Laminate Flooring

The hardwood look for half the price

The look of a wooden floor is timeless; not only does it create a warm, polished feel in any room, it also goes with just about any decor. However, not everyone can afford to lay down an expensive hardwood floor. Fortunately, that doesn’t mean that they can’t have the look – laminate flooring is a wood-based home flooring option that floats above an existing subfloor. It’s easy to install and looks wonderful in any room. If you’re ready to replace your flooring, then consider this attractive option for your home.

Editorial Review

Shaw Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring is one of the most popular ways to upgrade your home. It’s cheap, it’s easy to install and it can really improve the appearance of a room.

Pros: Laminate flooring is great. It’s sold in a wide variety of colors and textures, which means that it can mimic the look and feel of hardwood (including cherry, maple, oak and pine), ceramic tile and even stone. It’s also very affordable (far cheaper than if you were to use actual wood or slate). Laminate flooring is also easy to install, so you can do it yourself and not have to pay a contractor. Shaw laminate flooring is covered in a layer of melamine, which is very durable and moisture-resistant, so it’s easy to clean and won’t stain. It also helps resist fading. All laminate flooring sold by Shaw is backed by the company’s warranty protection program. Shaw offers 12-year, 15-year, 20-year and 25-year warranties.

Advantages of Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring has a lot of advantages over hardwood or carpet. It’s durable like hardwood, but it’s easier to take care of since you don’t need to wax or oil it. And you don’t have to worry about spills because laminate flooring doesn’t soak up liquid like carpet or hardwood flooring does. Plus, sunlight won’t fade the color or grain.

Second, laminate wood flooring looks good virtually everywhere – hallways, kitchens, living rooms, even bedrooms. And it goes with almost any design style. The modern housing market favors wooden floors over carpeting, so if you’re planning to sell, discount laminate flooring can be an easy way to increase the value of your home and the potential for a sale.

Finally, installing laminate flooring is a snap – literally! Both styles – planks and tiles – have tongue-and-groove edges that simply snap together, eliminating the need for expensive professional installation. Of course, you have to be careful to follow the directions exactly, and if you have any concerns, you might want to hire a professional just to be safe. Laminate floors may be cheaper than hardwood ones, but you still don’t want to have to fix or replace them very often.

Disadvantages of Laminate Flooring

Despite its versatility, laminate is not a great option for a laundry room or bathroom. Moisture can seep under the floorboards and cause the floor to warp, requiring partial or even total replacement.

Keep in mind, too, that laminate flooring is not guaranteed to last the entire life of a home’s mortgage. This can be a pitfall if you’re trying to sell.

Choosing a Laminate Floor

When you’re looking for a laminate floor, make sure that the manufacturer explains the benefits and installation of the particular floor you want. Also, keep an eye on colors and styles – a deep finish will darken a hallway or a room, no matter how bright the walls or how many windows there are. If you’re looking to keep things bright, go with a lighter color.

When you’ve got a laminate floor, you’ve got a finished look that works in almost any room. So get rid of that old, shabby carpet or stained, nicked hardwood and smarten up your floors!

Read our Editorial Review on Shaw Laminate Flooring

Cons: There aren’t many negatives to laminate flooring. It’s cheap, looks good and is perfect for families since it’s so durable and easy to clean. The main downside is that it adds less value to your home than using real hardwood or slate flooring. If you’re the type of person who wants everything in your home to be as authentic as possible, then laminate flooring probably isn’t for you. Though it looks nearly identical to the real thing, the truth is that nothing can quite replicate the feel of real wood, stone or ceramic tile.

Overall: Shaw Industries, Inc. has been one of the world’s leading producers of flooring materials for over 60 years. In 2001, the company began manufacturing laminate flooring. Since then, the popularity of the product has skyrocketed. Laminate flooring is affordable, easy to install and highly durable, so it’s no surprise that it has been installed in millions of homes across the nation over the past decade.