Nancy,
I did a TON of research on what to get for the kitchen/bathroom floors (we also didn't want coldness and chip-ability of ceramic) and went with Duraceramic. What finally convinced me was visiting a store and running my car key as hard as I could against the tile -- nothing, not even a scratch when placed to reflect light. I would not have believed it if I hadn't done it myself. We installed it about a year ago and couldn't be happier. It feels wonderful underfoot and friends have trouble believing it is not ceramic. Lowes and HD did not carry it when I checked, but lots of online places do. We got ours at a local discounter since I wasn't sure of the colors and needed to look and compare them.

Thanks so much for the information. I am not a fan of tile because of some of the reasons already mentioned. I was amazed at how much the Duraceramic looked like tile. Great to hear that you are please with it! We are rethinking things and will probably have it installed instead.
Thanks again!

Nancy

I've spent the last 5 or 6 months talking to many different flooring stores and reading up on many different flooring options, and I keep coming back to the Dura Ceramic.

Ceramic tile is too hard and cold. Wood doesn't match my new countertop. Laminate tile doesn't look quite realistic. I can't use vinyl either, because I am re-doing a great room. I currently have vinyl in the kitchen/eating area and carpet in the family room area and it makes the room choppy. I want one flooring to unite the space.

Dura Ceramic seems to be the perfect solution.

Especially since Dura Ceramic has a color tile that matches my countertops, cabinets, and appliances perfectly, and ties my whole kitchen together.

Except I, too, have read a lot of negative things about it. I've heard that it dents easily (and I dropped 2 forks--tines down-- on the sample and they did ding it) and that it might scratch. But I think I would rather put up with a few dings or scratches than have an uncomfortable, cold floor that I could never walk on unless I am wearing shoes or slippers.

I've also read that it is hard to clean because of the texture. I've put things like jelly and ketchup on the sample and let it set, and it wiped up easily.

I've also read posts from people who love the Dura Ceramic. And my flooring store likes the Dura Ceramic, a lot. (And I've used the store twice before over the last 11 years). They were one of the first to carry it in our area, and seem to know more than any other flooring store about the product. And they have installed it many times.

From what I have read, getting a good installation is key to making sure you don't have tiles coming up or end up with the grout haze.

I do recommend that if you are going to use Dura Ceramic, you read the installation instructions on the Congoleum website and then ask a lot of questions from your flooring store to make sure you are getting the proper installation.

I think I am going to order the Dura Ceramic tomorrow (unless I change my mind overnight--which could happen), so, hopefully, I will have a positive experience to post about in the future.

Good luck to you as well, Nancy!

So how do you like it now? I just ran into this choice after almost ordering vinyl. Do you have the grout and if so any staining problems in a kitchen? Do you just wash it with a mop and something like Once N Done?

Thanks,
Cindy

Love my Dura Ceramic. I have had it in my kitchen and sun room for 3 years and it looks great. We had ours put in with the grout and the installer for the store that we bought it from installed it. We have had no problems and it is so easy to clean. I use Armstrong floor cleaner and a microfiber mop. I have one little gouge in it where I dropped a heavy can and it took a small nick out of a tile but outside of that it looks perfect.

Do you still love it? I've also decided no tile.

i would use anything but laminate. we used laminate in a small bath at dh's office (just a toilet and sink) and it started peeling just six months later. not sure of the brand, or if that has anything to do with it but i wouldn't trust it in a kitchen or anywhere else. good luck.

Does anyone have a more recent opinion on the Congoleum Dura Ceramic product? I liked its durability, but was cautioned that professional installation is a Must, and had hoped to have a friend do the work. It would go in a new construction hallway and bath, and continue into my current kitchen. Thanks!

As a pro installer myself, I would recommend professional installation over DIY. A friend of mine had a sister who was going to install it herself in her bathrooms. I gave her the same caution, only I offered to do the install myself. She had told me she was planning on spreading the glue with a sponge and that she couldn't figure out how to start in the middle of the floor.
Hopefully your friend knows better. The glue is a pressure sensitive adhesive, proper trowel notch and dry time is essential. Once a tile is placed into the set adhesive, 90% of the time it won't be coming back up, at least not in one piece. So you must be careful how you place them. They can be cut with a 18" vct cutter, you can score and snap them, or you can heat them with a torch/heat gun and cut them with a utility knife.

Items needed? Utility knife (not cheapo snap off blade kind) propane torch, 1/16" square notch trowel, chalk line (blue, because black stains everything), tape measure. if you're grouting of course a grout bag (like a pastry bag only bigger) is great for the dura ceramic grout. and of course you'd need a float and sponges. and don't forget the spacers to keep your grout lines even.

it's always cheaper to do it yourself, but it doesn't have to be expensive to have it professionally done, and if that's what you want, go directly to the installer and cut out the shop. The shop will charge you twice as much as the installer for installation costs.

check out the link

Here is a link that might be useful: installation specs

Wow! Sounds like you know this product! What do you think of it compared to other tile materials? The friend I had asked to do the installation has worked with tile and hardwood, but is this different? How about installing this on the diagonal? I appreciate your opinion and feedback.Also, since I'm in a rural area, is it better to purchase material from a local flooring place where I can see the samples vs trying to save by ordering on-line? Thanks!