Is your flooring looking tired and worn because of excessive use? Are you ready to upgrade to the style of flooring you’ve always wanted? Whatever drew you to laminate flooring, this guide has found you just in time! If you’re in the market for laminate flooring or are simply asking yourself "What is laminate flooring?", this guide will cover everything you need to know. Keep reading to learn more about what laminate flooring is, how it can be installed, and the benefits of laminate flooring over other types of flooring.

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What Is Laminate Flooring?
Benefits of Laminate Flooring
Laminate Flooring Installation

What Is Laminate Flooring?

Laminate flooring is a type of flooring product that is used to add the finishing touch to any indoor space. Laminate flooring comes in packs; a pack of laminate flooring typically consists of several planks. Each of these planks features special tongues and grooves that are essential to the installation process.

Each plank is made up of several different layers. The base layer of most laminate flooring is typically made of fiberboard and resin. Fiberboard is a human-made board composed of wood fibers and resin. On top of the base layer lies a realistic photo of the flooring. At the surface of laminate flooring is a clear coating that protects the flooring from wear and tear.

There are several different styles of laminate flooring to choose from. While laminate wood floors are most common, laminate tiles are also available. Both are made the same way, the only difference is the size and shape of the plank and its photo layer. Different planks feature photos of wood or stone with varying patterns and textures in order to achieve a realistic look.

Benefits of Laminate Flooring

Easy to Install: Laminate flooring makes for the perfect DIY project. The tongues and grooves on the planks make laminate flooring easy to line up and install with very little training. The floorboards click together like puzzle pieces, and a whole floor can be done in only a few hours!

Affordable: Since laminate flooring isn’t made of wood or ceramic, there’s no need to worry about wood and ceramic prices. Laminate flooring is mostly made from plastic materials, which are much more affordable compared to the aforementioned materials.

Low Maintenance: This type of flooring is made from mostly plastic materials, which are known to be water- and stain-resistant. Installing laminate flooring will make for easy cleanup of spills and accidents. No need to worry about water stains; laminate flooring won’t be damaged the same way wood flooring would!

Durable: Laminate flooring comes with a durable top layer that is made to be scratch- and wear-resistant. This is perfect for spaces that are walked on often and for active households.

Laminate Flooring Installation

Laminate flooring can easily be installed by nonprofessionals. Laminate wood flooring comes in packs with rectangular planks. Each plank has tongues and grooves that enable them to fit together like a puzzle. Laminate flooring can be installed over existing flooring that won’t shift once the laminate flooring is on top. This type of installation is called floating flooring – check out our guide on floating flooring to learn more. For extra protection, laminate flooring can also be adhered to the ground with proper adhesives like glue or nails. This will secure your flooring to the ground and prevent any shifting or lifting.

Some laminate-flooring planks may have to be trimmed or cut with the proper tools to fit perfectly around corners. Add a baseboard to the edges of the room to give it a completed look. If you have an existing baseboard, take it off and reinstall it when you're finished. Be sure to allot space for the natural expansion of the planks in the summertime by leaving a gap of 5 millimeters between the planks and your walls.