We completely transformed our first floor with Select Surfaces Laminate Flooring and spoiler alert- we couldn't be more pleased. But here's the thing; We had perviously sworn off laminate flooring so how did we go from 'No way. Never again.' to 'We love this flooring and you should absolutely consider it?' Let me tell you...

Select Surfaces Laminate Flooring vs Our Previous Laminate Flooring

When we moved into our home 10 years ago, we liked the floors. They seemed durable enough and to be honest, after living in a small, dated 1950s home for 10 years, I was excited about a brand new home with double the living space. I did zero research and there might have been rose colored glasses involved. But living in the home with 3 young kids (now teens and a pre-teen), we very quickly realized how fragile the floors were. Fragile is just not a word I want to use to describe a main fixture in my home. I want our home to be enjoyed, lived-in, and no-fuss. If one of the kids spilled something and didn't wipe it up or tell us right away, the floors were literally ruined. RUINED! Then about a year ago, huge gaps started appearing in the floors and the blue underlayment would show through. Maybe the house had shifted? Maybe they were installed incorrectly? Who knows? All I know is that the damage and the bright blue gaps were stressing us out. Not to mention that aesthetically, dark gray floors just weren't the vibe.

Select Surfaces Laminate Flooring vs Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

Thus began our search for a replacement. Initially we refused to even consider laminate flooring. Instead, we considered engineered hardwood and LVP. We had settled on LVP flooring as we weighed cost, durability, and aesthetics. After I shared samples of LVP online, a follower on Instagram messaged me about laminate flooring from Sam's Club. She said something like "I know you mentioned not wanting laminate but we've been really happy with our laminate flooring from Sam's Club..." and then went on to tell me they'd suffered a leaky AC and after standing water for a week, the floors were perfect. Ok, I'm listening. It seemed like a step up from LVP and if the price was right, why not? I immediately found the flooring on Sam's Club and was blown away by the price and the reviews. I also read in the description that the floors are AC5 rated which means they're built for high traffic areas. They're also waterproof. Plus they had a lot of beautiful options. Even so, when a rep reached out to work together (the timing was KISMET!), I asked about their LVP option. When I tell you, I was anti-laminate, I mean it! She explained that laminate has come a long way over the years, the waterproof aspect (they call it "SpillDefense Technology" but it's basically a very tight locking system making it nearly impossible for moisture to seep through), and where it really shines over LVP- its durability. LVP flooring is a softer material so it may scratch or dent more easily, while Select Surfaces Laminate Flooring is extremely resistant to scratches, scuffs, and everyday wear. I was [finally] sold! 

Choosing a Select Surfaces Laminate Flooring Finish

Once I ordered samples*, we quickly narrowed it down to Victoria and Valencia but man it was hard to choose! I was *this* close to choosing Victoria but then I used the room visualizer tool on the Select Surfaces website which ultimately led me to Valencia. I was nervous about the decision until a newly renovated home in our desired neighborhood hit the market and we stopped by the open house. When we walked in and saw the light and bright floors, we loved the feel and it confirmed our decision. I tend toward warm woods and even our "moody" spaces lean bright and moody rather than dark and moody so the lighter warm tone was our final answer. And now that it's all finished, we're so happy with the choice!

Notes on Select Surfaces Laminate Flooring Installation

While this post is not a DIY flooring tutorial (you can find all of the how-to here and here), I wanted to share a quick note on installation- the product is very DIY-friendly. It has a SpeedLoc Locking System which makes plank assembly super easy. And because they have pre-attached backing, you don't need to add underlayment, saving you time and money. There's also quite a bit of differentiation between planks which makes laying them in a natural pattern fairly seamless. The guidelines regarding how to start and end each row are helpful too. Joe laid engineered hardwood in our primary bedroom and says this product is easier since the planks are so varied and all the same size. The only con was that some of the boxes arrived damaged and were unusable so make sure to order overage. You can return any unused or damaged boxes to Sam's Club.

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