Laminate buying guide
Why choose laminate flooring?
• Laminate flooring is practical and looks fantastic.
• Modern day print and production processes mean that pretty much any style of flooring can be emulated with a laminate, from classic wood to travertine tiles, all with an authentic finish.
• A laminate floor is simple and fuss-free to install and adds a beautiful finish to any room. Unlike real wood flooring, laminate takes very little on-going maintenance and can be used almost anywhere in your home.
To help you decide on the right laminate flooring for your home, you can order up to four free samples of your favourite laminates online and we will deliver them straight to your door within seven working days.
How to choose laminate by room
Our laminate flooring is sure to have a design to suit your needs, that’s easy to fit and look after. With the expert knowledge of our professionals, we can help you decide on your dream floor.
Laminate flooring is diverse enough to be used in any room of the house!
Bathroom laminate
Although not usually considered to be the ideal choice for this wet room, there are some ranges of laminate flooring for bathrooms available. It’s slip resistant too, so it’s a pretty safe option.
Laminate flooring styles
Oak laminate
Oak flooring will give any home a timeless finish that complements pretty much any style of décor. Oak laminate flooring is very realistic and so much more practical than the solid oak. It’s the perfect way to get the amazing look of real oak without the huge cost, or ongoing maintenance.
Walnut laminate
Walnut is a beautifully rich wood and this laminate authentically captures its natural beauty including knots and grain detail. Walnut laminate flooring can give you the perfect dark wood floor without the scary price tag meaning you can re-vamp your home at a fraction of the cost.
Chestnut laminate
Arriving in varying shades and styles, chestnut laminate has a natural look with grain detailing that enhances its authenticity. Some have a worn look to the surface, creating a vintage feel.
Stone laminate
This tile effect laminate flooring is the perfect solution if you’ve always wanted a stone floor. Stone effect laminate looks fantastically realistic, is anti-slip and has a comfy warm surface to walk on — the best of both worlds!
Slate laminate
Now you can achieve the look and feel of real slate without the high cost by investing in slate effect laminate flooring. The deep and rich tones of our slate laminate flooring will give your rooms a rustic appearance which is both charming and inviting.
Laminate flooring finishes
The surface finish and plank detailing of laminate flooring can dramatically change the look and feel of your floor. This detail enhances the authenticity of your laminate, giving you the look of real slate, stone or wood. The way that laminate planks are finished really impacts on the overall look of your floor, but what are the differences in these finishes?
Plank edging
No groove edge
No groove means just that! The edges of all planks meet squarely creating a smooth, uniform surface blending the wood floor together from plank to plank.
V-groove edge
A V groove is a finish added to the edge of each plank of wood effect laminate to enhance depth and definition between them. Each edge is bevelled so that when the planks are clicked together, a v groove can be seen between each board giving an even more natural finish by enhancing the plank effect.
4V-groove edge
A 4V groove incorporates the bevelled edge on both the length and width of the planks which further adds to the authenticity of your laminate floor. This enhances the definition of the plank effect even more increasing the realism, giving you the look of a hardwood floor. Stone effect laminates can sometimes include a more rounded groove as this is better replicates grouting between stone tiles.
Surface finishes
Embossed
Some laminate comes with a textured finish to the surface and this laminate is called embossed. The pattern is pressed into the laminate to create a texture that makes your flooring look and feel more like real wood. However, regular embossing doesn’t match exactly with the grain on the printed layer of your laminate.
Registered embossed
The process for registered embossed is the same as for regular embossed whereby a pattern is pressed into the surface of the laminate to create texture. However with registered embossed the texture follows the grain of the printed image, creating a really authentic look and feel underfoot. Innovation in the industry’s technology enables each individual laminate plank to be matched with perfect precision.
Hand scraped
The surface of the laminate flooring is pressed in such a way that it creates the appearance of wood that has been scraped giving it real rustic feel. The laminate appear old and distressed which is a very popular look and your feet will feel the contours of grains and indentations
Laminate flooring surface detail
Single plank laminate
Single plank laminate gives the impression of a single plank of wood taking up the full width of each piece of laminate, giving a traditional look to your floor.
2 strip plank laminate
The 2 strip laminate designs give the impression of 2 strip of wood across the width of each laminate piece which gives a staggered appearance highlighting colour variations.
Multistrip plank laminate
Multistrip means that the laminate looks like there are multiple boards within one plank. When the multiple planks are in a random pattern it makes an incredibly unique impact on your home.
Narrow plank laminate
Narrow plank laminate gives the impression that each plank is narrow which is great for small spaces as it will make the room look larger by giving the appearance of more planks in the room.
Wide plank laminate
This laminate works well in larger spaces as the planks appear wider giving a more rustic look and feel to the room without making it look too busy.
Tile plank laminate
This laminate is made to replicate tiles of different sizes and shapes and applies to stone and slate effect laminate flooring.
Underlay & flooring accessories
Underlay is designed to protect your sub-floor and provide additional comfort and insulation. We offer a range of accessories, such as door bars and beading for your laminate floor to give it those beautiful final touches.
Learn more about underlay and accessories to give your laminate flooring that flawless and long-lasting finish.
Laminate flooring care & fitting guides
If you’re up for some DIY, take a look at our fitting guide to see how to lay laminate flooring. Once you’ve got your laminate flooring fitted, see our care guide for the best ways to clean and maintain your laminate.
