Laminate Floors: Get the Look of Wood (and More) for Less
See what goes into laminate flooring and why you just might want to choose it
Paul Anater
August 23, 2011
I am a former designer, past Houzz contributor and current Marketing Director at The Reclamation Project, a reclaimed lumber flooring and furniture company in Pennsylvania.
I am a former designer, past Houzz contributor and current Marketing Director at... More
Laminate floors aren’t wood, though they usually appear to be. Rather, laminate floors are entirely manufactured. They can be made to look like nearly anything, but most often they’re made to look like wood. Increasingly, more options are showing up, and laminate floors that look like ceramic tile or slate are becoming more available.
Laminate floors are relatively inexpensive, easy to install and hold up well to wear. Because laminate floors are moisture resistant, they can be used in areas where the material they’re imitating can’t be, such as in a basement laundry room. Here’s a closer look.
More: Engineered Wood Floors
Laminate floors are relatively inexpensive, easy to install and hold up well to wear. Because laminate floors are moisture resistant, they can be used in areas where the material they’re imitating can’t be, such as in a basement laundry room. Here’s a closer look.
More: Engineered Wood Floors
Laminate flooring was invented in 1977, and the company that developed it introduced Pergo to the European market in 1984. Pergo is just one brand of laminate flooring out of many but since its product was first out of the gate, Pergo is often (mistakenly) used as a generic term for the whole category.
The market is flooded with cheap laminate floors that cases of buyer's remorse waiting to happen. Beware suspiciously low prices and look for the seal of the North American Laminate Flooring Association, or NALFA.
By buying a NALFA-certified laminate floor you know a few, important things about your floor. First, you’ll know that your floor will be installed without glue. This is good for a couple of reasons. Click-together laminate floors are easier to install, and by not using glue, your floor won’t emit gasses that can harm the quality of the air in your home.
NALFA certification also tells you that a product bearing its logo is recyclable and conforms to all regulations regarding formadehyde emission.
NALFA certification also tells you that a product bearing its logo is recyclable and conforms to all regulations regarding formadehyde emission.
Just about everybody has heard the term "laminate floor." but what is one really? This diagram from NALFA explains everything perfectly.
A. A transparent, protective wear layer is resistant to dogs, cats, chairs, and high heels.
B. The decorative layer provides a high-definition, detailed image. Laminate flooring manufacturers have the technology and capability to realistically simulate everything from hardwood to marble to stone.
C. A high-density fiberboard core (or HDF) offers impact resistance, stability and durability.
D. A layer of melamine resin offers additional structural stability and moisture resistance.
E. Underlayment (which may or may not be built into the laminate floor product) is a requirement for any installation. It’s helpful in absorbing some of the minor imperfections in the subfloor, reducing some noise when walking on the floor, and softening some of the impact. Some underlayments also offer a moisture barrier on one side, which is a good idea for bathroom and wet-area installations.
DuPont
Laminate floors snap together and float above an existing floor or subfloor. So long as an old floor is level and not carpet, most people can install a laminate floor in a day, provided all materials are on hand.
How a floor snaps and stays together plays a role in how much a product will cost, and better attachments methods last longer. Ask a lot of questions before you buy anything.
Hire a flooring professional to do the install for you
How a floor snaps and stays together plays a role in how much a product will cost, and better attachments methods last longer. Ask a lot of questions before you buy anything.
Hire a flooring professional to do the install for you
Armstrong
All laminate floors require an underlayment. Sometimes that underlayment is the bottom layer of the flooring material and sometimes that underlayment is a sheet of material that you have to purchase separately.
Laminate floors installed directly on concrete or in areas with a lot of moisture need an additional moisture barrier. Again, ask lots of questions before you buy and be sure you're buying the right product for your needs.
DuPont
The printing technologies laminate flooring manufacturers use has improved tremendously since the early days of laminate floors. There are options galore; the floor shown here imitates the look of a wide, pine-plank floor.
DuPont
Not all laminates look like their wood counterparts. The same technologies that have improved the appearance of laminate floors can now make laminate floors that look like ceramic tile.
A floor such as this can be a great quick fix for a tired floor and tight budget.
DuPont
This laminate floor is mimicking the appearance of black slate. Though not for everybody, there are times and situations when a laminate floor can be a solution.
Furthermore, since click-together laminate floors aren't attached to anything, unstalling them is easier than putting them in in the first place. Sometimes they can be used as a temporary fix for a troubled floor.
Laminate flooring is stain- and fade-resistant and has a tendency to repel water. It's an extremely hard and durable surface, but it is possible to scratch it. It's not possible to repair the actual scratches when they occur, so be sure to buy extra material with your initial purchase and hold onto it in case you'll need it later.
Laminate flooring doesn't need any special cleaners or special treatment to keep its looks. It never needs to be waxed or polished. At the same time, it can't be refinished.
Laminate floors are an affordable option for a short or long term flooring solution. If you’re in the market for a laminate floor, do your homework and ask a lot of questions. If you have any direct experience with laminate floors, we’d love to hear about it in the comments below.
Laminate floors
Pros: It’s a low-cost alternative to other floors and easy to live with.
Cons: Cannot be refinished or repaired easily.
Suggested uses: Anywhere you’d use a plank, engineered, tile or carpet floor.
Price range: $2-$4 per square foot.
More:
When to Use Engineered Wood Floors
An Introduction to Solid Plank Wood Floors
Zebra, Tiger and Teak Wood, Oh, My!
5 Innovative Wood Floors
20 Great Examples of Transitions in Flooring
How to Shop for a Tile Floor
Laminate floors
Pros: It’s a low-cost alternative to other floors and easy to live with.
Cons: Cannot be refinished or repaired easily.
Suggested uses: Anywhere you’d use a plank, engineered, tile or carpet floor.
Price range: $2-$4 per square foot.
More:
When to Use Engineered Wood Floors
An Introduction to Solid Plank Wood Floors
Zebra, Tiger and Teak Wood, Oh, My!
5 Innovative Wood Floors
20 Great Examples of Transitions in Flooring
How to Shop for a Tile Floor
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We put down Pergo over 12 years ago in a great room and hallway. Added one bedroom about 5 years ago and another one two months ago. Matching up is the most difficult as looks are always changing.
Can laminate be placed over tile?
When i redid my floors, I went to buy real hardwood. Thefirst storeperson asked me where I lived as I wanted a floor that would hold up to sandy feet. When I told him I lived on the ocean, he told me I did not want real wood as it would water stain, may warp, and i would be refinishing it every few years. I went to two other flooring stores and was told the same. I am so glad the flooring people were honest. I ended up getting Wilsonart which does not sell laminate flooring anymore. I got the best residential grade and only one person in the last 20 yrs. knew it was laminate. Wilsonart made the best I was told, textured wit wood grain, etc. I still have it. All flooring has good points and bad. My bad was when the company stopped producing flooring so If I get any damage, I will have to replace the whole downstairs practically, but I love the low maintenance, style and looks.