What is Laminate Flooring?

Want the look of hard wood—but can’t afford the price? Want the look of tile—but are afraid of chips and breaks? Then laminate flooring just might be the answer. Laminate flooring is a relatively new type of flooring. It is a hard surface that uses tongue-and-groove interlocking pieces that float on top of an existing sub floor. It is sold in blocks, planks, or squares, and gives the look of wood, stone, or tile at a much lower cost. Laminate flooring is easy to care for and very durable.

 

Laminate flooring doesn’t attach to the sub floor or to the walls. Instead, it floats on top of the existing floor, which can be wood, concrete, existing vinyl floor, even very low-pile carpet in some cases. The floor is a hard core material with a laminate printed layer to mimic pricier types of flooring, giving your home a rich look for less money.

 

Extremely durable, this type of flooring resists scratches, dents, fading, and burns. It costs more than most vinyl floors, but is cheaper than wood, stone, and tile, in most cases, and is fairly simple to install.