What should I look for when buying laminate flooring?

Laminate floors are a popular choice for homes and commercial spaces. This is because they are a cost-effective option that is also durable and relatively low maintenance. You will find several different laminate flooring products available from providers, and here’s what you should look into if you are planning to install laminate floors in your home.

How long they will last

The way to determine how hard-wearing a laminate will be is by looking for its AC rating. These rank from AC1 to AC5, with AC5 being the most durable and AC1 the least.

This does not mean that you should automatically select an AC5 laminate flooring option just because it will last for a long time, however. It is important to consider where it will be installed and how much wear and tear it will be subject to.

An AC1 level laminate will be a fine and cost-effective selection for somewhere like a bedroom. It is really only busy commercial spaces used by the public that require AC5 laminate floors.

A medium AC3 floor will be the most suitable and most financially sound pick for the main rooms in a residential property.

Suitable style

Laminate flooring comes in a wide variety of different styles, with simulations of everything from stone, marble, tiling and wood all available. This means you should look for a style of laminate floor that suits the overall look of your home or business.

Consider whether you want to make the rooms brighter or offset lively wall colouring with a cooler shade and style of flooring, for example. Whatever look and effect you are aiming for, there is a laminate that will provide it.

How easy it is to install and maintain

Overall, laminate is one of the simplest types of flooring to maintain, as the presence of a protective-wear layer means the majority of dirt is kept away from the surface of the material. This means cleaning usually just involves dry mopping or vacuuming.

The exception will be if it is in a room where the floor gets very wet, such as a bathroom. Water will damage laminate flooring and make maintenance harder.

Installing laminate flooring is not always quite so straightforward. Any patterns – whether it is tiling or wooden planks – must match when the floor is laid.

It may also be necessary to trim the bottoms of doors slightly to prevent these scratching the surface when being opened or closed. In that situation, professional installation will be best.

By considering these options, you should be able to find the most suitable laminate floor for your home.