As a longstanding flooring alternative to genuine hardwood,
laminate flooring serves active homes and dynamic conditions with durability, moisture resistance, scratch resistance, easy maintenance, and the hottest trending hard surface visuals. With rigid, realistic textures including distressed, hand-scraped, wire-brushed, and matte treatments, laminate flooring planks help homeowners, builders, and designers alike complete spaces that are hard to design for. How can you use low-maintenance laminate floors to make life easier while capturing the look you love? Here are a few of the best places to use laminate flooring in your inspired home:
What is Laminate Wood Flooring?
If you hear or read laminate products referred to as laminate wood flooring, that’s because laminate flooring is indeed composed of pressed composite wood or high-density fiberboard with a photographic image layer underneath a rigid resin layer. Mimicking the look of real hardwood, marble, or ceramic tile flooring, laminate is even created in the longest, widest plank varieties and authentic stone formats for realistic finished floors. Whereas previous laminate products needed glue or adhesive to install, many of today’s laminate options click together with locking systems and no longer need to be directly glued to the underlayment or subfloor. In addition to being easier and less expensive to install than real hardwood, stone, or tile flooring, laminate flooring offers moisture resistance that hardwood flooring does not! As you explore
different types of laminate flooring, you can use your specific household conditions to determine the thickness, water resistance, and AC rating of the best-suited styles for your rooms.
Is Laminate Flooring Water Resistant or Waterproof?
Thanks to the engineered multi-layered construction, laminate planks provide greater moisture resistance than hardwood planks! Whereas real wood will experience damage when exposed to moisture over time, water-resistant laminate options can handle spills, pet accidents, and tracked-in moisture until they are promptly cleaned up. However, it is extremely important to review the manufacturer’s product information before you purchase your favorite laminate style for your kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, or mudroom. Truly waterproof flooring is constructed with locking mechanisms that essentially lock out water penetration from the top or the bottom surface and will be warranted for this claim. As you investigate the benefits of
waterproof versus water resistant flooring for your home, remember that not all laminate products are warranted for water resistance. Although laminate flooring will require more timely attention to spills and standing water on the surface than waterproof options, you can shop specifically for a superior product like
Hearthwood Living Tree Waterproof Laminate. If you have an active home with kids and pets, this enhanced water resistance will help deliver peace of mind around the clock.
What are the Best Uses for Laminate Flooring?
When it comes to the best uses for laminate flooring in your home, it starts with identifying the specifics of the room in question such as the amount of foot traffic, amount of moisture, presence of pets, and your budget! With thickness ranging from 6mm to 12mm and AC ratings ranging from AC1 to AC5, you can determine the perfect laminate product to fit almost every area of the home. Here are a few advantages of using laminate flooring in different rooms:
- Laminate for Entryway & Hallway – Laminate flooring offers exceptional durability making it a smart choice for entryways and hallways. The thicker the laminate product, the better it can handle impact and insulate sound from high foot traffic. As you select from a variety of gloss finishes from high gloss to matte, remember that laminate planks with matte finishes can help hide imperfections better down the line.
- Laminate for Kitchens & Laundry Rooms – If you need to match your kitchen to the flooring in an open floorplan or want a tricky laundry room to match in design theme to the rest of the home, laminate flooring offers moisture resistance and durability to suit these conditions. Laminate flooring will also be easier to install if your laundry room has a less-than-perfect subfloor.
- Pet-Friendly Laminate Options – As you shop for pet-friendly laminate flooring, keep in mind that a product with a higher AC rating will offer greater scratch, dent, and stain resistance. We also love the use of popular distressed hardwood visuals to help disguise minor scuffs and scratches that can come from life with pets!
- Budget-Friendly Laminate Options – To quickly get a home ready to list on the real estate market, laminate flooring will deliver the wood and stone looks that buyers prefer while remaining less expensive and less time-consuming to purchase and install. Thicker laminate and laminate with enhanced benefits will cost more, but your investment in quality flooring will serve you with outstanding performance for years.
Talk to Our Flooring Expert for Advice
When you're ready to shop for fabulous laminate styles, take our
Floor Genius Quiz to receive ideal product suggestions tailored to your preferences from the industry's most in-demand manufacturers. Once you have an idea on the flooring that will suit you best,
schedule an appointment with a
Twenty & Oak dealer to bring home the look that completes your inspired space.