I would go with ceramic tile if you have alot of muddy kids, or pets. I have new wood floors in my kitchen and I am now worried that it was a mistake there based on what I have seen at a few friends houses who have had the floors for a few years. Wood is not the most durable surface in a workspace. Another friend has dark blue and white checkerboard tiles in her kitchen and absolutely hates it. It shows every speck. I would get something with a more random pattern that looks like dirt! It won't show anything! I saw some beautiful porcelain tiles at Daltile that look like marble. Just beautiful and the grime would not be irritatingly noticeable. Slate might be great. It just needs more upkeep, sealing it periodically.

I am also curious about this. CR recently reviewed antivibration pads and a new anti-vibration unit that the whole washer sits on. We currently have a top loader on second floor on shake-away pads, and it still shakes the floor more than we would like. CR's most recent tests rate so many washers as excellent on vibration that it is not helpful. Has anyone found real vibration tests for recent (new) models?? The pad that CR likes is only for front-loaders, so we are looking at the following, either: 1. THe best (least vibration) front loader and the anti-shake pad (steadywash I think), or, 2. The least vibration top loader (don't care if it's top or front as we hang all of our clothes, but our current top loader uses way too much water, as evidenced by our water bill increase after we got it - so would prefer something that uses less water) CR mentioned Samsung WF520AB[P] when they tested the pads. Thoughts? Thanks!!!

We just wrote a blog on the best flooring for a laundry room. Hardwood and carpet are a big no no in this particular area, especially since, in your case, it adjoins the garage and kitchen which will most likely result in using this space as a mud room. Not to mention that washing machines and dryers create movement when in use and can/will scratch the floors. Best Flooring For a Laundry Room Hope this helps!

I have laundry in the basement-- have a laundry chute direct to the laundry. I have never wanted a laundry on the second floor but have wished that I had it on the main floor sometimes. Advantage to basement--usually have a lot of room (I don't). We can get really dirty sometimes, with gardening and landscaping projects. Can shuck the dirties in the garage or back entryway and drop down the laundry chute there (or in a bucket in the garage)...vs having to deal with them upstairs (where we have carpet). I wash clothes once a week. Smelly dirty laundry is in the basement; not stinking up the bedrooms. I have a clothesline strung in the unfinished part of the basement for drying rugs, mattress pads, sheets, jeans, etc. during the winter/ rainy days. As well as drip dry items that don't go in the dryer. The clothes line is also handy for hanging wet or damp dirty items to dry (like bath towels & kitchen towels) before they go into the dirty clothes hamper. I fold & sort items as I unload the dryer. Towel stack to the linen closet, DS's clothes in one stack, etc. Usually cart the basket to the main floor and someone else will haul it on upstairs. Have had three laundries that were in enclosed back porches and one just adjacent to the garage when I lived in the south. That arrangement worked really good and would be my preferred location for a laundry. Would not want W/D in a closet if it can be avoided. I use my laundry sink a lot as well as having the washer drain hose empty into the sink. (With a lint sock to keep lint and dog hair out of the sewer line--septic leach field if that's your situation.) You adapt to wherever the laundry is. Pros & cons to wherever it is. Main thing is that a home laundry beats the heck out of having to go to the laundromat! We've probably all had to do that at some time in our lives.