I have been looking at laminates that look like wood and have decided to go that route. The look I want is an old pub - so I need flooring that looks like old wood. I just started looking and saw some products at Lowe's that looked nice - commecrial grade flooring that runs about $4 per sq ft for the planks - then add extra for underlayment etc. It has a surface that feels like hand sewn wood and from a distance of about 1 foot away, you cannot tell it is fake. I looked at the vinyl that looks like wood - but it looks like vinyl to me. It is cheaper (in the 2-3 range per sq ft) but for the extra dollar or so, I would rather have the laminate. I like the Dricore product BUT do not like the cost. Also - it is not true that "whatever flooring you choose can be laid right over the dricore". If you read the instructions for vinyl on Dricore, they tell you to put down a layer of 1/4 inch smooth surface underlayment on top of the dricore. When you add up the cost of the Dricore plus the cost of the underlayment - it is more than the cost of the flooring. This was the subject of another post on this forum and the person who posted it was shocked to learn (after he put the Dricore down) that he then had to put this 1/4 inch underlayment on top before he could lay down the vinyl. I went out to Lowe's and looked at the prices - it was 5 dollars per Dricore 2' x 2' piece and 14 dollars per 4x8 sheet of the underlayment the manufacturer recommends. That comes to 34 dollars for a 4x8 section - or 4.25 per sq ft. If you do carpet or laminate over Dricore - then you can install right on top. But not vinyl.

Flooring companies are proud of their green certifications and advertise that prominently. You will NEVER get a quality product or anything approaching "green" at the price point that LL sells their crap at. You can have "cheap" or you can have "green" but you will never get the two together. "Teak" these days is often cumaru, which is a tropical hardwood that with a high moisture content that translates into checks, and wanes post install when it dries out. Be very very sure that you do the proper tests for moisture content on your subfloor as well as the wood itself. That means using an actual moisture meter, not just waiting for "acclimation" based on time alone. I would suggest that talking to a local family owned flooring store to find a source of locally milled domestic hardwood, even if it's not "certified" is the greenest choice you can make. It's also the choice with the most impact on your local economy. It's also the choice that will likely give you the highest satisfaction with the material and install as there is more accountability. Remember, condos will have restrictions on hard surface installs that include installing sound attenuation underlayments, so be sure you get an experienced professional to do the install that understands how to accomplish this correctly. Multifamily living installs are more expensive in the labor department because of the added time and materials.

P.S.: We are also wondering if the linoleum may have asbestos fibers in it, on the backing, or in the glue. Below are some photos if anyone can identify the era this linoleum was installed by the pattern. If we do decide to remove the linoleum, I would think we would need it removed by an asbestos abatement company. This seems dangerous, and expensive...so perhaps a floating floor is a safer and more cost-effective option for us? Also, could the crumbling areas (see 2nd photo, lower right area) be releasing asbestos fibers into our kitchen? The main area that is crumbling is the black border that is near the kitchen sink. This black border linoleum has a white fleck type of pattern to it, although it is so crumbly that it is hard to see the pattern in the photo. One last thought: we are very sensitive to chemical smells and vapors, and have heard some laminate flooring, especially the bamboo, releases chemical-type odors or vapors, possibly formaldehyde? Is a floating, traditional hardwood floor the best option for us? Is there such a thing? Thanks again.

Sorry - there isn't anything to be done. Either live with it or remove it. Laminate is a PHOTOGRAPH. Like any photograph that has been beaten up and the faces scratched out - there is no way to repair it. It is better to print off another photo and replace it. The floor in a rental unit has a life expectancy of 7 years. If your laminate gave 5-7 years of life, then it is done. You *might be able to use a HORRIBLE product such as Mop & Glo or any "temporary" shine restorer...but it will make it MUCH worse. It will look OK for about 6 months...then it will look worse than it does today. Then you reapply more shine stuff...and then more...and then more until it looks like you have a THICK layer of candle wax on the floor (because that's kinda what you have done). At THAT point you can rip it out and start again. Because at THAT point, you have truly ruined the floor. There is no saving it. I would give it 18 months at most. If you have a renovation going on already, then it is probably best to remove this stuff and replace it now. It will give you the best possible chance of getting another 7 years out of the floor. Good luck. Replace it today, or replace it tomorrow. It is your choice. This is what laminate offers in a rental: cheap flooring that is easy to replace.