Laminate flooring has been created to be a durable floor covering that will cope with the inevitable knocks, cuts, scrapes, scuffs and minor spills that may be experienced in a high traffic room such as a kitchen or living room. This doesn’t mean that the flooring will not require basic maintenance to keep it looking it’s best.

A typical laminate floor is installed as a floating system which means that it is laid on the floor without the use of glue or nails. The tiles or planks may be glued to one another but not to the floor upon which it sits. This gives the flooring the ability to float rather than be prone to cracking or buckling as it expands and contracts in temperature and humidity.

To create a barrier between the laminate flooring and the subfloor you might lay down a foam pad that is about 1/4 inch thick.

Laminate flooring has a couple of big advantages going for it. Firstly it can be installed very easily and second it can be manufactured to look like anything such as wood, stone or ceramic tile.