You can get basically 3 types of floating floors. I have different types of flooring explained on my website and it shows you the make up of each floor... What I would look for is....a floating timber floor with a minimum of 6mls of timber on it.. This way you can actually sand the floor just like a regular floor board. Make sure that you have someone to lay it that has experience...it is not just clicking it together... Also, make sure that whoever puts it down used and underlay...it is a thin sheet ...just as you would under carpet to stop any moisture and thirdly ... make sure that they run a glue line down each piece on the join, this will minimize movement. I have the different types on my website that you can have a look at and you sill see the difference. Hope this helps....Robyn www.wildinfusion.wix.com/wild-infusion-blog

Here's a video of an area of water damaged bamboo being removed and replaced Joyzzz. Maybe you'll consider replacing the area in front of your fridge. Like you I also have bamboo in the kitchen (and pot plants throughout the house), but haven't had any issues with spills marking the floor. It's a shame there's so much variation in the manufacturing process resulting in some floors tolerating spills and others not at all. I do have a damaged board though thanks to a guest leaving a tap running causing an overflow...that I wasn't told about until days later, grrr. Fortunately the damage is in a shadowed corner and the sealer is still intact, so it isn't noticeable, just a wrinkled surface to the touch. Which is lucky, because our home is earth-covered and there is nowhere for water to drain out of the sub-floor as we "tanked" it with a sealer to ensure no moisture can make its way in. That board sat there in a puddle for days! I still wonder why only one board suffered damage, very strange...

I’ve received different and conflicting advice. All of which seems valid. Lay first cause you may want to change kitchen layout. Guys....I have had my existing kitchen 20 years and it was here when we arrived. Add another 15 years. I’m in my 50’s...highly unlikely I will be changing layout. I’m choosing floating boards because I wanted to soften the otherwise very modern kitchen that I’m getting. Floating instead of actual boards because of $$. I don’t want to put tiles or concrete in case of a possible plumbing mishap. Positive vibes. Thanks to all for your advice.

I am assuming , when you say living area , you have a separate dining area ? This will be mainly couches and similar seating ? I love the wooden floor , and the tiles in the 2 pictures Dreamer posted , although here's the funny thing -- enlarge the pics , and they look ( IMO ) busy but also 'cold' . Why I asked about dining is that I would personally carpet that area in a neutral cream or wheat , as it feels nice but also feels warmer , and then double down with a rug similar to Dreamers tiles -- a light 'faded' blue on a neutral background ) so it isn't too much ( a full carpet in that tone may do ) . Furniture , buffet , coffee table etc in complimentary tones would give the room a really warm and inviting look , whereas I always feel tiles look colder and better suited to dining/kitchen/bath/laundry . But I'm weird . . . . . . . . .