Are you looking to revamp your living space with stylish and durable flooring? Look no further! Laminate flooring has evolved tremendously in recent years, offering a wide range of options to suit any budget and taste. In this ultimate guide, we’ll explore the best laminate flooring brands, waterproof options, styles and designs, factors to consider before purchasing, compatibility with underfloor heating, maintenance, and tips for high-traffic areas. Get ready to transform your home with the most innovative and trendy laminate flooring solutions!
Short Summary
- Kronospan and Quickstep are the top laminate flooring brands, offering a range of budget-friendly, premium quality and eco-friendly options.
- Consider factors such as thickness, AC rating and environment when purchasing laminate flooring to ensure durability in high traffic areas.
- Laminate floors provide an ideal solution with their stylish finish that can stand up to daily wear & tear while being easy to maintain & clean.
Top Laminate Flooring Brands
The market offers a plethora of laminate flooring brands, making it challenging to choose the perfect option for your home. To make your decision easier, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the best brands in the market, including premium, budget-friendly, and eco-friendly options. Kronospan and Quickstep, for instance, stand out as the top contenders among the best laminate flooring brands. These brands offer an excellent balance of durability, water resistance, and scratch resistance, ensuring your floors withstand the test of time.
From Faus to Balterio, premium quality brands offer superior performance, making them ideal for living room spaces that demand durability and style. On the other hand, budget-friendly brands like Elka and Woodpecker provide cost-effective options without compromising on quality. For the environmentally conscious, several laminate flooring brands hold certifications from PEFC, FSC, and GreenGuard, ensuring that they’re made from renewable raw materials and free from plasticizers.
Premium Quality Brands
When you invest in premium quality brands, you’re not only getting a more realistic grain finish, embossing, and bevelled edges for an authentic look, but also highly resistant laminates to stains, scratches, and moisture. Brands like:
- Faus
- Balterio
- Woodpecker
- Lamett
These companies are renowned for producing the best laminate floor options, offering high-quality laminate planks for a luxurious and durable flooring solution.
Mohawk, on the other hand, offers three highly durable laminate wood flooring options: RevWood, RevWood Select, and RevWood Plus, with RevWood Plus being the best choice for its waterproof features and close resemblance to natural hardwood floors. For areas with high foot traffic, thicker laminate boards are recommended, as they provide better durability and support.
Premium brands might come with a higher price tag, but you’ll be getting a top-quality product with a beautiful and realistic design that lasts for years to come.
Budget-Friendly Brands
If you’re on a tight budget, fret not! Budget-friendly brands like Elka and Woodpecker offer cost-effective laminate flooring options without skimping on quality. Elka Laminate Flooring, for instance, is renowned for providing 8mm and 12mm boards in natural oak and walnut designs, suitable for use with underfloor heating.
Another affordable option is Back Home laminate flooring from Hartco, which is recommended for use in finished basements and offers excellent stain resistance and an attached pad for added comfort. With these budget-friendly brands, you can achieve the stylish and durable flooring you desire without breaking the bank.
Eco-Friendly Brands
For those who prioritize sustainability, there are eco-friendly laminate flooring brands to consider. These brands are certified by PEFC, FSC, and GreenGuard, ensuring that they’re made from renewable raw materials and free from plasticizers.
Laminate flooring, in general, is considered to have a low ecological impact, making it a responsible choice for homeowners concerned about the environment. By opting for eco-friendly brands, you can enjoy beautiful and durable flooring while minimizing your carbon footprint.
Waterproof Laminate Flooring Options
When it comes to areas prone to water damage, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and basements, waterproof laminate flooring is a game-changer. Brands like Pergo and AquaGuard offer high-quality waterproof laminate flooring options, ensuring your floors withstand moisture and spills without compromising on style.
WetProtect laminate flooring stands out for its revolutionary waterproof technology, making it an excellent choice for water-prone areas. Here are some key features of WetProtect laminate flooring:
- Revolutionary waterproof technology
- Lifetime residential warranty from AquaGuard
- Top-notch water resistance
- Can be confidently installed in any room of your home
Bathroom-Specific Choices
Selecting the right laminate flooring for your bathroom is crucial, as it needs to be both waterproof and easy to install. Woodpecker Laminate Flooring is an ideal option, featuring a waterproof core and a simple installation process. The embossed texture of Woodpecker Laminate Flooring also provides a pleasant tactile experience, making it a great addition to your bathroom space.
When installing laminate flooring in a bathroom, it’s essential to ensure that the core is waterproof and that the floor is correctly laid and sealed to avoid the risk of rot and mold. With bathroom-specific choices like Woodpecker, you can enjoy a stylish and functional bathroom floor without any worries.
Kitchen-Appropriate Options
Kitchens are often the heart of the home, and having durable, water-resistant flooring is essential. Some top brands that offer excellent kitchen-appropriate options with waterproof features include:
- Pergo TimberCraft
- LL Flooring
- AquaGuard
- Shaw Repel
- Quickstep
These brands not only provide excellent water resistance, but also come in a variety of stylish designs, allowing you to create the perfect kitchen ambiance.
By investing in high-quality laminate flooring for your kitchen, you can enjoy a beautiful and long-lasting floor that withstands daily wear and tear. Learn how to install laminate flooring to ensure you get the most out of your investment. When you decide to purchase laminate flooring, make sure to choose a quality laminate that meets your needs.
Laminate Flooring Styles and Designs
The world of laminate flooring offers a plethora of design options catering to diverse tastes and preferences. From wood-look and stone-look to unique and trendy designs, there’s something for everyone. The image layer of laminate flooring provides an aesthetic appeal, offering a variety of colors and patterns to suit any room or style.
