Laminate Flooring: Worth a Second Look?

What is laminate flooring?

Laminate flooring typically contains four main layers: a clear melamine protective wear layer; a printed decorative layer (wood, stone, and tile are the most popular patterns); a high-density fiberboard (HDF) core; and a melamine layer that acts as a stabilizer and moisture barrier.

The layers are compressed at around 600 pounds per square inch (psi) at 400°F using a direct-pressure laminate process that bonds them together into a dimensionally stable flooring. One manufacturer, Alloc AC, offers a high-pressure laminate that is compressed at 1,200 psi to create a tough, commercial-grade flooring.