When you set out to purchase any type of flooring there is some basic information that you need to know. This includes things such as pricing, maintenance requirements, and durability. You then have to pick a material which matches your particular situation. This will ensure that your flooring is cost effective, resilient, and able to withstand the rigors of the environment it is being placed in.

In my latest article, I discuss the ins and out of buying laminate flooring . Durable, inexpensive, and easy to maintain, this is a great floor for high traffic locations. However there are drawbacks to this material. Environmental considerations, as well as the inability to refinish these floors makes many people think twice about purchasing laminate coverings.

What do you think about laminate floors? Are you a fan or a foe? What about the environmental concerns? Let us know in the comments below.

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Laminate is a durable material that is relatively inexpensive, low maintenance, and can be installed by even amateur do it yourselfers. It can also be printed to look like just about any other flooring in the world, including bamboo, hardwood, cork, brick, or natural stone. This makes it a popular floor in a variety of locations, both commercial and private.

So is laminate flooring a super material? It is quite durable, but over time the surface of it can become scratched. When this happens, the floor cannot be refinished, it has to be replaced.

However a high quality laminate will often come with a warranty which will give you an idea of how long it should last if properly maintained. In some cases this warranty will be for as many as 20 years. However you have to check the warranty details careful to ensure that you do not void it.

You can find out more about Laminate flooring from the following articles:

Laminate Floor Buying Guide
Laminate Flooring Image Gallery
Laminate Floor Pros and Cons

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The best way to decide on the type of floor that you want in a location is to look through as many pictures of various materials, installed in different settings. This will give you an idea of some of the design possibilities that are available. It will also let you see how different colors and textures react to one another in an environment.

I've just uploaded a laminate flooring image gallery , that contains a variety of pictures of laminate floors installed in different environments and color schemes. From this gallery you should get a good idea of the possibilities that are available to you with laminate flooring.

I'd love to see pictures of some of your flooring projects. We might even feature you on the site. Just drop me a line at flooring.guide@about.com and show me some of the amazing floors you have in your homes!

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Today there are a variety of materials out there that allow you to simulate the look of natural flooring options. Laminate floors are particularly good as simulating the look of real hardwood flooring. This materials is generally more durable than wood, longer lasting, easier to care for, and less expensive.

The drawback is that it is a manufactured material. That means that there is a carbon foot print which is created when the material is manufactured. Depending on what is actually used to make the laminate, there may also be a problem with out gassing when it is installed.

There is also the sacrifice that you make of having a real, natural material in your home. While laminate can be beautiful, there is something about the feel of hardwood beneath your feet that can truly connect an environment to the natural world.

So there are a lot of reasons to choose laminates, and a lot of reasons to choose hardwoods. Which one do you prefer? Let us know in the comments below!

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