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Distressed floors are more than just a style statement. Those prefab dents and dings help hide and blend the real-world wear and tear of today's busy kitchen. Even vinyl floors are capturing the rustic look and feel of vintage wood, without the expense. And many of the best within all types literally make do-it-yourself installation a snap by clicking together and "floating" in place without glue or nails. Here are some standouts from Consumer Reports' latest tests:
Like other laminates, the Armstrong Coastal Living L3051 White Wash Walnut, $3.50 per square foot, includes a photo of natural material beneath a clear wear layer. It has a weathered look and its toughness under our scratching, staining, fading, and other simulated abuse earned it top scores. Vinyl is an even hardier option: Tarkett PermaStone vinyl tile, $4.70, offers a marbled-sandstone look that stood up to everything we threw at it.
Superb resistance to stains and scratches helped Armstrong Century Farm Hickory Natural, $6.50, join our top wood picks. But even those woods couldn't match the toughest bamboos, including Teragren Synergy WidePlank Java, $7, which was among the few natural floorings that resisted dents well.
Most of our picks can be floated without glue or fasteners, including Teragren Portfolio Naturals Wheat, $7.50. Want the lower cost and higher dent resistance of vinyl? Shaw Matrix Regency Gunstock Oak, $2 at Lowe's, is among a growing number of vinyls that you snap together, rather than glue down. Style Selections Antique Oak WD4712, $3, just missed our list of top vinyls. But it's among the first that offers peel-and-stick installation.
—Consumer Reports Kitchen Planning & Buying Guide
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