Your In-depth Resource for Laminate Flooring (With Expert Insights)

Approximate Reading Time: 11 Minutes 
Written in Partnership with Quick-Step 


So you’re thinking about Laminate flooring, and you want to know if it is the right fit for your home. 

However, everything you read online contradicts each other. How can you find the truth?

Unfortunately, like most things, the truth can depend a lot on when and what brands of Laminate you are talking about.

Here at Floorworld, we only believe in supplying our customers with the best advice. So we spoke with the team at Premium Floors to gain some insights into one of their core products, Quick-Step Laminate Flooring. 

In the Market for new Laminate Flooring? Get Quick-Step Laminate for 20% off until September 30th at your nearest Floorworld.

What is Laminate Flooring? 

Laminate flooring is a manufactured floor comprised of a high-density wood fibre core, overlaid with multiple paper layers. The paper layers are impregnated with melamine, a durable thermoplastic that fortifies the printed design and wear layers.

Advanced surface technologies, such as those utilised by Quick-Step in their Laminate flooring, make Laminate extra resistant to water, scratches, stains and surface damage. 

Laminate flooring is an artificial floor designed to replicate the beauty of timber or tiles, with added durability and easy maintenance. It’s built in multiple layers, each with a specific job:

1. Transparent, Wear-Resistant Overlay

This is the layer that shields your floor and protects it from the mess and damage of everyday life. It’s made from several smaller layers of melamine laminate that are pressed together under high pressure and heat. 

This protective layer is what makes the floor resistant to stains, scratches, impacts, burns, and even household chemicals. 

Quick-Step Laminates finishes this layer with a registered embossed texture. 

This texture aligns precisely with the printed design of the next layer. It is what provides the “feel” of natural textures, such as stone and timber.

2.  Design Layer

This is where the style comes in. The design layer is a high-resolution photograph of real wood (or sometimes tile) that is printed with advanced technology and sealed with a melamine laminate resin. 

When combined with the textured overlay in the previous layer, this creates the “look” of natural textures like stone and timber.

3. Moisture-Resistant HDF Core Board

At the heart of the floor is the HDF (High Density Fibre) core board. Made from refined wood fibres and high-quality melamine Laminate resin, it’s extremely strong, stable, and moisture-resistant. 

For Quick-Step Laminates, this core is made from re-composed wood fibre, allowing for the efficient and sustainable use of every part from a harvested tree, thereby reducing waste.  

This is the layer that provides the strength and durability of your floors.

4. Balancing Layer

On the underside is the balancing layer, which keeps the board stable. This moisture-resistant backing helps prevent the planks from warping or bending when they are installed and properly cared for.

This is the layer that keeps your floors stable and long-lasting. 

What makes Laminate different from Vinyl/Hybrid/ Timber Flooring?

Laminate flooring stands out due to its construction and the way it feels underfoot. Unlike vinyl and hybrid floors, which have a PVC (plastic) and SPC (Stone plastic composite) core, respectively, Laminate has a high-density wood fibre (HDF) core. This makes it feel more solid and closer to real timber when you walk on it.

Laminate also has an advantage in surface detail. Many Laminate floors utilise embossed-in-register technology, where the surface texture aligns perfectly with the printed image beneath. This creates a more realistic timber look and feel than the smoother, softer surface of vinyl or hybrid floors.

Real timber flooring is a natural product, made from solid wood or a timber veneer. It shows all the natural variations, knots, and grain patterns that come from the tree from which it was cut. Laminate, on the other hand, uses a high-resolution printed design. 

Is Laminate flooring waterproof or water-resistant?

Laminate flooring is not as fully water-resistant as vinyl and hybrid flooring. With a core made from wood fibres, there is the potential for damage if the floor is exposed to moisture for too long.

However, many modern Laminate floors are designed to be highly water-resistant, meaning they can handle everyday spills, damp mopping, and even small puddles for a set period (often up to 72 hours) without damage. 

This water-resistance comes from surface coatings and watertight seals, where the surface and joins between planks don’t allow water to easily seep through to the core.

This means that as long as spills are cleaned up promptly, the floor remains protected. 

Just know that the level of water resistance can vary depending on the brand of Laminate flooring purchased. 

How much Floor Prep is required for Laminate Flooring?

Laminate is one of the less intensive flooring options when it comes to floor preparation; usually, only a minimal amount is required. However, in cases where floors are older, uneven, or in a damp environment, the amount of floor preparation can increase. 

In the best-case scenario, all that needs to be done is to maintain a clean, tidy surface, ensuring that any small ridges or dips are scraped away and small areas are filled in. 

For more complex floor preparation requirements, it is typically best to involve a professional installer, who can level sections of the floor, secure any loose areas, or apply a moisture barrier before installing underlay.

Having the right floor preparation is essential to maintain the life of your floors, with the best approach often involving a professional if the base of your home is older or more complex.  

Need help with your next home renovation? Read our Flooring Essentials Series: "The Ultimate Guide To Flooring For Your Home Renovation & Improvement"

Can Laminate Flooring be installed as a Floating Floor or over existing flooring?

Yes, Laminate flooring is always installed as a floating floor. 

For those who may not be familiar, a floating floor is an installation method where flooring planks or tiles lock together and are placed over an existing subfloor, without the use of nails or glue. This makes the installation much simpler and faster while causing minimal disruption to the existing area.

