It’s time to take another look at laminate.

How many of you grew up in a home with a laminate countertop in the kitchen? I did. Of course, I didn’t know it was laminate at the time, but I remember the smooth white with gold flecks underneath my hands as my mother and I kneaded cookie dough. I also remember my mom complaining when it chipped.

Let’s get one thing straightened up right now: today’s laminate flooring is NOT the same as the retro Formica countertops of yore. It’s harder. It’s better. It’s stronger. It’s thicker. The laminate floors of 2015 are versatile, beautiful, durable, and, best of all, budget friendly! Not convinced yet? Here are some of laminate wood flooring’s best features:

• Attached Pad

This one is pretty self-explanatory, and pretty great! Top quality padding comes already attached to the laminate flooring plank, to make installing your new floor even easier. The Supreme Click Madison Oak has a high quality pad already attached!

• Free Underlayment

In order to float laminate flooring over your subfloor, you’ll need padding. Padding offers some great benefits, like additional moisture protection, impact resistance, and sound reduction. The Bella Cera Valencia Walnut Laminate comes with free top quality underlayment, all at the great low discount price you deserve.

• Click Together Installation

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or an intrepid do-it-yourselfer, everyone likes a little something that makes their lives a little bit easier. Click together installation is here to do just that! Don’t believe me? Take a gander at the Supreme Click Smokey Mountain Maple.

• Random Width Design

It’s only natural to want to customize your home. Random width design brings a distinctive look wherever it’s installed. Want to know more? Have a look at our Random Length video!

• Embossed In Register

This is the next level! Embossed In Register takes genuine hardwood appearance to the next level by mimicking the beauty of wood grain. Unlike a hand scraped finish, which can create anything from a gentle wave to a deeper weathered look, EIR it goes in the natural direction of wood grain for that extra layer of authenticity! The CFS Charterfield Belmont wood laminate floor is a beautiful example.

• Hand Scraped Finish

The weathered, rustic look is like the little black dress of flooring: timeless and trendy. Hand scraped finishes run from barely noticeable to very impactful, so there’s a laminate wood floor to meet your exact taste and specifications! The CFS Charterfield Whisper laminate features a beautiful hand scraped finish and a trendy grey hue!

• Beveled Edges

Instead of square edges that drop off at a 90 degree angle, beveled edges feature a lovely angled edge that adds a tasteful seamed appearance between planks. Looking for a dark floor with a beveled edge? The Supreme Click Rustic Mocha Oak laminate is a gorgeous option.

• AC3 Rating

Every laminate floor has an Abrasion Class (AC) rating on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being designed for heavy commercial use in places like department stores and public buildings. AC3 rated floors like the Supreme Click Applewood wood laminate are ready to go to work in your home, but if you want something a bit stronger we also have…

• AC4 Rating

Durable, heavy duty AC4 rated laminate! The Landmark Series Caramel Apple is as strong as it is attractive!

Want to know more about the great benefits of laminate flooring? Call or click to speak with one of our flooring experts today!   - - - - Meredith Foster is a content writer at Floors To Your Home. Away from the office she's a published author, hockey fan (Go Pens! Go Preds!) , music lover, and mom to a vampire-fanged rescue cat.    

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