Almost all laminate floors are installed as floating floors, meaning that the laminate planks or tiles are attached to each other, but not to the sub-floor.
Wood laminate floors such as Pergo® are a rigid floor covering with a surface layer consisting of one or more thin sheets of a fibrous material, impregnated with thermosetting resins. These sheets are pressed as such on a substrate.
Wood laminate flooring is normally finished with a backing primarily used as a balancing material.
The surface wear layer on synthetic laminates such as Pergo is typically aluminum oxide.
The pattern of the flooring is a photograph applied to a melamine laminate. Although laminate floors may look like somewhat like real wood, most people can easily see the difference between laminate and authentic wood and can hear the difference when they walk on them.
The thickness of laminate flooring varies. Generally speaking the range in thickness is from 1/2 inch (12 mm) to 5/16 inch (8 mm) and even 1/4 inch (6 mm). Planks that are below 5/16 inch (or 8mm) will lack sufficient stability. A thicker, higher quality laminate will also sound less hollow than a thin laminate.
Sales of all laminate flooring in 2019 was 937 million square fee ($1.081 billion) while hardwood sales in 2019 were $2.3 billion. Laminate flooring’s share of the overall U.S. flooring market in 2019 was 4.7%.
Laminate flooring is generally easy to keep clean. Routine cleaning requires just vacuuming, dusting with a clean microfiber mop cloth to prevent loose dirt or grit from scratching the floor’s finish.
Note that the Pergo warranty, among others, has this interesting warning: “Gloss or sheen reduction is not considered to be surface wear and is not covered by the above warranties.”
Laminate Flooring Pros:
- Easy to clean
- Scratch-resistant
- Good for homes with pets and children
- Inexpensive relative to other types of floor coverings
- Easy DIY installation
- Good stain resistance
- Non-allergenic
Laminate Flooring Cons:
- Moisture can swell the laminate floor base
- Chips easily
- Not suitable for bathrooms or laundry rooms
- Cannot be refinished
- Hard to Repair
- Can look “fake” and “cheap”
- Hard and noisy underfoot
- Some chemicals present
- Does not improve resale value
- Not recyclable
Laminate Floors Versus Hardwood Floors:
Laminate flooring is best for
- Kitchens
- Bathrooms, but ceramic tile or vinyl flooring would be better
- Laundry rooms
- Entertainment rooms
- Dog and/or Cat Owners
- Utility rooms
- Basements
- Families with very young, active children
- Most laminate floor surfaces are highly resistant to moisture damage, staining and fading. In fact, many reputable laminate flooring manufacturers offer 10 to 25 year warranties on finish.
Hardwood flooring is best for
- Living rooms
- Master bedrooms
- Entries
- Colonial Style Homes
- Older homes
- Homes with radiant heat