What is laminate flooring?

Laminate flooring allows you to get the look of premium wood flooring without the usual price tag making it a great option for anyone on a budget. What’s more, it’s easy to install - perfect if you love DIY. With our laminate flooring sale, you could save a small fortune.

Laminate floors comprise of a particleboard base with a photographic printed layer on top, finished with a transparent laminated wear layer. The core uses compressed wood fibres to provide strength, while the image layer gives the flooring an attractive wooden finish, designed to look like natural grain. The clear aluminium oxide layer at the top protects against wear and tear, protecting the floor from scratches.

How is Laminate Flooring made?

1. Laminate Layer - The top layer is a scratch resistant, protective, transparent UV film that helps extend the durability of the floor.

2. Design Layer - This is a high quality printed layer which gives the floor its desired effect

3. Core Layer - This is the largest composition layer made from HDF that gives the laminate flooring its thickness for strength and sturdiness. This is where the click
grooves are constructed.

4. Base Layer - The bottom layer has moisture resistant properties and gives the floor added structural stability

Laminate Rating & Grades

AC1 – Very light use e.g. Bedroom

AC2 – Light to moderate use e.g. Dining rooms, study rooms

AC3 – Moderate to regular use e.g. Lounge, Hallway and Reception

AC4 – Suitable for busier homes that require more durable floors or commercial offices, receptions, salons, cafes and restaurants.

AC5 – Areas with Heavy traffic such as high street retail stores and busier restaurants and cafes.

Why is Laminate flooring cheap?

Laminate flooring is considerably more affordable than conventional wood flooring because it is made of waste products. Manufacturers use off-cuts, wood fibres, and pulp from conventional timber production to construct the material. There is no need for a continuous piece of solid wood to achieve the desired effect. To give it strength, manufacturers bond laminate flooring from various pieces of wood at high temperatures and pressures. This is why you can get cheap laminate flooring at competitive prices.

How to lay laminate flooring

To lay laminate flooring, you’ll need to measure the floor area you want to cover, shop for all the necessary materials, choose the right trims and underlays, and prepare the subfloor. Once you’re ready to start, you’ll need all the right materials, tools, and safety equipment for the job.

Installing laminate wood flooring requires intermediate DIY skills. It’s more challenging than painting a wall but less difficult than adding crown moulding.

Most laminate flooring options are “click” systems, letting you simply slot and lock flooring elements into place. In some situations, you may need to cut the flooring to the right size, but not always.

If you would like to know what to do in more detail, see our step-by-step guide to laying laminate flooring. It tells you everything you need to know so that you can install your own laminate flooring at home. If you don’t feel confident laying a laminate floor, or you are a DIY beginner, you can get a professional to do it for you.

Common mistakes when laying laminate flooring

Before you get started with any laminate wood flooring installation, it’s a good idea to brush up on what’s likely to go wrong. Novices make a host of mistakes, including:

Failing to acclimatise products to the thermal environment of the room by keeping floor temperatures above a minimum of 18 degrees C
Using the wrong underlay or failing to install a vapour barrier over concrete floors
Failing to leave sufficient clearance around the perimeter of the room to allow for thermal and moisture expansion of the laminate
Installing laminate in forbidden areas, such as under kitchen cabinets
Failing to use dilators in multi-room installations
Using caulk instead of approved finishing materials around stonework, door jambs and other features
Failing to seal laminate joints in water-exposed areas
Hammering planks together when not recommended by the manufacturer

Which way to lay laminate flooring?

In general, you should lay laminate wood flooring parallel to the longest wall in the room. While this is not a structural requirement, it helps to create a more natural flow and makes the room look longer. If you want to lay laminate flooring in multiple rooms of different dimensions, then look for the longest line of sight in your home and lay the laminate flooring in that direction.

How to cut laminate flooring

To cut laminate flooring, you’ll need a tape measure, a marking pencil, and a laminate floor cutter or jigsaw.

Start by measuring the board with your tape measure and then mark the area you want to cut. When cutting, always start from the waste side of the line so you don’t wind up with any unsightly marks.

If cutting a laminate board to width, always leave about a 7mm expansion gap to prevent the wood from buckling when it swells.

How to clean laminate flooring

To clean laminate wood flooring thoroughly, use a bespoke laminate floor cleaner. If you don't have any, mix a teaspoon of dish soap with a gallon of water.

Apply the cleaning solution to the floor using a damp mop every two to three months. Avoid saturating the mop with water. Instead, wring it out in the mop bucket until it is almost dry. For best results, use microfibre mops that can clean thoroughly without excess liquid.

Shop Popular Ranges

Natural Oak, Dark Oak Laminate Flooring