What is laminate flooring?

Request Your FREE Tapi Flooring Guide

Need to know more about carpets and smooth flooring? We're making inspiring flooring reassuringly simple.

Get Your Free Guide

Created as a more affordable alternative to natural wood, laminate flooring is now one of the most popular flooring types because of its durability, ease of fitting, and low maintenance – not to mention being a very eco-friendly choice.

If you’re thinking of investing in a genuine wood floor, let us tell you why a laminate floor is the better option.

In this guide:

What is laminate flooring?
What are the advantages of laminate flooring?
Which room is best for laminate flooring?
How much does it cost to fit laminate flooring?
Flooring comparison table

What is laminate flooring?

Laminate flooring is a wood-based smooth floor designed to imitate the look and feel of a real wooden floor.

Each plank starts with a high-definition photograph or print of the wood on high-quality paper before being covered by a clear coating. This helps to protect the floor underneath from scuffs, stains, and fading, as well as general everyday wear and tear.

What is laminate flooring made of?

Laminate is comprised of an upper ‘protective’ clear layer which covers the photograph or print underneath, and the inner core, which these layers sit on. The core is made up of a solid, thick layer of either MDF (medium-density fibreboard) or HDF (high-density fibreboard) which helps to give the plank its strength.

What are the advantages of laminate flooring?

There are so many benefits to choosing a laminate floor, and when going head-to-head with a real wooden floor, laminate can often come out on top. Here are just a few reasons why laminate is a great choice for your home:

Sustainable – All our laminate flooring comes from sustainably managed forests, and a new tree is planted for every one that’s cut down, making it an eco-friendly flooring choice.
Hygienic – The anti-bacterial topcoat is perfect if you’ve got small children crawling around on the floor.
Affordable – Laminate is much less expensive than real wood, and doesn’t cost as much to fit (and it can be even cheaper if you install it yourself!).
Durable – The wood-based core combined with the overall thickness makes laminate a super strong floor that’s sure to last years, while the protection layer provides scratch resistance to keep it looking flawless.
Versatile – It can be fitted in most rooms (although not all laminates are recommended in bathrooms) and it works wonderfully well with underfloor heating.
Easy to fit – The click and lock system of laminate flooring planks makes it incredibly easy to install. Even you (yes, you!) could do it…
Low maintenance – Just a quick sweep, vacuum, and a swish with a slightly damp mop now and again is all a laminate floor needs to stay in good condition.
UV resistant – Thanks to its UV protection layer, laminate won’t fade as quickly in the sunlight as real wood.
Realistic designs – The photographic layer is in such high definition that it does an excellent job of imitating a hardwood floor.

There are so few disadvantages of laminate flooring – it’s one of our most versatile flooring types and can fit into just about every room. However, some of the main cons are that it can’t be refinished once it’s made, so it can never be sanded down and repainted. It can also be a little slippery, so isn’t ideal for those who are not as steady on their feet – carpet is a much better alternative in this instance.

Order free laminate samples

Which room is best for laminate flooring?

Wondering what the best rooms for laminate flooring are? Well, wonder no longer, as the beauty of laminate is that it looks good everywhere!

Because it’s warm and comfortable underfoot, laminate is perfect for bedroom flooring. And, thanks to its stain resistance and easy clean surface, it’s a popular choice if you’re looking for dining room and kitchen laminate flooring.

However, as laminate is a wood-based floor, it’s not the best choice for bathrooms, utility rooms, or entrances – the planks can warp and blister if they come into contact with too much moisture.

That said, if your heart’s set on bathroom laminate flooring, we’ve got water resistant laminates with a bit of extra splash protection, including Quick-Step laminate flooring that can stay water resistant for up to 15 years!

Tapi Top Tip – Check the room suitability icons on each product page to find out where in your home that particular style of laminate can be used, or filter your search by room.

Laminate flooring designs

Being both classic and versatile, there are also many different types of laminate flooring available in gorgeous wood or ceramic tile designs, with some styles featuring detailed embossing that means you can feel the wood grain and every knot!

Wood effect laminate is a timeless look that will never go out of fashion, and many styles have four bevelled edges to mimic real wooden planks. Our collection of oak laminate flooring comes in a variety of tones, including light, natural, stained, weathered, and dark. Some are smooth to the touch, whilst others have registered embossing for a more realistic texture.
Herringbone laminate floors are also a very popular design as they look striking and are so much easier to lay than the real wood alternative - not to mention, they have a distinct Parisian interior style to them! Laminate is generally easier to lay than engineered wood, although a herringbone pattern is harder to lay than straight laminate planks.
Distressed laminate, with all its unique quirks, is an ideal choice if you want to bring a vintage or rustic feel to a room.
The spectrum of laminate colours ranges from white or grey wood laminate flooring for a fresh, Scandi vibe, to dark wood laminate for a sleek, modern finish.

Explore laminate flooring

Browse all laminate

How much does it cost to fit laminate flooring?

The cost to lay laminate flooring depends on many different things: the size of the room(s), the type of laminate, the type of underlay, the location it will be fitted, and which accessories you choose. We sell a wide selection of laminate flooring at different price points to suit every budget.

Laminate fitting costs start from £15 per square metre for click fit laminate. Herringbone laminate will cost more to fit, and you might need to spend a bit more if your subfloor needs a little TLC.

Remember, you’ll also need to include the cost of laminate underlay, as well as other accessories such as edging strips or scotia and door bars. For more information, you can find out the best underlay for laminate flooring, with our handy guide.

Our flooring experts will be able to talk you through all the costs involved in buying and installing laminate flooring when you book a home visit or come and see us in store. There's also a handy laminate flooring cost calculator on all our laminate product pages to give you an estimate of how much your floor will cost.

For more information, have a read of our laminate cost guide to get the full picture.

Flooring comparison table

Still a bit unsure if laminate is the right flooring choice for you? We’ve listed the differences in the following table:

	Carpet	Laminate	Vinyl	LVT	Engineered Wood
Low-cost	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗
Quiet	✓	✗	✓	✗	✗
Durable	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓
Comfortable	✓	✓	✓	✓	✗
Water resistant	✗	✗*	✓	✓	✗
Easy-to-clean	✗	✓	✓	✓	✗
Sustainable	✗**	✓	✗	✗	✓
Suitable for underfloor heating	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓

*Except for water resistant laminate

**Except for 100% wool carpets

Choose laminate if you want:

The appearance of real wood
A more affordable flooring option than solid hardwood
A floor that’s easy to clean and maintain
A thick and solid floor underfoot
An eco-friendly option

Discover laminate flooring at Tapi

Now that you know everything there is to know about laminate, you should check out our amazing laminate flooring collection and find your favourite!

If you think laminate could be great in your space but you’re unsure which is the best laminate flooring for you, pop into your local Tapi store where our flooring experts are on hand to offer you no-obligation advice. If you’re still unsure about laminate or you’re torn between two flooring types, our guide to hard flooring types might help you decide.