Laminate Flooring

Laminate floors have the look of hardwood and the maintenance of vinyl. Basically, laminate floors offer the look of a real wood product combined with easy maintenance. It is true that laminate floors come in wood planks, limestone blocks, marble and granite tiles.

Beckler's Carpet has all the laminate floor options you'll ever need, with famous names like Wilsonart laminate flooring, Alloc laminate flooring, Mannington laminate flooring and more. Our selection is unmatched, and our low prices help you stretch your budget even further!

Almost all laminate floors have a triple warranty against wearing, staining and fading. The industry standard warranty program is 15-years against all three. Some manufacturers are now adding moisture warranties, which can either lead you into a false sense of security, or if you actually read the warranty you'll see that it is really an extension of your insurance company.

If your insurance company does not cover the damage (which they will) then the flooring manufacturer will cover some part of the damage depending on which company offers the warranty.

Where Can I Put Laminate Flooring?

The answer varies between manufacturers, but 100% of floor makers like Armstrong, Wilsonart laminate flooring, Alloc laminate flooring, Quick Step, Shaw Laminate Flooring, Mannington Laminate, Mohawk Laminate, and others agree that their floors can go in all areas of the home excluding wet areas like bathrooms and laundry rooms. Laminate flooring can be installed in bathrooms and laundry areas as long as special installation precautions are met.

Laminate floors have the look of hardwood and the maintenance of vinyl. Basically, laminate floors offer the look of a real wood product combined with easy maintenance. It is true that laminate floors come in wood planks, limestone blocks, marble and granite tiles. Almost all laminate floors have a triple warranty against wearing, staining and fading. The industry standard warranty program is 15-years against all three. Some manufacturers are now adding moisture warranties, which can either lead you into a false sense of security, or if you actually read the warranty you'll see that it is really an extension of your insurance company. If your insurance company does not cover the damage (which they will) then the flooring manufacturer will cover some part of the damage depending on which company offers the warranty.

Where Can I Put This Stuff?

The answer varies between manufacturers, but 100% of floor makers agree that their floors can go in all areas of the home excluding wet areas like bathrooms and laundry rooms. Laminate flooring can be installed in bathrooms and laundry areas as long as special installation precautions are met. I have installed many laminate floors in bathrooms and have only found it to be a problem a couple times due to what I considered extreme conditions. Remember that these floors are mostly made of wood based products. Therefore, prolonged exposure to water can cause warping and buckling. Spilling or splashing water onto the top layer is no problem as moisture from the surface is not damaging as it would be in a standard wood floor. The only problem is if moisture comes in contact with the floor from the edges or underneath.

Watch Your Back, Vinyl Guys!

Vinyl makers never would have thought it, but when people went to replace their kitchens and were tired of the same old vinyl look, they started to choose the new laminate floors that looked better and cleaned just as well. My vinyl business dropped at least 50% due to people selecting laminate flooring instead of traditional vinyl floor covering. The most common laminate flooring job is a kitchen or a kitchen/dining/family room combination. Unfortunately for the vinyl guys, the laminate trend is quickening. Large vinyl makers such as Armstrong, Mannington and Tarkett have entered the market with subcontracted arrangements through European manufacturers. The market continues to be crowded and therefore the confusion factor will only increase. For consumers that have a large kitchen and family room or dining room combination, I find that the look combined with the practicality of the laminate floors is too good to pass up. Since laminate flooring can go over existing vinyl with no major preparation, the cost is very favorable when compared with a new high-quality vinyl floor based on professional installation prices.