Why Show Love for Laminate

If you’re dreaming of solid oak floorboards but only have enough in the budget to stretch to laminate flooring, don’t be disappointed.

Laminate flooring may be the more budget-friendly option to solid timber and engineered timber boards, but that doesn’t mean it looks or feels “cheap”. Laminate has come along way over the past 30 or so years since it was first introduced and gone are the “fake floor” tags. The majority of laminate flooring on the market today has such realistic finishes that it’s hard to tell it apart from the real thing.

But don’t judge by appearances alone. If the price of a laminate seems too good to be true, then it probably is. For example, a low-cost laminate manufactured in China may look fine on the surface, but after exposure to spillages the material will soon swell causing no end of problems. However, take a Quick-Step Laminate with its superior damp-proof characteristics and Uniclic Locking System (that locks planks tightly together to prevent spills from seeping), then swelling is significantly minimised.

As a general guide when it comes to buying laminate flooring, when the price comes down the swell factor goes up. Here’s a checklist of “quality control” questions to ask before buying:

What type of joining system is used? FYI: the best in the world is Uniclic.

• What warranties are offered? FYI: A 25-year warranty will give you peace of mind, but always read the small print.
• How moisture resistant is the product? FYI: With laminate, the harder the HDF core, the higher quality the flooring.
• Is the product reputable? FYI: Get an understanding of how long the product has been sold in Australia, and always check reviews!