LAMINATE 101

Originally dubbed Pergo in the US, laminate floors consist of individual planks are constructed to mimic the color, grain, and even texture of various types of wood (oak, birch, walnut, mahogany, driftwood) and can even resemble ceramic tile or stone -- complete with imitation grout joints.    Even hand scraped looks or marble tile laminates retain a very real and natural look as a result of the latest laminate technology.

Laminate floors are strong, durable, stain-proof, and comfortable to walk on. This also makes it a great floor for large pets as their nails won’t scratch the surface.     They make a great upgrade option to vinyl floors.

They are an excellent alternative to hardwood due to their affordability, durability, and versatility.  Laminate does not change or fade colors, show stains and scratches, or show traffic patters like real hardwood floors.  It can be installed over sub-floor or with levels of moisture in which hardwood cannot.  As a result, there will not be an gaps between the planks because of the moisture.

Laminate also has several advantages over ceramic floor.  The cost of the labor is much less than with a ceramic floor and the laminate floor will not be as cold as the ceramic floor in the winter time.  Laminate floor will not crack when heavy objects are dropped and will not show dirt and stains like ceramic grout can sometimes show.

One disadvantage though of laminate floors are that they can become slippery when wet

Since Pergo was introduced from Sweden to the United States 10 years ago, laminate flooring has greatly increased its popularity in the United States. 

Laminate flooring is often referred to as a "floating" flooring system. It is called floating because it is not fastened to the sub-floor. It is installed over a thin layer of foam placed on the floor and held down by the moldings placed around the perimeter of the room.  It consists of glueless planks joined at the tongue-and-groove joints.    Because it is a floating floor, walking with shoes on will create a tap sound making laminate floors louder than other types of flooring.  However sound-absorbing underlayment can help minimize this problem.

Each individual plank consists of four layers combined by extreme pressurized heat.

The result is a very durable plank that is highly resistant to wear, staining, fading, and moisture.

Most laminate planks are 6 to 8 inches wide and 4 to 6 long.  As a result, most patter layers tend to mimic wood flooring.