Types of Laminate

Laminate floors offer the greatest variety of styles, including surface textures, thickness and installation method.

Surface Textures

Smooth – A smooth finish with a soft gloss lets the natural beauty of the floor’s decorative surface take center stage. Embossed-in-register printing also intensifies the depth, texture and natural look of the floor.

Texture – The laminate planks have a rough texture that gives the impression of gently aging. Surface treatments, such as deep graining, hand scraping and rustic character marks, an be seen and actually felt.

Board Thickness

Laminate flooring thickness is measured in millimeters (mm) with 7mm, 8mm, 10mm and 12mm being the most popular. The more even and sound your sub-floor, the thinner your laminate board can be.

Laminate Installation

Laminate floors are typically installed as floating floors, meaning boards are not nailed, stapled or glued to the subfloor. They simply lock together and float above the sub-floor as a unit. A tongue and groove locking system holds boards firmly in place so they remain secure once installed.

Best Rooms for Laminate

One of the great features of laminate floors is that they give homeowners the look and feel of luxury flooring with easy installation and can be installed anywhere in your home, even in moisture-prone basements. Laminate’s layered construction makes it remarkably durable and able to stand up to heavy foot traffic, pets and kids, so it’s perfect for family rooms and foyers, hallways and home gyms. Laminate’s tough wear layers also provide superior moisture resistance from surface spills while its moisture barrier backing guards against warping from subfloor moisture.

While laminate floors are highly water resistant, they’re not waterproof. Make sure to wipe up any spills as soon as they happen.