LAMINATE FLOORS

THINGS TO CONSIDER

TYPES

Tiles
Laminate tiles are typically patterned or solid-colored squares that are installed as floating floors and don’t require the use of guns or nails to secure them to the floor. Each tile clicks in place with interlocking joints.

Planks
Planks are just like tiles but are rectangular in shape. They also click together with interlocking joints and do not require glue.

STYLES

Distressed Wood
Distressed laminate flooring has been made to purposely look imperfect, making both more authentic looking and more likely to hold up to hide actual scratches and scuffs.

Hand-scraped Wood
Hand-scraping is just a way to distress wood by scraping the wood to make it appear older and more rustic.

Embossed
Textured laminate floors are created by embossing, wherein heat and pressure are applied to give the laminate a raised surface pattern and a more realistic look and feel, since the embossing matches the grain patterns.

Stones & Naturals
Obtain the appearance of high–quality marble or slate floors with stone laminate flooring, which can imitate the durability and beauty of stone, slate, granite and marble less expensively.

PRICE CONSIDERATIONS

If you’re wondering why laminate flooring can vary so widely in price, below are some of the features you’ll find in the higher prices options:

• The amount of aluminum oxide, which makes it more scratch resistant. The higher the amount the more expensive the laminate.
• The number of patterns that repeat themselves. The selections that have a larger number of impressions and fewer repetitions of the same pattern are higher priced and more accurately mimic the look of real wood.
• The length and quality of the warranty. Higher priced laminates have longer warranties and more options.
• The texture and depth, which gives the flooring a more realistic feeling and look will be more pronounced in the more expensive laminate choices.
• Installation prices are typically the same across the board.