May 31, 2023
There are many good reasons why laminate flooring is a popular choice in today's homes. Laminate is a manufactured product that simulates the look of hardwood, tile, natural stone, and many other types of flooring. Whether you're looking to get laminate installed by a professional flooring installer, or you plan to DIY, we stock a wide array of styles and colours that will work for your home and your budget!
Laminate floors offer many benefits to you and your home, including:
Laminate is well-suited to those shoppers who want the look of real hardwood or stone, but without the cost or maintenance that can be associated with natural products. Laminate flooring is generally less expensive than natural hardwood and if you're thinking of installing a new floor, laminate flooring is an option that is well worth looking into. You can choose from natural colours with dark wood grains as well as warm or cool colour tones to compliment any room décor in your home. And if you like the look of hardwood planks, many hardwood plank designs are offered in laminate, including rare and exotic wood species.
In the past, laminate floors have been easy to spot, but today's technology allows manufacturers to create realistic visuals and textures for an elegant and quality floor.
If you have a busy household or a home with children, then a durable, low maintenance product like laminate flooring is a great choice. It doesn't scratch easily, and it's easy to replace boards if needed (see below). Laminate planks are stain resistant, and are also less likely to fade in direct sunlight, unlike aging hardwood floors.
Overall, laminate floors are easy to maintain. A few regular cleaning habits will help to prolong your floor's life, such as simply sweeping regularly. Tiny dirt particles may cause small scratches in high traffic areas if they are left for long periods of time. Also, be sure to clean up any spilled liquids immediately, as prolonged exposure to water may cause the planks to swell.
As with other hard surface flooring, we recommend using felt pads under furniture legs to prevent scratching or scuffing when things are moved around.
For a great deep clean, the best product to use is a specialized laminate floor cleaner, which we have in stock at most of our stores.
Laminate is one of the only types of flooring that can be installed on all grade levels, including below-grade floors. It can also be laid over different types of subfloors, including tile, vinyl, hardwood, and concrete. (Note that it cannot be installed on top of carpet.) It only requires a layer of foam underpad and does not need glue or nails, as the click together design of laminate creates a "floating floor."
Laminate floors are relatively easy to remove yourself, simply by un-clicking the boards. If a few boards in the middle of your floor need replacing, this is a bit trickier but can be done quite easily by a professional installer, and it's obviously less expensive than replacing the whole floor. When you buy laminate, it's always a good idea to order an extra box or two, so you have a few additional boards on hand to replace any that might get damaged in the future.
Laminate is probably the best flooring product for do-it-yourself projects. It just requires a mitre saw, a measuring tape, and a whole lot of time and patience! With most of our suppliers offering click-together boards and installation guides, you may want to consider doing the project yourself. If it's your first time, stick with a small area to get a feel for the process (ie. a closet). However, remember sometimes it is just easier to pay a professional installer to do the job right and quickly. They are far less likely to make mistakes and waste product or void the warranty.
