Material and structure: As much as one might easily be tricked by its wood alike look, it is composed of several synthetic wood composites.
Attention: there are some laminate tiles or planks that look like stone or tile. However, they are not as common as wooden looks.
Finishing texture: although hand-scraped, wire-brushed, and distressed textures are now available in the stores, still, the most common type is smooth texture.< br> Durability: when exposed to humidity, it easily and rapidly swallows. It also chips easily and cannot be sanded and refurbished. So, not as much durable as you might wish!
Specific advantage: highly resistant to scratch. So, highly recommended for pet owners.
Installation: most of the laminate floors can be easily floated over any type of sub-floor including plywood, cement, concrete, tile, and even carpet. Although we strongly recommend you don’t install it over the carpet as the carpet will act as a moisture reservoir just underneath your laminate flooring. And let alone the awkward feeling while walking on it!
Weaknesses: it is prone to chipping and not a good choice for high humidity environments.
Cost: price per sqft usually ranges from 0.5$ to 4$. This is one of the least expensive kinds of flooring! Price-wise, only vinyl flooring can compete with laminate flooring.
