photo courtesy of Steps-Uniclic

Laminate floors mimic the look of wood but don't require protection from sand, spills, and muddy pets like hardwood. As a relatively inexpensive flooring material, laminates are easy to install, require little maintenance, and can be used in any room in the home.

Laminate flooring sits between vinyl and hardwood for quality and price. It's an upgrade to vinyl, but with a different backing. And although it is not as pure as hardwood flooring, it is sometimes difficult to tell the difference between the two.

Why is laminate flooring a good choice for my home?

Durability: Laminate's biggest asset. Laminate is extremely difficult to stain, scratch, or burn with a cigarette. Many brands carry a lifetime structural warranty and up to a 25-year commercial wear warranty.

Design: An endless variety of design options, in planks or tiles and in a wide array of colours, patterns and styles are available to choose from.

Maintenance: A vacuum and damp mop is all you need to care for your laminate flooring.

Affordability: Although only slightly more expensive than vinyl, laminate flooring will provide many more years of lasting beauty.

Versatility: Its beauty and durability makes laminate flooring suitable for any room, such as a high traffic kitchen, bedroom, or even a moist area such as a basement.

Fade Resistant: Laminates won't fade or change colour from ultra violet sunlight.
Scratch & Scuff Resistant - Laminate Flooring is more resistant to scratching and scuffing than most types of hard surface floors.

Hygienic: Laminate Flooring is non-allergenic and does not absorb odors.

How do I decide on colour and style?

Most laminate floors have a wood grain visual appearance. However, there are some new abstract designs coming to the market, such as sandstones, marbles, and accents.

When deciding on colour, remember that light or neutral tones emphasize the impression of light and space, while darker shades create a feeling of warmth and intimacy. Even the finish on a floor contributes to this effect. Higher gloss and sheen can add to a feeling of spaciousness, while a subdued or matte finish can have the opposite effect. A stronger colour may be wonderful in a smaller space, but it may be too strong in a large space.

Our store has a wide range of catalogues and samples to choose from and we can help you design the best laminate flooring solution for your home.

What do I need to know before buying?

• Some manufacturers do not warrant the installation of their product in bathrooms, so check with us when shopping at Nufloors Coquitlam before purchasing.
• Laminate flooring is sold by the square foot and is a little pricier then most vinyl floors, but will provide you with a longer lasting and higher quality flooring solution.
• Laminate flooring should carry a 10 to 25 year residential warranty against staining, wearing, and fading.
• Prior to purchasing, read the manufacturer's warranty and have us install your flooring for you to ensure a precise and successful installation.

Laminate Construction

At first glance, it can be difficult to spot the difference between hardwood and laminate flooring. What appears to be a natural wood grain pattern is really a thin layer of decor paper (a photographic image) under a tough protective film that is glued and pressed to a backing board.

Laminate flooring is an interlocking flooring system that floats on top of an existing substrate. The substrate could be a new wood sub floor, a concrete slab, an existing vinyl floor, a hardwood floor, or many other existing flooring types.

Most laminate flooring systems are floating, which means they do not fasten directly to the existing flooring material with nails or glue. Instead, an interlocking system held together with an adhesive is used. The adhesive holds the flooring material together, while allowing the subfloor below to move independently of the laminate. The adhesive also helps seal off the core material from surface moisture. Many manufacturers now offer glueless, snap-together systems that require no fasteners or adhesives.

Laminate floors consist of the following layers from top to bottom:

• Wear layer
• Pattern, "image" layer
• Processed wood core: usually M.D.F. (medium density fiber board) or H.D.F. (high density fiber board)
• Balancing layer (usually with a moisture barrier)

These layers are manufactured into flooring by one of two methods:

• High Pressure Laminates (HPL) is done in more than one step. The wear layer and image layer are bonded together, and then these layers are bonded to the core in a separate step.
• Direct Pressure Laminates (DPL) where all the layers are bonded together under extreme heat and pressure at one time.

Both types of laminate flooring make an extremely hard surface that resists scratching, denting, sunlight fading, and even cigarette burns.

How can I ensure value for money?

Our collection is a range of laminate solutions that we feel represent the most value for quality and price. You can be sure you're buying quality for value when you choose from this range.

If you need further help, come on in. Our salespeople can explain the relative merits of different laminate flooring brands and help you choose the best laminates for your home.