Flooring Question: What flooring should I use for an entry way?

My living room is going to be laminate wood flooring, but I am thinking of using another surface for the entry area, to create a sort of mudroom space. What flooring should I use? I want something very durable because the kids run in and out with sand and mud. Slate? The style of the house is rustic, so the polished or modern look wouldn't fit. Thanks for your input! If you reply tile or slate, what about the grout? I hate the way old, dirty grout looks. Are there any alternatives????

Public Comments

tile
I agree. Tile is your best bet. It is durable, and there are so many different types, I am sure that you can find one that will match the style of your house.
I like slate, but you can get some really good grade linoleum that would match your decor and be durable and easy to clean. It would be less expensive than slate. You really need to consider the grout using slate or tile, it will be harder to clean.
I did mine in the laminate wood flooring just like the rest and with 3 toddlers running in and out, it has held up well and still looks great after 3 years.
Depending on how you are (have been) decorating the rest of the room, slate is a solid choice. You could also try spanish tiles (12" x 12").
that's easy ceramic tile! It's durable and last's forever and comes in many different shades and textures.
There are two reasons I would lean toward ceramic tile. One, there is a vast array of styles, sizes and textures that will match your wood floor and scratch your rustic asthetic itch. Two, I love to do a nice inlay design in the foyer. With a little time and patience, you can create a mini-masterpiece and set the tone for the entire home. A true artisan might even consider introducing a bit of wood in the inlay. I'm seeing more and more of this in homes in all price ranges, as the trend towards built-in art gains momentum. Or, slate. It's your home, after all.
Ceramic tile will last forever if done correctly... At least 3/4" marine plywood screwed down well, two layers if area will allow it, then cementboard screwed down to that. Fill all screw holes with floor patch, also level corners or uneven spots with "floor patch and level". Be sure to use good quality adhesive, and use spacers for even grouting. Use good quality grout and apply it maticulously, then seal it. If any steps are skipped you may get a loosened or broken tile through the years, and you basically have to rip up the whole thing to fix one spot. But a job well done will last decades! Good luck :-)
Tile with a coloured grout that wont show the dirt as much
Slate is a horrible choice! It scratches easily and needs lots of care. Your house will look better if you just continue the laminate into the foyer. I don't like laminate, but decor wise, you will break up whatever area you have if you change flooring, and you never want more than 2 floorings to be seen from any one place...I actually prefer one flooring, but that is my taste. NEVER leave spilled water stand on laminate flooring, it will be ruined and buckle. Good luck
Most of the wood laminate flooring you can get will have a 15-30 yr warranty, so as long as it's installed properly should last well under harsh conditions.....so keep with that!
Tile is the best choice. Use a dark colored grout from the beginning and then seal it.
How about ceramic tile mural floor- or inserts- It can even be personalized with pix of your kids and family http://www.AliciatappDesigns.com Any image on tiles
Wood is not an ideal choice, since it can warp if too much water gets on it. Slate is not ideal either since I find it to wear rather easily. Tile is probably the way to go.
Slate or ceramic tiles, get those deep coloured ones with multiple colours in them so that it masks the dirt that will be dragged in and out. If you get deep coloured tile, the tile store will recommend a deeper coloured grout. Our bathroom has slate-looking tiles with a mixture of taupe, grey, blue, and brown, and the grout is grey. It looks much better than white grout.