Sizes

• Laminate wood flooring is available as either single planks or larger pieces that look like groupings of several planks. Although the larger pieces take less time to install, single planks mimic the look of solid wood flooring planks. Both the individual planks and the larger pieces come in various thicknesses ranging from 6mm to 12mm. While 6mm laminates are less expensive than thicker planks, they are not as durable and are more prone to warping in high-moisture conditions.
  
  

Features

• Laminated wood flooring has a base layer of resin to prevent moisture absorption from the bottom. A high-density fiberboard core is bonded on top of the resin. This core forms the bulk of the plank. A decorative layer is bonded on top of the fiberboard core. This decorative layer is a thin sheet of plastic or paper imprinted with an image of wood. Because laminated wood flooring uses printed images instead of real wood, problems with flawed wood, mismatched planks or unwanted knots are eliminated. A transparent top layer protects the image from scuffs and scratches. Some brands of laminate flooring have a bottom underlayment preinstalled at the factory.
  
  

Types of Installation

• There are several types of laminate flooring installing systems. Most laminate wood floors have tongue-and-groove systems that enables the installer to simply click and lock the pieces in place without using glue or nails, unlike tongue-and-groove true wood flooring. Some require a special glue to hold the planks together, while others have water-activated adhesive in the tongues and grooves. Laminate wood flooring is attached only at the joints and not on the bottom, allowing the planks to "float" on the subfloor.
  
  

Benefits

• The top protective layer of laminate wood flooring makes it resistant to stains and easy to clean. This type of flooring is easier and faster to install than traditional solid wood flooring. Laminate flooring can duplicate the look of exotic or rare hardwoods without the expense associated with these costly woods. This also means less harvesting of these sensitive woods. Laminate floors are environmentally friendly, as the cores are made of common woods and wood byproducts.