Laminate Flooring

Modern laminate is a long way from the shiny boards of twenty years ago. Today's planks carry a high-resolution print of real oak or stone under a textured, matt wear layer, with bevelled edges that read as individual boards and thicknesses of 8 to 12 mm that feel solid underfoot. The best ranges are rated AC4 or AC5, which means they shrug off chairs, dogs and children.

It clicks together as a floating floor over an underlay, so it goes down quickly and can be lifted again if needed. It does not like standing water, so for bathrooms we recommend luxury vinyl, but for bedrooms, living rooms, hallways and most kitchens it is the most cost-effective hard floor there is. We only fit it with the right underlay and expansion gaps, which is the difference between a laminate that lasts and one that lifts.