Laminate seldom looks good long term. Its not an investiment. I've been looking at condos and the ones with laminates just don't seem very nice. If you go with carpet then go with Smartstrand or a PET fiber that is not affected by stomach acid from cat throw up. I have a cat and smartstrand holds up really well. Pure Nylon (stainmaster and others) specifically mention cat throw up as not covered by their warranty.

THat was my problem with XP was the ones that I thought looked the most realistic were more amber in color then I wanted to go. I wanted a brown. I went with Rustique Toasted Hickory. I really wanted their premium grade for thickness and hopefully quality but I could not find one that I liked so the Rustique is the next level down. Saved a lot of money though so if it doesn't wear or I don't like it down the road it is replaceable. Ordered it online and saved alot there too and am pickiing it up at the Quick Step distributor in my area so no shipping.

The tubing is 1/2" Zurn. The controls, valves I believe were a pre-packaged wirsbo that the HVAC installer put in. I fabricated my own heat transfer panels with flashing that I cut to length and pressed using a form made from a 1/2" piece of PVC screwed to a plank, with a "mating" plank that had 2 pieces of 1" furing strips screwed 5/8" apart. By simply placing a piece of flashing between the positive and negative forms, and standing on the stack, I was able to press a "U" shaped channel into the flashing stock. This was then stapled up to the bottom of the oak planks enclusing the PEX in the "U". It worked well. The flashing is sized to fill the entire joist bay from joist to joist. Then as said above, I put 3.5" fiberglass right up against the metal flashing. In terms of "barrier" do you mean the foam barrier that I put down between the playwood layer and the finished laminate? I used Unison 2 in 1. So your saying I can raise the floor temp a bit? thanks

Until this past Saturday when I talked to a general contractor doing a neighbor's kitchen, I was all set to have laminate installed. I had already did the preliminary work of getting my space measured and all I needed to do was 'make he call'. When the GC told me the cabinets would literally fall apart when demolition started(I have tile)I thought I would have to leave the gross '80's tile. While going over the whole scenario with my daughter, she told me about a product she saw advertised at the mall that goes right over the existing tops. The company is called Granite Transformations(http://www.granitetransformations.com/home.html)and is a granite/resin combination. I had a rep out today and here's the scoop: A layer of luan is used on existing tops, some of the tile is 'knocked down' to accommodate the stove and sink, and then the product is installed over the top. Let me tell you, this stuff really looks like granite, but less upkeep, with no sealing involved, and can withstand temps up to 600+(??) degrees. It's an Italian product, and was first used for floors. Yes, it costs more than laminate, but I would need someone to come in and demo, repair walls, disconnect drains, dishwasher, disposal, put in new sink, and then re-install the whole shebang, but I won't need all of that, and they'll disconnect. The laminate plus the 'extras' would have been almost 3 grand. It will cost a little over $4 grand for the granite-like surface. Tomorrow will be decision day. ;o) patty_cakes