[iowarobin]

I have had laminate flooring and just built a house 3 years ago and opted for hardwood in great room den and entry. Kitchen has linoleoum. I would never put laminate in again. It is prone to trouble from dog dishes dripping water, accident etc. will buckle the floor. I put in prefinished oak 3/4 inch hardwood. It can be refinished a lot of times if needed. The pet nails do give small scratches, but I guess it is like a victorian house, it just adds character. It does not scratch deeply, and frankly, hardwood looks real to me and laminate looks like fake wood and when you walk across it, it does not feel the same. This is just my opinion as having them both.