I faced the flooring issue just a few months ago. My table is in my basement over concrete. Ceramic tile was my first thought, but imagining a ball popping off a table and cracking a tile and the grief of replacing that tile, I forgot that idea right away. Being a basement, I was concerned with using real wood, or laminate flooring in a basement atmosphere due to possible future moisture issues. Carpet would be impossible to keep clean. Then there is the issue of traffic patterns around the table with carpet, plus drink and food spills would be a pain to clean.
Then I found the Vinyl Plank material (see picture below), it fit every requirement I had. Wouldn't damage a ball falling on it, wouldn't get damaged by a ball falling on it, easy as pie to install (really stupid easy and fast), even easier to clean, and keep clean. Wouldn't swell or De-laminate should moisture ever become an issue. There is not as much if any concern with settling over time, causing a table to need re-leveling as well.
Over all, I couldn't be more pleased with the product, in fact I'm about to install the same product in a bathroom and tub area replacing the current carpet. I also plan to install it in the kitchen, there is laminate flooring in it now. The fridge had a small leak (condensation tray cracked), the water made the laminate swell in the seams and it is ruined. Had the vinyl plank been there no such damage would have occurred.
I used Allure brand vinyl plank purchased at Home Depot. It was roughly $2 a square foot. If I'm not mistaken it is 5mm thick. I found cheaper 2-3mm plank, but I feared any floor imperfections would project through the thinner/less expensive material.
Good luck, and feel free to PM me asking any questions you may have. Picture of flooring below. This is the Allure in Cherry finish.
Dopc.
I went the same route with my floor and agree. Great floor.
