I'm embarrassed to admit that when we installed our slate in 2004, I sealed it with the generic tile sealer that Home Depot sold in the yellow gallon jugs. It doesn't shine and seemed to be ineffective until I put on the second coat. Then I could see it was sealing as the second coat didn't soak in as readily as the first. I don't see it in their current lineup. Also embarassing is how rarely we scrub the floor. Between the dog, a really messy bird and me using one room for bike maintenance, it has held up remarkably well. I will need to scrub and reseal it soon and will probably use one of these products: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Custom-Building-Products-Aqua-Mix-Sealer-s-Choice-Gold-1-Gal-AMSC1/202907684#.UnFJCnA_uzM http://www.homedepot.com/p/Miracle-Sealants-32-oz-511-Impregnator-Penetrating-Sealer-511-QT-H/100076375#customer_reviews

Les, you have some great points. I really appreciate your time thinking this through. We have poured over this layout for the past three years, and short of doing a complete remodel, this seems to be the best layout for us. My first plan was to leave the refrigerator as is and put the dishwasher in the nook. But, the kitchen is sorely lacking in counter space which is much more important to us than a dishwasher. To get more counter space, we need to move the refrigerator. So our options were to put the dishwasher next to the stove or not have one at all. We thought about putting it next to the sink, but the cabinet is not deep enough. I can't recess it into the exterior wall without reframing it. To do that, I would have to tear up the counter for access. The open dishwasher won't be very far from the sink. We'll just have to dry the floor each time we use it. This solution won't work for everyone, but we're ok with it. I'm also planning to get an ADA height dishwasher. That way, I'll have space for a pullout cutting board above it. More counter space by the stove. I will move the stove a few inches from the wall. I want to leave it in the corner because the ceiling has a built-in vent above it - also original to the house. It is a passive vent, but it works pretty well. We have a pantry in the breakfast room next to the kitchen. It's right by the current refrigerator corner, so it is convenient enough. That is an ironing board with Big Boy behind the refrigerator. We will use the top portion to house oils and spices. The bottom will be hidden by the new cabinets or cart. The kitchen is small, but we have built-ins and a pantry cabinet in the breakfast room. The end result is we have a good amount of storage space. I even have a large empty drawer in the breakfast room! Lisa

I would want to know how LONG you plan on "living with" your kitchen as it is RIGHT NOW. The flooring *can be changed....but it should be done with a whole concept going. If you change out the flooring today (matching the EXISTING colours) then you are LOCKING DOWN your future colour scheme when you decide you want EVERYTHING changed. And yes, this happens MORE than you think. Please sit down and plan out your 7 year renovation "life". Figure out what the FINAL look will be (plan all COLOURS for all 7 elements in the kitchen) and then move forward doing each item one by one. If you change the floor today, you will probably find you will need to change it again before the project is finished....because the 'match' you make today will NOT fit your design/vision of tomorrow. Your flooring budget will then double because the planning didn't go far enough. If you must do it....find a colour that is VERY close to what you have now. It works well with what you have. You can exchange "like for like". The colour you have now is the best possible option you have.

First things first: is this an apartment style condo (multiple stories/apartments) or is this a row-house/town-house style condo? What are your CURRENT floors? These are two VERY important questions that need to be answered before you move forward with vinyl. In apartment style condos the HOA often requires NOISE REDUCTION when it comes to flooring materials. Most vinyl products do NOT allow any form of "noise abatement" underlayment (underpad) underneath them. The very few that DO allow it have limitations as to what you can use. Those "few" vinyls that allow it will allow 3mm cork or 1.2mm mass loaded vinyl underpad. And these two underlayments are RARELY enough noise abatement to satisfy HOA requirements. These undlayments are more for comfort underfoot and warmth - but not noise. My next question relates to the kitchen. Since this is a long-term home, what are your future plans for the kitchen? If you plan to updating the kitchen in the next 5 years, PLEASE do NOT renovate the flooring. Wait until you do the kitchen to add flooring. If you MUST update the flooring RIGHT NOW, at least sit down for the next two weeks and plan out your "7 year renovation plans". Make sure you put together a story board that includes colours, textures, materials, etc that the FINAL appearance will take. With this story board you will be fully equipped to move forward - one project at time. Without this story board, you will find that you will spend MORE MONEY because you will have to replace something because you failed to plan ahead. The most common problem: flooring doesn't match the kitchen renovation. Either the colour is wrong or the existing foot print of the kitchen changes and you do not have enough of the original floor to fill in the gaps. Whew! All of this out of a simple question and a single photo. Renovations are fun aren't they?