About Laminate Flooring
You want the look of hardwood but don’t have the budget. Get ready for a great solution. Laminate flooring is durable, scratch, stain and fade resistant, easy to clean, hypoallergenic and perfect for households with pets and children and costs less than solid hardwood, every time. There are all kinds of laminates, not only with different looks but different plank widths and colors that are built to withstand different degrees of traffic. Laminates can resemble stone or ceramic tile but are best known as substitutes for wood floors. Best of all, the innovations in laminate keep on coming; new and better locking systems, embossing, new finishes and more.
Laminate flooring offers a real wood look and feel. (Cavero Laminate 12mm Woodcraft Collection – Alpine Oak)
What is Laminate Flooring?
A laminate floor is a high-tech floor made by fusing together several layers of materials into one board. The core layer or the center of the laminate floorboard is almost always made of high density fiberboard, but sometimes medium density fiberboard. This core, which supports the weight and stress of foot traffic, will affect how sturdy and stable your floor will be. Strength and stability is further ensured by the laminate’s bottom stabilizing layer. A decorative layer is fused on top of the core. The decorative layer is actually a picture of the floor that is printed on a type of “living paper”. A transparent wear layer is applied over the décor layer and is then treated with one or more coats of an aluminum oxide finish. This is what makes for the incredible wear resistance against scratches, burns, dents and stains that laminates are so famous for.
Then there’s the locking system. It’s the system or the way the laminate boards will click together to form your floor. It’s the hallmark of laminate flooring to come with glueless, click-lock joints or locking systems that are easy to install. That’s why installing laminate floors has become something many people can do themselves. You virtually never need to glue a laminate floor to a subfloor nor build a level subfloor first like you would have to do with a solid hardwood installation.
Check Out These Resources
Before you make any purchasing decision that will last as long as a floor can, it makes sense to learn as much as you can about laminate flooring. Whether it’s information on the manufacturing process or information about alternatives to what you’re considering, it’s always a smart decision to do some research so you make the right decision for your home.
Is Laminate Right For Me? – Determine whether or not laminate is the best choice for your project.
Types of Laminate – Learn about the different types of laminate.
Buying Guide – Learn how to make an informed laminate flooring purchase decision.
Laminate Cleaning & Care – Find out how easy it is to care for a laminate floor.
FAQs – Find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about laminate flooring.
Want to see the quality of our laminate flooring products in person? Order up to 5 FREE samples with no credit card required and we’ll ship them right to your doorstep.
Ralph wright
I recently had laminate flooring installed in our house. Shortly after we started experiencing peaking,buckling and warping. The installation contractor advised me not to put down the vapor barrier as our house has a vapor barrier attached to wooden floors below. The contractor feels it is a moisture related issue due to the fact some of my insulation had fallen down in our crawlspace. I have had the vapor barrier completely replaced and repaired most recently. After much haggling and finger pointing, the contractor has agreed to completely replaced the floor. My question is: should I have the vapor barrier installed this time prior to install. I have talked to several installers and I’m getting messages. Some say yes, others say no. The contractor who repaired and replaced some of my vapor barrier in the craw space ensured me everything is completely sealed under there and my vapor barrier is in good shape. Any advice you can give me would be deeply appreciated.
Shawn Lawson
I am considering buying the LAMONT Oliver Mahogany 12mm Vintage, do you also offer transition threshold strips in the same color/style?
Rob Jones
Hi Shawn,
We don’t currently offer acccessories for that product in pre-stained form. But, what we do offer is unstained moldings that are pretty easily stained by DIYers. You can see a link to it near the bottom of this page.
I hope that helps!