It can be laid over many types of existing hard flooring, such as ceramic tiles, vinyl, or timber boards, provided those surfaces are:

• Dry: No moisture issues that could cause damage later
• Flat: No high or low spots that could make the floor uneven
• Stable: No loose tiles, lifting boards, or movement underfoot
  

The best way to determine this is to have an expert assess, as the installation guidelines for the specific Laminate product regarding subfloor preparation can vary based on the manufacturer and product.

What are the Best Rooms for Laminate Flooring?

Laminate flooring, with the proper preparation and maintenance, can work well in most spaces. Due to its durability and comfortable feel, it is most commonly used in areas with high foot traffic, such as living spaces and public areas. Examples of this include the living room, bedrooms and hallways. 

Outside of that, Laminate, specifically Quick-Step Laminate with its water-resistant Hydroseal technology, can also be a safe choice for rooms where spills tend to occur, such as a kitchen. As long as spills are cleaned up promptly.

Laminate flooring should not be installed externally or in areas that cannot be reasonably protected from extreme temperatures or conditions. Saunas, sunrooms, and commercial kitchens are considered unsuitable for laminate flooring.

As long as you clean spills promptly and avoid exposing your Laminate to excessive heat, moisture, or sunlight, it can be a very versatile flooring choice for your home. 

How has Laminate technology changed over the years?

Improvements to the realistic feel and look of planks: Many modern Laminates utilise high-resolution plank scanning and embossed-in-register (EIR) technology to align physical texture lines with printed visual grains, closely replicating the knots, cracks, and veining of natural materials.

Improvements to Digital Printing: Next-gen single-pass digital printing and digital embossing (e.g., Hymmen DLEplus) deliver crisper detail, tighter print-to-texture “register,” and faster trend updates.

Water-resistant surfaces: Surface and edge treatments on Laminate planks, such as Quick-Step’s Hydroseal technology, allow for a water-resistant surface that can withstand water sitting on the surface for hours without causing long-term damage. 

Tougher topcoat layers: Coatings on wear layers (e.g. Scratchguard) help to make Laminate flooring more durable and scratch-resistant than earlier Laminates. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We had a long discussion with Premium Floors about some of the most common questions we get at Floorworld, regarding Laminate flooring. While a lot was answered in the article, below are some condensed and additional information you may want to consider if you’re looking at Laminate Flooring:

How does Laminate Flooring affect the acoustic insulation of a room?

Acoustic insulation and comfort can be enhanced by using a high-quality underlay beneath your Laminate floors. 

A firmer, more solid feel can be achieved with a high-density underlay, which can also help reduce acoustic sound transfer. 

Is Laminate Flooring waterproof? 

Laminate flooring is water-resistant, but not waterproof, unlike some other types of flooring. The extent of this protection can vary among manufacturers. Still, all Quick-Step Laminate floors are guaranteed to have a watertight surface that protects against stagnating water for up to 72 hours*. While the board itself is not waterproof, once the floor is installed with fully sealed edges, no water can penetrate the surface.

It is the combination of Hydroseal coating, high-tension Uniclic profile, and pressed bevel technology that prevents liquid from penetrating the surface of a Quick-Step Laminate floor. 

*72 hours for Quick-Step laminates with pressed bevel technology, all other Quick-Step laminates 24 hours.  

How long does Laminate flooring last? 

Laminate flooring has a long lifespan, which can depend on the quality of the product. Quick-Step Laminate is warranted for up to 33 years. 

What can affect the lifespan of Laminate Flooring? 

Laminate floors should be installed in a “Laminate-friendly environment”. This means that Laminate flooring is not designed to be exposed to extreme humidity or temperature fluctuations. 

You can, however, mitigate this with measures that include curtains, awnings, blinds, window tinting, and early commissioning and/or regular use of air conditioning or humidity control devices. 

How does Laminate compare in price to other flooring? 

With an option to suit every budget, Laminate flooring can cater to every customer, offering a more cost-effective alternative to a real timber floor, while still providing budget-friendly options compared to hybrid or vinyl floors.

What are the Laminate Flooring trends in 2025? 

Following 2024, beige/blonde tones remain the most popular, with clean, minimalist designs and warm flooring decor being the top preference. 

With the rise of internet DIY, there has been a shift towards more maximalist interiors with vibrant colours and richer flooring. 

What are the most popular colours/styles/finishes? 

Neutrals have always been the most popular finish over the years, with a matte finish being the most requested. 

Larger formats and realistic bevels are also very popular.

How sustainable is Laminate Flooring? 

Laminate offers a sustainable alternative to real timber floors, as the majority of the raw materials used are made from recycled content and do not deplete valuable forestry resources. 

The wooden core of every Quick-Step Laminate floor is made from only recovered wood. This is timber collected from sawmills, sustainable forest management processes, and roadside maintenance that would otherwise be burned or discarded. 

Can you DIY Laminate Flooring?

Quick-Step floors are designed to be easy to assemble; however, it is always recommended to use a professional installer for the best results. 

What are common misconceptions people have about Laminate? 

A common misconception is that Laminate floors can appear cheap. With Quick-Step’s advancing technologies, it can be challenging to tell a Quick-Step Laminate floor from real timber. 

So, you can get all the durability of Laminate from a floor that looks as beautiful as timber.