Laminate flooring looks an awful lot like hardwood floors. If you aren't familiar with laminate style floors you might even confuse the two. The two products are very different - laminate generally doesn't contain any wood!
If they are so different, how do they look so much alike?
Laminate has separate layers of construction which helps make it both durable and attractive. There are usually 4 layers that make up the laminate. The top layer is a transparent, protective coating which helps make it durable and resist stains.
Underneath the protection layer is the decorative layer. This is where the wood look comes into play. The layer actually has an image of wood on it. You can buy laminate in many different varieties of ‘wood' - which are actually images of different types of wood. There are situations where a light wood may better suit a room than a darker variety. With laminate you can choose from a variety of colors and textures of ‘wood'.
Easy to install laminate
Laminate is relatively easy to install for the do-it-yourselfer. Most varieties interlock and click together without requiring gluing or nailing; the floor ‘floats' without having to be held down by anything special. Once the floor is installed, you can walk on it immediately. There are no other finishing processes it has to go through. A thin layer of cushioning foam is usually laid before installing the laminate to allow some softness and give beneath the feet.
The other layers of the laminate usually consist of a fiberboard core for stability and a bottom layer with some melamine to provide some resistance to moisture.
Easy Maintenance
Laminate is generally easier to clean than hardwood. Spills can be easily wiped up. It is more scratch resistant too, which is definitely a consideration in households with children or pets. Laminate can also be installed in the basement.
There are many different quality laminates available ranging from very inexpensive to quite pricey. The difference lies in the manufacturing and higher priced products often come with longer warranties. Decide on the longevity you need to help you determine which caliber of product you need.
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