Buying A Laminate Floor

Laminate flooring has become an extremely popular floor covering alternative for many homeowners to the more expensive hardwood floors and stone/ceramic tiles. But saving money by buying a cheaper laminate floor may cost you more in the long run. This is especially true for the do-it-yourself consumers. The reason is not all laminate floors are the same in quality, appearance, durability or performance, even from the same manufacturer.

Laminate floors are constructed in 2 different methods called High Pressure Laminates and Direct Pressure Laminates. The High Pressure Laminates involve a 2-step process that fuses and glues the components together. The Direct Pressure Laminates involve only a 1-step process where everything is fused together at once. Without getting too much in the details the High Pressure Laminates cost more to produce and are more durable.

In the middle section of laminate floors is generally some type of fiberboard core. Some inner cores are saturated with melamine resins just like the top layer and may also be treated with some sort of water repellant to resist swelling from moisture. The inner core is also where the precision tongue and groove is formed to lock the planks or tiles together. If the tongue and grooves become damaged because they are too soft or the installer damages then during handling it is near impossible to fit the planks together. Also, laminate flooring planks may become bowed from improper storage at the store, mis-handling during shipping, improper acclimation prior to installation or excessive moisture which can cause problems during installation. Inspect all planks and dry-fit several rows before installation.

There is no doubt the better grade laminate floors will have better designs, superior finishes, a more realistic appearance and better interlocking systems. Many manufacturers make different styles to cover various price points from the low-end to the high-end. it is best to research and compare products online and offline to make sure what you are buying is really a good deal.

Regardless of what laminate floor you buy make sure the subfloor is level before installing the floor, especially if you are a do-it-yourself person who has never done this before. The planks can be a extremely difficult to lock together if your subfloor is uneven. Pounding on a plank during installation to force tongues and grooves together may damage the plank's tongues or grooves and make it impossible to get a tightly fitting joint. Step back and examine the planks, there is always a reason planks don't fit together correctly.

Laminate floors are a good choice for active areas of the home and for people wanting a hardwood look on a budget. Laminates are highly stain and scratch resistant and may be a better choice if you have pets. Just beware that not all laminate floors are equal in value or performance.

Click on the thumbnail image. Is it laminate or real hardwood floor? (It is actual laminate but you can see how realistic laminate flooring has become. Notice even beveled edges and texture.

See also: All about laminate floors and choosing the right laminate floor.