Skelton’s Carpet One Floor & Home is your local retailer for flooring, and we carry a wide selection of flooring that varies in style, type, and durability. One product that is becoming increasingly popular because of its price-point, design, and strength is laminate. Laminate is a flooring option that fits many different homes, and it could be the best flooring option for your space! 

Laminate vs. Hardwood 

Laminate has undergone many changes throughout its lifetime. Arguably the most important is how much more realistic the wood and stone-look designs have become. In the past, laminate did not capture the hearts of those who loved hardwood because it simply did not look authentic. Today, technology has made it possible to truly grab the attention of those who love hardwood. 

Along with the real look of wood and stone in today’s laminate, laminate differs a bit from hardwood in its construction. Unlike hardwood that must be milled from trees, laminate is made of synthetic materials. Because laminate is made of these synthetic materials, it’s much less costly overall. Laminate also differs from hardwood because it doesn’t tend to expand and contract as much as wood, and it is capable of handling lots of foot traffic, pets, and other accidents that can happen. 

Is Laminate Waterproof?

Our waterproof laminate collections, including Mannington and Mirror Lake, are equipped with advanced moisture protection technology, such as watertight seams that easily snap lock together during the installation process. These floors are available in a beautiful range of styles, from brighter light woods that look expansive and charming to rustic darker looks with aged features. They also have innovative performance components built into the design. For instance, the Mirror Lake laminate collection has a dense base layer that absorbs noises like pet claws and high heels, while also balancing out subfloor imperfections.

Laminate vs. Luxury Vinyl

Many customers are curious whether laminate planks or luxury vinyl planks perform better. Just like laminate, we have 100% waterproof luxury vinyl flooring choices available. And just like laminate, vinyl planks have a highly authentic wood look surface that appears identical to real hardwood from above. While both have stain, wear, and scratch-resistant protection, many of our laminate collections have superior performance when it comes to this type of damage. For instance, the Mirror Lake collection, which is exclusive to Carpet One, has an Invincible Intensity SURFACESHIELD that features the most durable finish available. And laminate is generally on the more affordable side when compared to luxury vinyl.

Laminate Installation

Laminate can be installed in many areas of your home like offices, basements, bedrooms, playrooms, stairs, kitchens, and even hallways. Whether you have a busy or a quiet home, you’ll appreciate how laminate can be your total-home solution. We recommend waterproof laminate flooring for bathrooms. As far as how easy or difficult it is to install laminate, it’s best to have our experienced team install laminate in your home to ensure that it goes smoothly. 

Our Laminate Selection 

As part of the Carpet One coop, we’re proud to carry both well-known brands like Enchant, Cascade, Armstrong Audacity, and exclusive brands like Laminate for Life™. We invite you to visit our showroom in Lewiston, ID, to see our full collection of laminate available. 

	Laminate Maintenance If you want flooring that is easy to maintain, laminate is a great choice. It doesn’t require excessive cleaning or daily maintenance.      LEARN MORE
Types of Laminate You can choose from a few different types of laminate. We have both wood and stone-looks in our showroom.      LEARN MORE