers on “fixing” the things that turn up on pre-sale home inspections as cheaply as possible. They do that by steering the seller to a known cheap = crappy contractor. 2. Or they’re experienced in doing house flipping themselves. Wherein 100% of the money spent on repairs / upgrades / rehabs is money that could instead be their profit if only they can do the work more cheaply = crappily = non-durably. Your current floors are a testament to that line of thinking. 3. All successful real estate agents have a string of specialist contractors (floor, plumbing, electrical, painting, etc.) that they use over and over. Their interest in keeping that contractor happy greatly exceeds their interest in keeping you happy. You can assume the agent’s advice to you was given with that motivation uppermost in their mind. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-kitchen-flooring-materials/764220/45 "2016-09-30T16:44:35Z")
I have wood flooring in my kitchen and it doesn’t seem to have worn badly at all. I suspect the guy that had it put in probably used better materials though. I also put rugs over it in front of the sink and stove. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-kitchen-flooring-materials/764220/46 "2016-09-30T19:30:46Z")
We used 12x12 vinyl floor tile in our kitchen. I layed it myself. Rented a vinyl tile cutter from Home Depot. I didn’t use cheap peel and stick. I bought a good quality commercial grade vinyl tile. I spread mastic with the manufacturers recommended notched trowel. Very easy DIY. Sweep and thoroughly vacuum the subfloor. Dry fit all your tiles. Make any cuts needed for a good fit. Stack them up in piles for each row. Then start applying the mastic with a trowel and lay each tile. Get at least 1.8 or 2mm thickness. Simple and the floor look great. Holds up really well too. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-kitchen-flooring-materials/764220/47 "2016-09-30T21:58:36Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > This scares the crap outta me for several reasons. > > 1. Most real estate agents are experts at shoddy repairs. They’re often advising sellers on “fixing” the things that turn up on pre-sale home inspections as cheaply as possible. They do that by steering the seller to a known cheap = crappy contractor. > > 2. Or they’re experienced in doing house flipping themselves. Wherein 100% of the money spent on repairs / upgrades / rehabs is money that could instead be their profit if only they can do the work more cheaply = crappily = non-durably. Your current floors are a testament to that line of thinking. > > 3. All successful real estate agents have a string of specialist contractors (floor, plumbing, electrical, painting, etc.) that they use over and over. Their interest in keeping that contractor happy greatly exceeds their interest in keeping you happy. You can assume the agent’s advice to you was given with that motivation uppermost in their mind. That’s painting with a seriously broad brush. As in any industry, there are good, professional people and bad, not so professional, people. My wife has been in the real estate industry for ~35 years and the great majority of her clients are referrals from previous, satisfied clients. Yes she has a list of contractors she can recommend if asked, but if one of then does a shoddy job or otherwise screws a client, they’re off the list right quick. My wife cares much more about her clients than any contractor, and besides, it’s good business. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-kitchen-flooring-materials/764220/48 "2016-09-30T22:50:37Z")
> [@chela](#): > > We had a laminate floor over concrete in our kitchen. Wide plank honeyed oak. worked great until a fridge line sprung leak and soaked the underlainment destroying the floor. We considered tile to replace it, but instead we had the floor covered in a metallic epoxy. Looks like a bahamas blue bowling ball with white, gold and black accents. I know it sounds crazy but it turned out freaking great! They add a grit so it’s not slippery. The floor is like looking into a blue lagoon with variations of depth. It really sets off the white cabs and black granite. Did you do it yourself or did you have it done? It looks kind of cool and I need to redo my bathroom floors. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-kitchen-flooring-materials/764220/49 "2016-10-01T02:06:48Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > This scares the crap outta me for several reasons. > > 1. Most real estate agents are experts at shoddy repairs. They’re often advising sellers on “fixing” the things that turn up on pre-sale home inspections as cheaply as possible. They do that by steering the seller to a known cheap = crappy contractor. > > [[snip] > > 1. All successful real estate agents have a string of specialist contractors (floor, plumbing, electrical, painting, etc.) that they use over and over. Their interest in keeping that contractor happy greatly exceeds their interest in keeping you happy. You can assume the agent’s advice to you was given with that motivation uppermost in their mind. Apparently you missed the part where this is not just a real estate agent, she is a personal friend of many years - ten before she was my real estate agent, and four before she was a real estate agent at all. I worked with her in a field where ethics are very important before she changed careers, and I wouldn’t be friends with her if she weren’t a person of the highest ethical standards. I could have gotten the work done much more cheaply, but I trust her judgment without reservation. And she will be the person who sells our current home, and helps us find our new one. She has ample incentive to keep us happy. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-kitchen-flooring-materials/764220/50 "2016-10-01T19:34:12Z")
> [@ratatoskK](#): > > Show us a picture! > [@amarinth](#): > > Did you do it yourself or did you have it done? It looks kind of cool and I need to redo my bathroom floors. Thanks! it’s a 3 step process taking 3 days then cure time. They used Torginol coatings, and the guy we hired specializes in it. kitchen, bath and utility closet. Pictures at link. scroll down to see [http://https://postimg.org/gallery/2aum7tlj2/](https://postimg.org/gallery/2aum7tlj2/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-kitchen-flooring-materials/764220.md?page=2)