Podcast Episode Summary
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring was first introduced in the United States in 1994 by Pergo. They made a deal with Home Depot, and a concerted advertising effort then made it extremely successful. Other manufacturers began producing their own versions of laminate flooring, so that nowadays the choice is quite confusing. This article will help you to make a decision.
It's always nice to have a floor that looks both beautiful and expensive. And laminate flooring is also both durable and easy to maintain, in most cases only requiring a light mopping. It is also mostly impervious to moisture, and doesn't stain if the spill is cleaned up promptly.
What is laminate flooring?
As its name implies, the flooring is composed of different layers, or laminae. The top, or wear layer, is usually composed of aluminum oxide, which provides a protective layer against abrasion and stains. Next comes a thin design layer which displays the look of the flooring. It may be a thin stip of real wood, or more likely a photographic image of wood, stone, or whatever the floor is supposed to mimic. The inner core is high density fiber or wood-chip board impregnated with a plastic resin for strength and moisture resistance. And finally, there is a backing layer made of resin-saturated paper for a moisture barrier to prevent warping.
How is laminate flooring installed?
Almost all laminate flooring today is installed by the free floating method - so called because the flooring is not actually connected to the sub-floor. First of all, a layer of plastic sheeting is put down over the sub-floor, which provides a moisture barrier and makes it easier for the floor to expand and contract with fluctuations in temperature. Then a layer of foam, which is not only sound-absorbing, but helps to even out an irregularities in the sub-floor. And last of all, the laminate boards are fitted together by tongue-and-groove, and may be glued as well ( but not only to each other, not the sub-flooring ).
What choices do I have for my laminate flooring?
The fact is, laminate floors provide such a variety of different styles, shapes, and colors that you will certainly have difficulty in making a decision. Laminates can simulate hardwood flooring of just about any species you might want, from maple to exotic hard woods. And it can also be made to look like stone or ceramic tile. The boards come with square or beveled edges, and have a variety of surface treatments and finishes. And you can choose a color to complement your room furnishings.
In addition to the different looks, laminate flooring comes in different qualities. You should choose flooring that is rated for heavy residential to moderate commercial use. Anything more durable is probably a waste of money for home installation. Also try to get at least a 15-year warranty against wear, stains, and fading. Better yet, some warranties also cover accidental moisture damage, just in case your refrigerator springs a leak. 10-year warranties are usually only given for "low-end" materials, which will usually also be less resistant to scratching -- one thing that is not covered.
Where should I buy my laminate flooring?
Since laminate floors are such a new product, you should probably stick to one of the larger manufacurers. You can be sure that they will stand behind their product if you have any problems. Use the internet to look up a company. You can find customer feedback, which is very useful in giving you insight into what other homeowners have experienced.
One thing that won't help much is price-comparison. You want to get cheap laminate flooring, of course, but you need to be careful. Buying seconds or discontinued products may turn out to be no bargain at all if you need to replace a bad section of flooring and discover you can't find comparable material.
Now that you know a bit more about what laminate flooring is, how it's installed, and what choices you have, you should find it easier to decide. So take that big step, buy it, install it, and your new floor will become the centerpiece of your home decorating project.
Ezra says: The Dream Home link above is the best cheap laminate flooring available on the internet today. ( But use caution -- there's only a 10-yr warranty! )
Don't forget that Bruce flooring and Pergo flooring also make laminates.
You can use the links at the top of this page to check the cheapest prices on the type of flooring you're shopping for.
To make it easier for you, here are links that these merchants provide to webpages that show all of the cheap laminate flooring they have available.
- All the FastFloors
 laminate flooring that's under $2 / sq ft.
- The search engine at Flooring Select is not good enough to sort the results by price, so you will need to break down the 151 results by brand to make it more manageable. The cheapest brands are Armstrong and Bruce.
- Lumber Liquidators
 has 3 pages of laminate flooring for under $3 / sq ft.
- Clearance items at simpleFLOORS
 . Be sure to buy enough material for minor repairs later on!
- Laminate Sale Items at South Cypress Floors
 . The page is there, but there won't be anything listed unless they're having a sale.
For a comparison of laminate flooring and engineered flooring, come visit my Squidoo lens at www.squidoo.com/choosing-flooring.
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