Shopping Guide

Before you begin shopping for laminate it's important to know the old adage, "you get what you pay for" is true, even with laminate.

In fact, if you find your options are too overwhelming, you may find comfort knowing that laminates are by and large, priced accordingly.

So what makes one laminate better than another anyway?

  1. Thickness; Laminate's are made anywhere from 7MM to 12MM thick. A thicker board will be more durable and when walk on will feel more like real hardwood.

  2. Texture; Some laminates, unlike real hardwood, are smooth. Other laminates, just for the sake of having texture, will be embossed with random bumps. The most realistic texture is called Embossed-In-Register. Embossed-In-Register is a technology that matches texture with the design layer, resulting in a much more realistic looking and feeling laminate.

  3. Core; A core can be a medium density board (MDF) or a high density board (HDF). HDF is harder and more durable than MDF. HDF is highly resistent to moisture and is safer in kitchens and other high moisture areas where MDF is not. Any laminate stating a moisture warranty is usually HDF.

  4. Manufacturing process; High Pressure Laminate (HPL) or Direct Pressure Laminate (DPL). HPL is manufacured at 1400 PSI of pressure while DPL is manufactured at only 300 to 500 PSI. HPL is superior however most industry professionals would argue that for residential use HPL is overkill. Most brand name laminates are made with DPL however, just know, if you're looking into laminate made with HPL you can expect a higher price tag.

  6. Locking system; Believe it or not, when a locking system is designed, it can also be patented and as a result most manufactures use their own designs. I say most because some manufacturers, under license, will use another manufacturers locking system. Some locking systems will perform better overtime, maintaining a seamless transition from one board to the next, while others will break, leaving open gaps in between boards.

  7. Appearance; Some laminates, simply, look better and more realistic than others.

Here's a good example using two different name brand laminates contrasting in both quality and price.

Pergo's Everyday Collection is a 7MM, DPL board with a random embossed texture and a 15 year warranty. This is considered to be Pergo's most basic and economical laminate. Last time I checked you could find it on the internet for about $1.24 per square foot.

Now take a look at Bruce's newest collection, Park Avenue. A 12MM board, made with Bruce's exclusive Magnum Plus HDF Core, Hi-Definition Print Technology and a 30 year warranty. Additonally Park Avenue is made into individual boards with beveled edges resulting in a much more realistic appearance. Many would consider Park Avenue to be one of the most realistic looking laminate on the market. You should be able to find it for about $3.80 per square foot.

Where should I buy my laminate flooring?

I recommend staying away from flooring outlets that sell discontinued products, also known as flooring liquidators, specializing in flooring products that have been discontinued for one reason or another. I have two problems with kind of purchase;

  1. Most of the time products are discontinued because the manufacturer went out of business. If the manufacturer doesn't exist, you won't have any recourse should a warranty issue occur.

  2. If you miscalculate or need to buy more of the same laminate for whatever reason, there is a chance the next time you go back, it won't be available. If you can't find the same board you won't be able to make repairs and if you decide to add another room you won't be able to match the original design.

If you're happy with a mid grade laminate then shopping at the local hardware store is fine, however, if you're interested in a high end, very realistic board then you will need to do your shopping with a retailer that specializes in flooring. Online retailers can usually offer better prices so if you visit a local retailer, before you make your purchase, be sure to do a price comparison with on online flooring store.