The instructions given in the boxes of laminate regarding spacers on the starter wall are useless, actually worse than useless. They assume that the wall you start on is straight, which is not the norm at all. But worst of all is that the process of installation involves tapping and banging that throws the entire sheet of locked together laminate out of whack. I have a foolproof system that works if you have any kind of subfloor to screw to: Using a table saw, cut 8' strips of 3/4 plywood into 5" widths, enough to go the long way of your longest room, plus one extra Snap a chalkline the length of the room at the right spot- this is determined by the width of the material used, and how wobbly the wall is. Lay these strips end to end on the chalkline ,the long direction of installation, cutting the last piece to fit. Don't rely on the chalkline for a final guide to straight , use the extra piece of 8' plywood strip to square up the row of plywood strips. Screw the plywood strips to the floor securely. What you end up with is a perfectly straight guide that you can pound against while installing the laminate, and remain perfectly square. When you have finished 95% of the floor, remove the plywood strips, and put the last row(or if the material is narrow the last two rows) in backwards regarding the tongue and groove. It is not hard to do. I actually always calculate the last row so I cut it lengthways on the table saw- by carefully measuring and preplanning the position of the dead straight plywood anchor, you can easily accommodate wobbly walls and out of square rooms. I do the same process for tile and hardwood floors. If the first row is perfectly straight and solid, the installation is so much easier and looks great every time. More on reddit.com

We did this in my brother's house last year. Laminate on top of the old tiles. It saved so much time, and we never had to get rid of rubble. It's been about 14months and he hasn't had any issues. More on reddit.com

Lifeproof lvp or equivalent. You’ll be cleaning out grout and hating yourself if you go with tile. Plus the second one of your kids drops something and it shatters the tile, you’ll be filled with regrets. Don’t regret. Do lvp. More on reddit.com

Laminate is a floating floor. It's not glued down or adhered in any way. This means it's more likely to expand and contract in seasonal humidity changes, therefore it's recommended to use 't mold's' at any transition to fixed flooring. This covers both sides and allows movement. It wouldn't look very good to cut that into the shape you're hoping to do. Conclusion; I would not. Source: I have a flooring store More on reddit.com