An Introduction to Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring can look identical to many hardwood species.
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.
