We had our whole house re floored in LVP In June 2021. Within a few months a portion of the kitchen started bubbling up and splitting at the seems. The flooring guy originally came and said that he believed it was sun damage coming from our glass sliding door. We ended up replacing the door with uv protection glass and the flooring guy replaced the whole kitchen floor with a moisture barrier paper underneath. During the demo they said there was possible moisture on the floor. We had a plumber out and he determined we did not have a leak. Just a few months later it started to happen again in a different area of the kitchen. When they installed the lvp originally they went right over tile, so this time he took up the tile as well so we could see what was happening. There was no obvious water or leak. We then had all our pipes looked at. Our drain pipes scooped. Inside and outside, pool, etc. Spent a ton of $ on tests. There was no leak to be found. We think we must have a foundation slab that has a high moisture content or the soil below has a lot of moisture? That’s all we could come up with. This time for the 3rd installation they put down a moisture barrier epoxy, a wood plank sub floor, and glued the lvp down to that. It made it a year after that, but we have the same problem happening again. So they have replaced the flooring in the kitchen 3 times in less than 3 years and it needs to be replaced again now. We had the manufacturer out and they of course blamed the installation. It is mind boggling. We have had so many plumbers, and flooring companies out and no one has ever agreed on what the problem is. So, I have to replace the kitchen floors again and this time need to do something other than the LVP that matches the rest of the house. I have heard about epoxy/ painted concrete flooring and thought that might flow better than tile. Do you have a knowledge as to if it would hold up to moisture fumes as that is our best guess as to the moisture problem we have? Tile is the other option and that is what was originally in the house and there didn’t seem to be any issues with tile. any ideas?

It is all in the floor prep, the gluing part is pretty easy. The concrete must be flat 1/8 of an inch in a 6 feet radius all over the slab. All contaminates must be removed to a residue in the pores of the concrete and the remainder encapsulated.

Thanks for all the thoughts. Sounds like tile on slab would be firmer on feet than wood on slab. I'll also look into the Marmoleum Click suggestion. Have to admit I'm a bit of a snob on the idea of vinyl but I should look at it. Thanks for the shoe suggestion! I have a chronic plantar fascitis problem and have been fighting peroneal tendonitis for over 2 years. I am always in either my Birkenstocks (use for house shoes/slippers) or sneakers with custom orthotics. Every step. I miss being barefoot -- was a total barefoot person before. On transitions my concern if I go with wood is it would be an big opening from the kitchen to the LR/DR which has a wood floor that I cannot continue there (rustic boards nailed in - I don't think it can be matched on the slab and it has gaps that I don't love for the kitchen (have it in my kitchen now). So I'm not sure how it would look to have a big wide opening changing woods. Like the tile examples above I guess some boards placed across the opening framing the transition point.

Wow Lynda, you did great at the Restore! I did browse through one last year out of curiosity. I saw a beautiful antique dresser that was already on hold. I'm sure the antique dealers keep a close eye on those places. You never know when you'll hit it right. Thanks for the idea. Flo, we have someone who would install the LVP for a dollar a board so that's amazing versus our doing it ourselves or paying $3 or so a square foot in NJ for the install as per one of the stores we went into said. We did lay down laminate flooring by ourselves in our family room about 15 years ago and did well It is an easy install- but our basement is much bigger than our family room and we are 15 years older. As the years go on I'm not sure if our bodies will pay a price with all that kneeling and bending over etc! I am waiting for the Flooret samples, but will keep my eye on Flor.com maybe for another room in the future! Once we decide I'll need help with paint colors unless SW Alabaster will work with all. Flooret Arbor, Brenwick or Kingswood