Customers often favor textured laminate flooring, as it adds depth and character to the space. By exploring various styles and designs, you can find the perfect laminate flooring that not only meets your practical needs but also elevates the visual appeal of your home.
Wood-Look Laminate
Wood-look laminate flooring is a popular choice among homeowners for its ability to replicate the appearance of real wood while offering the durability and ease of maintenance of laminate flooring. Some brands that produce high-quality wood-look laminate options include:
- Pergo TimberCraft
- LL Flooring
- AquaGuard
- Shaw Repel
- Quickstep
These brands offer laminate flooring options that closely resemble various types of hardwood floors.
With a usual pattern repeat of every six planks, wood-look laminate flooring can create a realistic and warm ambiance in any room. By choosing wood-look laminate, you can enjoy the beauty of natural wood without the high cost and maintenance associated with hardwood floors.
Stone-Look Laminate
For those who prefer the elegance of natural stone, stone-look laminate flooring is the perfect solution. It replicates the appearance of various types of stone, offering a sophisticated and timeless look for any space.
Krono Original Stone Impression Tiles, Egger, and Quick-Step Exquisa EXQ1553 in Ceramic. White are highly recommended stone-look laminate flooring options, providing a stunning and durable alternative to real stone floors. With stone-look laminate, you can achieve a luxurious and exquisite look without the hefty price tag associated with natural stone flooring.
Unique and Trendy Designs
For those seeking a distinctive and innovative look, unique and trendy laminate flooring designs are the way to go. These designs feature bold patterns and colors, allowing you to express your creativity and personal style in your living space.
Currently, grey, white, and light brown laminate flooring are trending, offering a fresh and modern aesthetic for any room. By incorporating unique and trendy designs, you can create a focal point in your space and impress your guests with your impeccable taste in interior design.
Factors to Consider When Purchasing Laminate Flooring
When choosing the perfect laminate flooring for your home, there are several factors to consider. Laminate flooring in the 10mm to 12mm range is generally more durable than those that are 8mm or less. Additionally, it’s essential to look for an AC rating of 3 or higher for high-traffic areas to ensure the longevity and performance of your floors.
Laminate flooring can be installed in any area that does not experience constant moisture exposure, making it a versatile and practical choice for most rooms in your home. By taking these factors into account, you can make an informed decision and select the best laminate flooring for your specific needs and preferences.
AC Rating and Durability
The AC rating, or abrasion coefficient, is an industry standard that measures a floor’s ability to resist scratching on a scale of 1 to 5. Laminate floorings offer six AC ratings, ranging from AC1 to AC6, with AC5 providing the highest level of protection.
When selecting laminate flooring for high-traffic areas, it’s crucial to consider the AC rating to ensure durability and scratch resistance. Opting for a laminate floor with an AC4 or AC5 rating is recommended for areas with heavy foot traffic, as they provide maximum wear and traffic protection.
Thickness and Underlayment
The thickness of laminate flooring plays a significant role in its overall performance and durability. Thicker planks, typically ranging from 10mm to 12mm, are more resilient and can better withstand traffic and damage compared to thinner ones.
Underlayment is another crucial factor to consider when purchasing laminate flooring. This backing, constructed of foam, cork, or rubber, can assist in soundproofing and negate the need for a separate underlayment during installation. Ensuring your laminate flooring has the appropriate thickness and underlayment will contribute to its longevity and overall performance.
Installation Methods
There are three main installation methods for laminate flooring: floating, glue-down, and nail-down. Each method has its pros and cons, and the best choice depends on your specific needs and preferences. Floating is the simplest and most economical installation method, yet it is not as resilient as glue-down or nail-down.
Glue-down and nail-down installations provide a more long-lasting and secure result, but they require specialized tools and expertise. It is strongly recommended to engage a professional for these methods to ensure a proper and flawless installation.
For DIY enthusiasts, floating is the easiest method to tackle, allowing you to install your laminate flooring with minimal hassle and cost.
Compatibility with Underfloor Heating
Underfloor heating is a popular and efficient way to warm your living space, and it’s essential to ensure that your chosen laminate flooring is compatible with this heating system. Most laminates are suitable for use with underfloor heating, but it is crucial to verify this with the manufacturer before purchasing to prevent any potential damage or inefficiency.
By choosing a laminate flooring compatible with underfloor heating, you can enjoy a warm and comfortable living space without any concerns.
Maintaining and Cleaning Laminate Floors
Proper care and maintenance of your laminate floors are essential to ensure their longevity and appearance. Regular cleaning can be achieved through the use of a damp mop, broom, or vacuum. A microfiber mop is recommended for cleaning laminate floors, as it effectively removes dirt and debris without causing damage.
Scratches on laminate floors can be remedied by using wax, crayon, or colored putty, allowing you to maintain the pristine look of your scratch resistant floors for years to come. With proper care and maintenance, your laminate floors will continue to look beautiful and perform well for an extended period.
Laminate Flooring for High-Traffic Areas
Laminate flooring is an excellent choice for high-traffic areas, thanks to its durability and scratch resistance. When selecting flooring for such areas, it’s important to consider the intended use of the room and whether the flooring may be exposed to high levels of moisture.
Opting for laminate flooring with a higher AC rating and thicker planks will ensure that your floors can withstand heavy foot traffic and maintain their appearance over time. By choosing the right laminate flooring for high-traffic areas, you can enjoy a durable and stylish floor that meets the demands of daily life.
Summary
In conclusion, laminate flooring offers a versatile and stylish solution for any home. With a vast range of brands, waterproof options, styles, and designs, you can find the perfect laminate flooring to suit your budget and taste. By considering factors such as AC rating, thickness, underlayment, and compatibility with underfloor heating, you can make an informed decision and enjoy a beautiful, durable, and low-maintenance floor that will last for years to come.
