When most people think of laminate flooring they think of slick, thin, hard surfaces that don’t wear well and look “plastic.” Or that it’s prone to slips and falls, and thus a bad choice for the elderly or infirm.

Thankfully, newer technology has changed all that. Laminate flooring can now take a proud place beside hardwood and manufactured flooring. It has durability and new textures that make it far from “plastic” and pleasant to walk on, with a firm grip and pleasing “feel.” The colors and patterns available are nearly endless - with a look that is natural and fine. Or, since it is photographically-based, you can get nearly any pattern or design that you can imagine - from a clean Swedish look to a funky arabesque. You can’t do that with hardwood. And of course, it is a lot less expensive than the alternatives - hardwood and manufactured flooring. Both of these have wonderful, natural-wood surfaces, but the tradeoff is you don’t get the variety of patterns you can find with laminate.

More to the point, some spaces simply aren’t right for hardwood or manufactured flooring. Places that must be exposed to sunlight. Areas where children play. Work or hobby rooms that are full of easily-dropped tools or liquids. Exercise rooms. Basically, any room that gets hard use may be a good candidate for laminate flooring. It’s easily installed and can be replaced by the home-handyman. Hardwood requires professional-level expertise.

The New Laminates

As mentioned, laminates have a new technology that gives them a greater depth of texture and appearance. The “fifties” malt-shop look is out, unless that’s what you want.

But what exactly is laminate flooring?

A “laminate” is a thin layer, but the newer laminates have more than one layer on the visible surface of the flooring, giving a depth and texture not heretofore available. It is also much harder than older versions, using epoxy or other new materials to provide a coat that is flexible, yet hard as the shell of a beetle. (Shellac, the hardest and most resistant of natural paints, was actually derived from beetle shells.)

The flooring is easy to install and easy to repair, since it is “floated.” No expert nailing required. Bad nailing can do all sorts of damage, so it’s nice when you don’t have to pay for expert nailing or, if you are a do-it-yourselfer, worry about exact nail placement. Pieces are snapped or glued together from the side, until you reach the wall, which acts as the boundary that holds it all together. It is very stable. It’s not going to move unless your wall does, and barring an earthquake, that is unlikely. Floated floors like laminate also “breathe” or expand better than nailed hardwood, so they are good for places that undergo extreme temperature changes.

This flooring has an extremely durable layer - actually, two or more layers - of what is basically a high-resolution photograph of the desired material. Various technologies add texture and thickness. As a photograph, it can mimic stone or any other material, unlike hardwood, giving you a greater range of choice. Unlike wood, it is relatively impervious to damage and short-term spills. So it is the material of choice for “rough” conditions.

Laminate flooring is not your father’s linoleum. It is a great material for rooms that require “toughness,” or for those who want a creative look that is different from wood.