Laminate Flooring for Kitchens: Pergo-style Flooring Quick Facts
Laminate flooring is a European product that has become a major floor product in the US. Pergo is the most familiar brand but virtually every major floor manufacturer has a line of laminate flooring. In some ways this product is perfect for kitchens because it is very durable and easy to clean, won’t stain like wood, is waterproof and easy to install. When you factor the cost of installation in (which is critical in choosing flooring as materials often cost less than labor), laminates look pretty good.
Laminate flooring is similar to the laminates used to make countertops like Formica or Wilsonart. It is a series of layers of resin impregnated paper or engineered wood products surfaced with a layer that has a texture or color printed on it. With most laminate floors this image is a picture of wood. The technology is impressive and the floors are attractive but they are not wood floors; they are a substitute for hardwoods.
Installation is a major area where laminates differ from conventional wood floors. The ‘planks’ of laminate are laid on an sub-floor surface like plywood or concrete that has a thin underlayment of fabric over it. This provides some insulation, some ‘give’ and allows the floor to float over the sub-floor, eliminating expansion and contraction problems. The planks either snap together or have a moisture activated glueseal. This can be a do-it-yourself project. There is no finishing involved. The floor is trimmed and laid down and a toe molding installed around the perimeter to cover the joint and give a finished look.
Laminate can scratch and there’s no getting around the fact that it is a manmade product, however it offers good value and is a step up from most vinyl floor products if you want a wood look.
Some of the most popular laminate flooring manufacturers with American homeowners are: Pergo, Wilsonart, Mannington, Mohawk, Shaw, Quick-Step, Armstrong, Witex and Alloc. See the FloorFacts’ Laminate Flooring Manufacturer Directory for a complete list and links to their web sites.
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