Laminate Flooring in the Bay Area
Laminate flooring is a stylish and versatile option that mimics the looks of natural wood, stone, or tile but at a fraction of the cost. As an exceptionally durable choice, laminate resists stains, fading, and wear and tear, making it ideal for busy households. Easy to clean, maintain, and install, it combines practicality with aesthetic appeal. With a vast array of styles, colors, and patterns, you can find an option that complements your home.
Learn about laminate basics, laminate gallery, laminate installation, laminate questions, and laminate care and maintenance.
Top laminate products
Benefits of laminate flooring
Laminate flooring offers affordability, durability, and aesthetic appeal. Comprising multiple layers of compressed materials, including high-density fiberboard, laminate flooring is designed to mimic the look of natural wood, tile, or stone. The top layer, featuring a high-resolution photographic image, convincingly replicates these materials' authentic textures and patterns. This results in a flooring option that provides the timeless charm of hardwood or the sleek elegance of tile without the associated costs or maintenance requirements. Laminate is resilient, resisting scratches, dents, and fading, making it an excellent choice for even the busiest households.
Laminate installation
Laminate flooring is a versatile material designed and engineered for easy installation. You can install laminate floors in almost every room in your home, both above or below ground. Laminate flooring installation is 30% – 50% faster than other floors because there’s no need for adhesives or special tools. It’s a great weekend project for DIYers with intermediate experience, or you can take advantage of our professional installation. Schedule an estimate to start your next project today.
Laminate flooring is designed for a “floating floor” installation method that doesn’t require glue, nails, or staples. Instead, laminate boards have a unique tongue-and-groove profile that connects by simply locking edges into place for a firmly fastened surface. Once complete, the entire floor “floats” above the subfloor, expanding and contracting with your home's temperature and humidity changes.
The versatility of floating floor installation allows it to be installed easily and without stress. You can ensure the process goes smoothly by ensuring the subfloor is structurally sound, dry, clean, and flat. Underlayment is also recommended for laminate installation. It will serve as a moisture barrier and help quiet floors in areas with heavy foot traffic.
After installation, if you are sensitive to dust and odors, good ventilation should be established for 48 to 72 hours after installation to make sure that dust from the installation settles. From there, routine care and maintenance are up to you!
Laminate care and maintenance
The beauty and life of your laminate floors depends on how you care for it. Follow a proper cleaning routine to keep it looking great over time. A few easy steps can extend the life of your laminate flooring solution.
To keep your laminate floors clean, sweep or vacuum regularly to remove debris. Wipe up spills promptly, and use a damp cloth for general cleaning. Avoid excessive water and harsh chemicals, as they can damage the laminate. For stubborn stains, consult the manufacturer's recommendations for safe cleaning solutions.
For minor damage, such as scratches, many manufacturers create “touch-up kits” to help repair. Because of the ease of installation with laminate, severely damaged planks can often be replaced with new ones, posing little inconvenience and no damage to the surrounding flooring. If you’re concerned about damage to an existing laminate floor, contact us, and a Floor Store associate can help answer your questions.
No. Unlike natural wood, laminate floors cannot be sanded and refinished. However, laminate flooring is designed to be extremely durable and is less likely to show scratches and dents than hardwood.
Dealing with stains and spills
Address spills on laminate flooring promptly by wiping them away immediately with a dry cloth. When dealing with stains, consult your manufacturer's guide for recommended cleaning solutions to safely and effectively remove stubborn marks without causing damage.
Frequently asked questions
You have questions? We have answers!
Laminate flooring is a manufactured product designed to look like a natural material, such as wood, stone, or tile. It’s made by combining four thin layers with different properties, resulting in an attractive, durable flooring option.
Generally speaking, laminate can be installed in any room in the home. It can also be installed over various subfloors, including wood, tile, ceramic, concrete, and more. If you have questions about a specific room in your house, feel free to consult a Floor Store expert for advice.
This will largely depend on the quality of the flooring. Not all laminates are created equal. But, a high-quality laminate floor with proper care and maintenance can last many years.
Laminate flooring offers homeowners the look of real wood at a more affordable price. Laminate is also more durable than wood and better at resisting dents and scratches. In addition, laminate can be installed in rooms of the house where hardwood floors are not an option, such as in a bathroom or basement. Stop by one of our showrooms or browse our online catalog to see the variety of laminate products available.
Laminate planks are usually designed to interlock with each other for ease of installation. Unlike wood, ceramic tile, or stone, laminate flooring can be “floated” over almost any subfloor, installed over a padded underlayment that sits between the subfloor and the laminate planks or tiles. This method requires no glue, nails, or staples. Our installation experts can answer any questions about installing laminate in your home.
