What Is Laminate Flooring?

Laminate is incredibly popular type of flooring by offering the aesthetics of real wood floors without the high cost and need for skilled fitting or maintenance. Laminate allows your floor to be more water-resistant than solid wood, so you needn’t worry about the occasional spill. If the worst should happen and your flooring does undergo extensive damage, a quality laminate floor is affordable and easy to replace. It comes in a variety of shades too from light oak laminate flooring to darker tones. [caption id="attachment_3314" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Image; @CherryBlossomAbode[/caption]

What is Laminate Flooring made of?

Laminate flooring is made up of multiple layers of composite material, topped with an ‘image’ layer designed to imitate the appearance of wood, stone or tile. The composite material generally consists of a wood fiberboard material and melamine resin, with the top layer covered in a layer of clear vinyl for durability.

What are the different styles of laminate flooring?

Laminate flooring comes in a variety of different styles, designed to look like a wide range of types of flooring. The most common style of laminate flooring is designed to imitate wood, however it can be used to replicate most popular types of flooring, including:

• Stone

• Wood

• Plain/Natural

• Herringbone

[caption id="attachment_3299" align="alignnone" width="828"] Image; @CherryBlossomAbode[/caption]

• Parquet

• Tile Effect

• Chevron

• Click

• High Gloss

• Modern

What are the different colours of laminate flooring?

Laminate flooring comes in a variety of styles, but also in a variety of colours within those styles. This versatility makes it one of the most popular flooring types for homes that need a lower cost, durable but still stylish and versatile flooring that works with existing decor.

• Oak 

• Light

• Dark

• White

• Grey

• Black

• Rustic

Not sure how to choose the right colour of laminate? We've written a guide about how to choose the right colour of laminate for your home.

Which rooms are suitable for laminate flooring?

Laminate flooring can be used in the majority of rooms in homes and commercial buildings, thanks to its versatility, durability and simplicity to lay. Laminate flooring is suitable for the following rooms:

• Kitchen

• Bedroom

• Dining Room

• Conservatory

• Living Room

[caption id="attachment_3334" align="alignnone" width="768"] Image; @GCJones_[/caption]

• Hallway

• Commercial

The different thicknesses

Laminate flooring comes in a range of thicknesses, ranging from 6 millimeters through to 12 millimeters. The thickness of laminate flooring does not determine its durability, more so its suitability to fit the available floor space.

Our Top Laminate Flooring Brands

Factory Direct Flooring offers a wide range of laminate flooring brands to choose from when picking your perfect floor. These brands include:

• Prestige

• Embrace

How much Laminate do I need?

Looking at buying some laminate, but not sure how much you need? Work out exactly how much laminate flooring your space needs with our handy guide.

How do I clean Laminate?

Laminate flooring is generally easy to clean, thanks to its durable top vinyl layer. Read our guide on how to clean laminate flooring to find out more about keeping your new floors clean and fresh.

Do I Need Underlay for Laminate?

Underlay is an extra layer that goes between your laminate and the subfloor of the house. This is recommended when installing laminate floors as it will prevent vapour from reaching the laminate wood. It will also help soundproof the room and add a little extra warmth. Read our Underlay Flooring Guide for more information.

Key Laminate FAQs:

• How does laminate compare to engineered wood flooring and real wood flooring?

• How do I restore laminate flooring?

• How do I remove laminate flooring?

• Why is my laminate flooring lifting?

• How much does laminate flooring cost?

• How do I install laminate flooring?

• What's our best laminate? 

Want to see them in person before buying? You can order up to two free laminate flooring samples to test in your home, which are sent out by First Class Royal Mail. We also have a variety of guides within our Laminate Floor Advice Centre should you need any more help, or you can contact the team for advice.