How to Choose Laminate Flooring

Choosing the perfect floor can be overwhelming. With so many colors, cuts, widths, and thicknesses to select from, how do you know which option is best for your needs? It shouldn’t be a chore to choose laminate flooring. At Bestlaminate, we strive to make it easy while still helping you find the perfect choice for your needs.

Follow our Laminate Buying Checklist to guide you through the purchasing process!

Wear Layer

When it comes to your flooring, you want it to last for years to come. The first thing you should consider when deciding which type of laminate is right for your needs is how much foot traffic it will see. Heavier foot traffic areas require stronger flooring than areas with light foot traffic.

Depending on the level of foot traffic, you can narrow down your flooring selection based on AC Rating. Here’s how to know which AC rating is right for your needs.

AC Rating

  • AC 1: Works best in low-traffic areas in your home, such as closets or guest rooms.
  • AC 2: Works best in a residential setting with light foot traffic.
  • AC 3: Works best in a residential setting and is suitable for higher traffic rooms in your home.
  • AC 4: Works best in heavy residential and commercial spaces with some traffic including boutiques, salons, doctors offices and cafes.
  • AC 5: Works best in commercial buildings with heavy foot traffic, such as public buildings, offices and large stores.
  • AC 6: Durable and tough laminate used in commercial settings.

Decorative Layer

One of the best parts of laminate flooring is the ability to pick and choose the style or color of your floors. There are so many types to choose from and the possibilities are limitless!

When deciding on the decorative layer, here are a few considerations to make.

    •  What is the style of your room or home?
      The feel of your home and personal style can easily be complemented with a laminate floor. Do you want this throughout your home or in specific rooms? The type of flooring you put in a nursery may vary from the type of flooring you put in an office. If you have a particular look in mind, check out our style options.
    • What colors will you use?
      Color is another important consideration to make. Deciding on paint colors or fabrics can help to pair flooring colors to fit your decor perfectly. Also, match colors up with other types of flooring in your home, such as tile or stone. Gather paint, fabric swatches and flooring samples to pair together.
    • What plank width do you prefer?
      You can choose from 3-4 inches, 4-5 inches, 5-6.5 inches, and over 6.6 inch widths for your laminate flooring planks. Thinner planks can add a more dramatic flair to your space, as can very thick planks. Decide how traditional you want your flooring to look when considering the plank width.
    • What plank style do you want?
      This is different from the decorative style. You can choose between 1, 2, or 3 planks on each piece of flooring. The styles vary quite a bit between each and give a very different look. Take a look to decide which is right for your space.
    • What plank texture do you want?
      Plank textures can make a dramatic statement in any room. Looking for a rustic look? Go with a reclaimed or hand-scraped texture. Want a modern look? Check out piano or high-gloss flooring.

By answering these five questions, you can narrow your selection quite a bit.

Warranty

By now, you’ve narrowed your search to a few select options. The last piece you’ll want to consider is the warranty on your flooring. Laminate floors come with a variety of warranties. Depending on how long you plan to be in your home and the type of wear and tear you expect your floors to endure, you might want to opt for a longer warranty.

Here are the choices available to you.

  • 10-year
  • 15-year
  • 20-year
  • 21-30 year
  • 31-40 year
  • Lifetime
  • Light Commercial
  • Heavy Commercial

Within each warranty there are certain specifications you will want to consider.

Check out our guide how to select laminate flooring with Betsy.

We understand that there is a lot to choose from when it comes to the various types of laminate flooring. We’re here to help! Contact us today to speak with one of our flooring experts and learn more.

Learn More