Laminate flooring

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 This is a compressed fibreboard plank, covered with a photographic image of wood with a protective overlay. Quality can vary considerably, so it really pays to buy the best quality you can afford.

The edges of some laminate flooring boards have a slight bevel to create a more realistic appearance. It also helps to avoid damage caused by moisture-induced swelling at the edges of laminate boards.

Avoid laminate flooring with a chipboard core, because it expands and contracts a lot. And don’t buy damaged packages where water vapour might have swollen the boards. Look for a fibreboard base with a plain-coloured underside – usually green or brown – which gives added protection against moisture.

To start, it is important to understand the specifications of the laminate. This flooring has an endless number of specs to choose from, but most are more about marketing than practical use. Ignoring personal preferences such as how to choose the right colour of laminate flooring, the most important specifications to consider are :

• AC Rating (Wear Rating)
• Thickness
• Water Resistance

The AC rating of a laminate floor is independently awarded and it will determine how much traffic (or abrasion) a floor can take before wearing through the lamination. Although this is not exclusively a scratch test, laminate floors with a higher wear rating will be harder to scratch. AC ratings will range from AC1 up to AC6. For most residential users, an AC3-4 floor will be more than sufficient. Here is a brief explanation of each grade.

• AC1-2 Low to moderate traffic Areas (Bedrooms)
• AC3-4 Moderate to high Traffic Levels (EG Hallways)
• AC5-6 High traffic residential or commercial use (EG Busy offices )

The thickness of a laminate floor won't affect how long it will last, or how scratch-proof it is. That is solely determined by the wear rating. But it is still important in other ways. A thicker laminate floor should have a thicker click system and that will make it stronger. Fitting laminate floors is simple enough, but sometimes you might need a little extra force. Having a thick and strong click system will be much less fragile when installing.

A thicker floor such as 12mm laminate flooring, will feel stronger underfoot. Having a robust plank to walk on is considerably more assuring and offers a more luxurious feeling when compared to a thinner board. It will also flex less than thinner boards which can be helpful when there is some slight unevenness in the sub-floor.

Wood and water don't often mix well, which is one of the key reasons why the correct aintance for laminate flooring is important.  Too much water on a floor and it can swell up. Most laminates, if cleaned correctly, won't have to deal with much more than the odd spill or two. Provided these are cleaned up and not left to soak, it shouldn't cause any trouble to a quality laminate. But in rooms where excess moisture will inevitably be present, a water restant laminate should be a high priority. These floors are designed to cope with higher moisture and frequent spills. If you are considering an installation in any of the following room types, consider putting water resistance at the top of your priorities when looking for the best laminate flooring.

• bathrooms
• utility rooms
• laundry rooms
• kitchens
• cafes
• restaurants
• salons

To help with this, we offer a range of waterproof laminate floors on our site that can be accessed by using the filter on our website.