Laminate floors are mostly pressed wood with an image layer topped with a transparent wear layer. They are easy to clean, scratch resistant and relatively inexpensive. They are installed as a floating floor which is economical. Years ago, this type of flooring was introduced from a company called Pergo and it was the rage. It was in 1977 that it was introduced and it originated in Sweden. Luxury Vinyl has replaced much of this flooring but luxury vinyl does not give the same impression of wood that current day laminate affords. Some laminates are considered water resistant and look like real wood.
Laminate floors have a tongue and groove system and they are floating floors. Some come with a pad to reduce the noise of the plank as well as a protective moisture barrier, so come with the pad attached. The new laminates look like engineered wood floors, not the Pergo of the past.
The cost to install laminate includes removal of current flooring, moving furniture (if any), installing the moisture barrier /underlayment, installing the flooring planks and installing baseboards or shoe mold. The floor has to float and no caulk should be used to hold it in place.
