Laminate flooring is a synthetic floor covering that is made to imitate solid wood flooring  or stone tiles in both appearance and texture. Due to its versatility, cost-effectiveness and hardwearing nature, it enjoys enduring popularity. As a result, manufacturers produce a great many styles and colours of laminate flooring suitable for use both in the home and in commercial properties.

Popular styles include maple, cherry, black slate, walnut, olive, teak and birch, including many others.  Finish options are equally plentiful and smooth, such as wood grain (for added texture), rustic, stone, bevelled, embossed, varnished and oiled. For the environmentally conscious consumer, don’t forget to check which laminate flooring solutions are FSC approved. The FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) was established in 1993 as a not-for-profit organization to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests, and they only approve products that are responsibly and sustainably sourced. Topps Tiles offer a range of FSC approved laminate flooring products.

Many homeowners choose to carry out the simple task of fitting laminate flooring themselves. Although this requires some planning in terms of fitting your covering to the shape and size of your room, the small tongue and groove planks, or click system of the laminate itself, make it easy to fit together and allows for a good finish, even when using cheap laminate flooring. Flooring should be laid using the relevant tongue and groove or click system and is pliable enough to be cut to accommodate floor lighting. For an easy to follow guide to laying laminate flooring see our ‘How to Lay Laminate Flooring’ video. For those looking for a true feeling of luxury underfoot, laminate flooring is also suitable for use over an underfloor heating system providing insulation board is fitted correctly. The design and colour of the flooring you choose is likely to be influenced by the purpose of the room you are decorating, but you should take into consideration the shape of the planks you are using, as well as the shape of the room. Whichever design you choose, consider investing in floor underlay to provide insulation and protection for your new floor covering.

Laminate flooring comprises of a number of layers of materials that work together to provide a firm and smooth finish. Typically it is made of melamine resin topped with a layer of photographic material to simulate a natural finish or printed design. To seal the board and prevent it from wear and tear, a final transparent layer of protective material is applied; this also gives the ’wipe clean’ finish that renders laminate flooring so easy to maintain.

Finally, to ensure your investment lasts, note any guarantee that comes with the laminate flooring you’re interested in. These guarantees can range enormously and can cover a duration from seven years to 25, and can also differ in terms of their stipulated purpose - being domestic or commercial. If you’re not especially bothered by having a weighty guarantee, or enjoy re-decorating regularly, then fear not, you still get fantastic value for money as all of Topps Tiles’ laminate flooring offers a seven year guarantee, and it will most likely live far beyond that.