Laminate Flooring Reviews

Q: I am considering putting in laminate flooring in all of our house except bedrooms but have some concerns. How do they stand up to pet stains and spills? Also, is there a review website you would recommend so I could choose one that best fits our family?
Mike and Gretchen
A: As far as ratings for laminate is concerned, I would highly suggest reading Brand Wars II: A Laminate Showdown which was written by Steve 2 years ago.
Keep in mind since this article was written, a few of the laminate lines which Steve rated have seen some redesign or name changes. For instance, one of the highest rated laminates was Quick Step’s Uniclic Long Plank, which was renamed to Eligna. Some lines have also been discontinued, but certain lines like Pergo Select, Quick Step Perspective and Westhollow South Pacific are still going strong.
While you are doing your research and shopping, remember that wood and water do NOT mix. This being said, the best way to protect your floor from spills and stains is to clean up any messes asap. Water is most dangerous when it gets into tongue and groove or locking mechanism area of your flooring. This is where the finish does not protect the wood. There are a few techniques you can use when installing your flooring to help add a bit of additional protection to these areas. In the case of laminate, where it is put together using a locking mechanism, you can put a thin bead of tongue and groove glue to add a bit of additional moisture protection. Now this won’t make your laminate impervious to water because no wood floor is water proof.
In regards to stains, most laminate manufacturer’s have warranties which cover their finishes from preventing stains. In this case, find the higher quality laminates, such as those which rate AC4 or AC5. These floors are built for commercial level traffic and are built to take some abuse. Another thing to keep in ind here is that no matter how tough your floor is, if you use a cheaper underlayment, the floor will move more and be more susceptible to moisture getting into the locking mechanisms. Look into a dense, premium underlayment here such as Sound 6 or my favorite Cork.
In the end here, find a high quality laminate which suits your taste and project and get a good underlayment which will minimize floor movement, then take care when installing this floor (or have it installed professionally) and talk with your installer about ways to prevent moisture damage to your floor from spills.