Laminate flooring resembles hardwood or stone while offering the easy maintenance of vinyl. Some people turn their noses up at the idea of obtaining the look of natural materials from plastic laminate adhered to fiberboard or particleboard. But you may want to consider the product, which has been popular in Europe for decades, if you want the look but not the price tag of real wood.

Recommended support
Plywood.

Pros

• Liquids don't cause the damage they would to a real wood floor

• No worries about staining or fading for at least a decade

• Extremely durable and can handle lots of traffic

• Cleanup requires just a broom or mop

• Requires less maintenance than real wood

• Costs less than real wood

Cons

• Laminated layers could break up if water seeps into cracks

• When it wears out, the whole floor has to be replaced rather than just refinished

• More prone to chipping than real wood

• Surface won't be as even or as smooth and seamless as real wood

Price
About $4-$11 per square foot.