“Laminate flooring provides a durable floor with a very realistic look for a very reasonable price.”

Over the past several years laminate flooring has become one of the most popular types of flooring. It is designed to give the look of hardwood, ceramic tile, or natural stone.  It is generally less expensive than hardwood or ceramic tile and often you can’t even tell the difference.  And the cost of labor to install laminate is significantly less than hardwood or ceramic tile. 

This allows you to have a wood look that would otherwise be extremely expensive or not suitable for flooring use at a very reasonable cost.  Laminate is generally very durable, much more so than even the harder hardwoods.  This makes laminate a good choice for people with pets or children. Also laminate flooring is one of the easiest types to install which makes it one of the best flooring choices for the do-it-yourselfer.  Of course you can also have it professionally installed if you choose to.

Laminate flooring was developed in Europe and brought to America in the early 1990s.  At first it was very fake-looking, but over the years significant improvements have been made making the better-quality laminates virtually indistinguishable from their hardwood or ceramic tile and stone counterparts. Now they even make laminates that replicate handscraped and distressed hardwoods.

Also, when buying laminate it is important to make sure that the store from which you are purchasing your laminate can provide you with matching moldings and transition pieces. Nearly every laminate installation will meet up with another type of flooring which will require a transition piece. Often stores selling laminate do not sell matching moldings and you have to try your best to find moldings that don't match but will work.