The good news is that the world of laminate flooring has advanced and expanded in recent years. This budget-friendly option now offers a wide variety of patterns, colors, finishes, and more.

The bad news is that this abundance of choices can make things a bit overwhelming when it comes to picking new laminate flooring for your home.

We’ll explain the different types of laminate flooring, factors you may want to consider when choosing yours, and how to experience the best installation once you’ve made your choice.

Table of Contents

types of laminate wood flooring

What Is Laminate Flooring?

Laminate flooring is one of the most popular options available today for home decor and consists of multiple synthetic layers pressed and laminated together. These layers typically consist of:

  1. Wear: The top, protective layer
  2. Decor: The wood layer or printed image
  3. Core: Provides stability and strength
  4. Backing: The bottom layer that improves structural stability and prevents warping

Because this flooring can be designed to mimic virtually any pattern at a fraction of the price of more expensive options like hardwood and tile, people have begun using many types of laminate floor throughout their homes.

What Type of Laminate Flooring Is the Best?

With so many different types of laminate flooring to choose from, the one that’s best for you will depend on your preference and needs. Consider factors such as:

  • Design: There are a variety of choices for patterns, colors, finishes, and more.
  • Water resistance: Will the flooring be in a bathroom or kitchen? If so, make sure you choose something that’s waterproof or highly water-resistant.
  • Usage: Will your laminate flooring be in a high-traffic area, or will it see less wear and tear? Consider the Abrasion Class (AC) rating, which measures durability and ranges from AC1 for light residential use to AC5 for heavy commercial use.
  • Price: Laminate flooring is generally an affordable option, but there’s still a pretty big range of prices within its types and styles. Your choice may depend on whether you need something budget-friendly or you can afford to spend more.
  • Resale value: If you’re planning to sell your house soon or even down the road, know that engineered wood laminate is generally more valued than synthetic plastic laminate.
  • Installation: Are you planning a DIY install or will you let the pros take care of everything? Some types of laminate flooring are pretty simple to put in, but others need a more careful approach.

Interior Motives Flooring offers laminate flooring and installation services in Auburn, WA, and surrounding areas. We can recommend what type of laminate flooring will work best for your space and expertly install it, communicating with you every step of the way to ensure you’re satisfied with the final product.

types of wood laminate flooring

2 Types of Laminate Flooring

There are two main types of laminate flooring, engineered wood laminate and plastic laminate. Within these main options, you can choose from a variety of styles and patterns.

#1: Engineered Wood

If you want the upsides of wood flooring with all the benefits laminate provides, then engineered wood laminate is a great option. It consists of layers of engineered wood along with acrylic lamination.

This type of laminate flooring is more expensive than the plastic variety and may also be less durable against water and other types of wear and tear. But it can be sanded down and refinished a few times over its lifespan, which can help it last longer and look better (this isn’t an option for plastic laminate).

#2: Plastic

Plastic laminate contains no natural materials but can be designed to mimic the look of virtually any other type of flooring including wood, tile, stone, and more. It’s a budget-friendly choice and is perfect for messy or high-traffic areas, as it stands up to:

  • Water
  • Scratches
  • Dents
  • Staining
  • Etc.

types of laminate flooring

4 Characteristics To Consider When Choosing Which Type of Laminate Flooring Will Work Best for Your Space

#1: Finish

Today’s laminate flooring comes in a variety of surface types, including:

  • Smooth, which is easiest to clean but may not look as realistic as other natural materials.
  • Textured, which usually has a more realistic look but can be harder to clean because of grooves in the surface.
  • Distressed, which is a great option if you want an antique or older look with more durability and a lower cost.

#2: Installation

If you’re planning to install the laminate flooring yourself, the installation method may play a part in your choice. Glueless click-and-lock flooring is generally the easiest for DIY jobs, but laminate flooring can also be installed with glued tongue and groove pieces or pre-glued peel-and-stick. 

