If you're researching a new home flooring project and have a pretty strict budget to adhere to, then a good starting point is to look at laminate flooring which, over the years, has evolved into a very strong and competitive alternative to authentic solid hardwood or stone floors.
In this Home Flooring Pros guide we drill down to get to the heart of finding the best laminate flooring available. This post is meant as a general guide, please consult with a reliable home flooring professional before making a final decision. For our full laminate flooring section, that includes detailed information on prices, installation and maintenance.
So what exactly is laminate flooring and what makes it the best choice for you? A laminate floor is a composite product that consists of several different layers fused together. Generally speaking there are four or five layers: the first top layer is a transparent wear layer that protects the floor from scratches and liquids; next is a decorative 3D photographic layer that reproduces the authentic product; the middle core layer is the thickest and is made of high-density fiberboard (HDF); finally the base of the floor is sealed with a melamine resin layer which adds stability and moisture resistance.
