You might not give your floors much thought — until it comes time to replace them. Then you really notice the many options available. For busy families whose floors need to stand up to kids and pets, laminate flooring is a good option.

The most common designs have a wood grain appearance; some are made to look like stone or marble. Laminates are designed to look good for many years with minimum maintenance.

What is Laminate Flooring?

Laminate flooring consists of four main components that are bonded together. A wear-resistant decorative surface is bonded to a moisture resistant wood composition-based core. A balancing backing is bonded to the underside of the core. On the top is a clear cap sheet of aluminum oxide, which provides the protection and stain resistance. Since the wear layer is so dense, it becomes extremely difficult to stain, scratch or burn.

Easy Installation Flooring

Ease of installation contributes to the popularity of laminate flooring. The tongue and groove interlocking system can be installed over the top of an existing substrate including plywood, concrete slab, sheet vinyl flooring, hardwood flooring or virtually any other basically flat hard surface is a suitable base for laminate.

Laminate Floor Benefits

Because installation is so simple, and because you can walk on your new floor immediately (no waiting for glue to dry), beautifying your home with new laminate flooring is truly a weekend project.

Taking care of a laminate floor is easy too! Simply vacuum or dust mop regularly to remove loose dirt or grit. Glides or cushioned protectors under chairs and table legs also help prevent scratching, and floor mats at all outside doorways are always a great idea.