If you don’t want the installation difficulty to be a factor in your laminate flooring choice, you should choose a professional company like Interior Motives Flooring to complete the process for you.

types of wood laminate flooring

#3: Pattern

We’ve already discussed how laminate flooring can be created to mimic a variety of materials, including wood, stone, and tile. But if you go with the traditional wood look, there can also be variations in the width and color of the flooring, plus it can be laid out in different ways to keep things interesting:

  • Narrow planks can create a more modern look.
  • Wide planks are more reminiscent of older architectural styles and may seem sturdier.
  • Herringbone or chevron patterns offer dimension and make the flooring seem more interesting.

#4: Moisture-Resistance

If you’re placing your laminate flooring in a high-moisture area like a kitchen or bathroom, you should consider how well your flooring stands up to water. There are two different categories for this: waterproof and water-resistant.

Waterproof

Waterproof laminate flooring is designed so that water won’t penetrate the top layer and damage the fiberboard core. Obviously, this type of flooring won’t be able to withstand extreme conditions like a flooded home, but it stands up well to everyday spills and messes — although it is recommended that you wipe these up as soon as possible.

Waterproof laminate flooring is best for:

  • Kitchens
  • Bathrooms
  • Mudrooms
  • Basements
  • Homes with children and/or pets

Water-Resistant

Water-resistant laminate is designed to keep water out of the flooring core as well — it just can’t keep moisture at bay for as long as waterproof flooring. It should hold the water on top until the moisture evaporates or is cleaned up, but if messes stay too long, they can penetrate and damage the planks.

Water-resistant flooring is best for:

  • Dining rooms
  • Living rooms
  • Accent walls

different types of laminate flooring

Commonly Asked Questions About Different Types of Laminate Flooring

What Is the Most Timeless Color of Laminate Flooring?

While color choices for today’s laminate flooring are seemingly unlimited, there are several classics people seem to turn to over and over again. These include: 

Even if you choose one of these traditional colors for your home, know that you can still mix it up a bit by opting for varying floorboard widths or pattern arrangements.

What Is the Best Grade of Laminate Flooring?

We discussed the AC durability rating system earlier. Although AC5 is the highest-rated and most durable, these are only necessary for busy commercial establishments like offices, shops, and showrooms.

For residential buildings, you can probably get away with having AC3-rated laminate flooring installed, although you’re better off opting for AC4 if you have pets, kids, or an otherwise busy home.

How Long Does It Take To Install Laminate Flooring?

Laminate flooring can typically be installed pretty quickly. The most accurate estimate can be found by calling our flooring specialist team in Auburn. We’ll come out to your home, measure the space, and give you an accurate estimate.

Do I Need To Know About Any Disadvantages of Laminate Flooring?

Laminate flooring is a popular choice in many homes due to its price point, versatility, and variety of options. But it does have a few drawbacks, such as:

  • It can be difficult to repair.
  • It doesn’t typically increase the resale value of your home.
  • It can fade with extended sun exposure.
  • Most aren’t 100% waterproof.

If these issues are of great concern to you, contact one of our experts at Interior Motives Flooring for recommendations about other flooring types that may work better in your space.

Interior Motives Flooring: Your One-Stop-Shop for Laminate Flooring and Installation Services in Auburn, WA

Interior Motives Flooring believes that your floors should bring joy, not be a burden. We’ve been serving the residents of Auburn and surrounding areas since 1989, and we’re experts on the types of laminate flooring that will work best in your home — along with all other flooring-related questions and needs.

Here’s how our laminate flooring installation services work:

  1. Make an appointment to visit our showroom, where you can explore many different types of laminate flooring and get the expert opinions of our team.
  2. We’ll visit your home for a free consultation and provide an estimate.
  3. We’ll schedule a time for our team to install your flooring.
  4. The team will remove and dispose of your old flooring before installing the new product.
  5. After completion and clean-up, we’ll do a walk-through with you to ensure you’re happy with the results.

If you’re ready to get started on your home improvement project, contact us today to schedule a free estimate.

types of wood laminate flooring