Laminate Floors

Laminate Flooring for Your Home

Laminate flooring delivers the look of hardwood at a fraction of the cost, with durability that outlasts real wood in high-traffic homes.

Modern laminate is a sandwich of a high-density fiberboard core with a printed wood-grain photographic layer and a clear wear layer on top.

The current generation is dramatically better than the laminate of 15 or 20 years ago, with realistic wood looks, beveled edges, and waterproof options.

Builders Surplus YeeHaa carries laminate flooring across price points and styles, with most options available locally.

Why Choose Laminate Flooring?

Laminate has earned its place as one of the most popular flooring categories for good reasons.

Affordable

Laminate typically runs 40 to 70% less than real hardwood, with comparable appearance and better scratch resistance.

Durable

The wear layer resists scratches from pet nails, kids’ toys, and dragged furniture better than real wood. Most laminate is rated for at least 10 to 25 years of residential use.

Easy DIY Install

Click-lock planks float over the subfloor without nails or glue. A motivated DIYer can install laminate in a typical room in a day.

Wide Style Range

Realistic wood-look in oak, hickory, walnut, maple, and exotic species, plus stone-look and tile-look options.

Stable in Most Environments

Unlike solid hardwood, laminate doesn’t expand and contract significantly with humidity changes.

The main trade-offs: laminate can be damaged by standing water (unless you buy a waterproof line), can’t be sanded and refinished like real wood, and won’t add the same resale value as solid hardwood.

Waterproof Laminate vs. Standard Laminate

The biggest recent shift in the category.

Standard Laminate is moisture-resistant but not waterproof. The HDF core can swell if water sits on it for more than a few minutes (think a dishwasher leak or pet accident left unnoticed). Fine for living rooms, bedrooms, and dry areas.

Waterproof Laminate uses a denser, water-resistant core and tighter plank seams. It can handle standing water for hours without damage, making it suitable for kitchens, bathrooms, mudrooms, and basements. Costs more than standard laminate but opens up rooms where laminate didn’t work before.

If you’re flooring a kitchen or bath, waterproof laminate is worth the upgrade.

Common Laminate Styles and Thicknesses

Plank widths. Standard planks run 5 to 8 inches wide. Wider planks (8 to 12 inches) look more contemporary and are popular in newer homes.

Plank lengths. Typically 48 to 60 inches. Longer planks reduce the number of seams visible across the floor.

Plank thicknesses. 7mm to 12mm. Thicker planks feel more substantial underfoot, hide subfloor imperfections better, and typically have more realistic embossing.

Edge profiles. Square edges create a continuous floor look. Beveled (V-groove) edges define each plank visually for a more wood-like appearance.

AC ratings. A durability scale from AC1 (light residential) to AC5 (commercial). For most homes, AC3 or AC4 covers normal use.

How To Choose the Right Laminate Flooring

Pick the wear rating for your traffic. AC3 for normal residential, AC4 for high-traffic homes with pets and kids, AC5 for commercial or extreme use.

Match the wood-look to your home. Lighter oak and maple expand smaller rooms; darker walnut and espresso anchor open layouts. Bring samples home to check against your cabinets and walls.

Consider plank width. Wider planks look modern and read well in larger rooms. Narrower planks suit traditional or smaller spaces.

Plan for the underlayment. Some laminate comes with attached underlayment; others require a separate pad. Underlayment improves comfort, sound dampening, and moisture protection.

Account for transitions and trim. Where laminate meets carpet, tile, or doorways, you’ll need transition strips. Plan and purchase these with the flooring to ensure color matching.

Order 10% extra. Cuts, mistakes, and future repairs all need extra planks. Buying from the same dye lot later can be impossible.

How To Install Laminate Flooring

Most homeowners can install click-lock laminate themselves with basic tools. The main steps:

Prep the subfloor. It needs to be clean, dry, and level (within 1/8 inch over 6 feet). Patch low spots; sand or grind high spots.

Lay underlayment. Roll out the pad with seams butted together and taped per manufacturer instructions. Skip this if your laminate has attached underlayment.

Plan the layout. Measure the room, calculate how the last row will fall, and adjust the starting row so you don’t end with thin slivers.

Install the first row. Start in a corner, tongue side facing the wall, with spacers for expansion gap (usually 5/16 inch).

Click and lock the planks. Angle the tongue into the previous plank’s groove and press down to lock. Stagger seams between rows by at least 8 to 12 inches.

Cut the last row to fit. Measure and cut planks to fit the final row, maintaining the expansion gap.

Install transitions and trim. Add t-molding at doorways, quarter-round or baseboards around the perimeter to cover the expansion gap.

The whole process for an average room takes about a day for one person.

Shopping Laminate Flooring at Builders Surplus YeeHaa

We stock laminate flooring across price points, styles, and durability ratings, including waterproof lines for kitchens and baths.

Most options are in stock locally so you can see and feel the actual product before you commit. Our design team can help match laminate to your cabinets, trim, and overall home plan, free of charge.

Professional installation can be arranged for any flooring purchased from us, or we can recommend trusted installers in the area.