Hey Boxie, how is it going? Hopefully better! Just a FYI. When I looked for flooring at Home Depot, they did not carry the Armstrong flooring that I found at Lowes. The walnut flooring with more of the cherry finish was at Lowes. Home Depot didn't carry that model number. Also, my flooring installer said not to necessarily go with the most expensive one with the longest warrenty. He said after about 15 years or so, they all start to show some wear on them. Also after 15 years, I would probably be starting to get tired of them and want something different. So he stated to save my $. I went with the medium priced one instead of the 35 year warrenty one. Also, do the "scratch" test. I took a screw to the sample and ran it over it to see how it scratched. The armstrong I chose, didn't. You do have to watch for water spills, like you would on a hardwood floor. If a pipe bursts, it probably won't survive, but a lot of flooring wouldn't either.

I am about to install Atroguard Southern Trail in my entire downstairs. I had a water leak which damaged all of my engineered hardwoods, which I hated. I've looked at other engineered hardwood, Coretec, luxury vinyl, and now the water-resistant laminate. The water-resistant laminate looks and feels so much more like real hardwood. I brought a piece of hardwood home and actually liked the look and feel of the laminate much better than the vinyl, Coretec, or engineered hardwood. It is 7.7" wide and about as thick as real hardwood. I certainly hope I don't have any of the problems described above.

" We basically regret using Pergo vs. biting the bullet on cost". Bite the bullet. Get ONE floor for all areas, wood tile, or wood........and get a good pro install for either selection. A large format wood tile is a "simple rectangle" but it not for a diy easy install. You answered your own question. Why would you spend money on an addition for less than an optimal result? The right material, one you love, professionally installed will over time be the best one, ONE flooring.

A sand on site hardwood will outlast you. The answer depends your budget, and if you can live with a narrower plank. You CAN add a wider plank to new areas, matching wood species and sanding/staining all to same. But I wouldn't create a large disparity in plank size, ( strip and a five inch for example ) and certainly not a change in species. A basement need not match a first floor in any way. A second floor? Also need not match the first floor. Over time, a hardwood, pre finished or sand on site and area rugs is my own favorite. Just as much warmth where needed, unity in the "base" allowing for decor changes to suit growing kids or your own master bedroom, and never having to suffer the rip out of an edge to edge carpet up the road. Bedroom and closets get dirtier than any other area in your home. It's where you spend the most time in bare feet, leaving behind oils that attract dust to be ground in. Cleaning ? Certainly ! But over time............UGH. Pergo anything? Nope. Not on a first or second floor. A pre finished 3/4 inch hardwood? Fine.