Laminate Warranties

Laminate warranties are not as important as other factors. Because laminate is a strong material by design and nearly all products are held to strict standards, most all laminates will have a long life. That said, beware any laminates with a warranty less than 10 years. Most laminates that meet the bare minimum requirements for flooring will be strong enough to last 10 years, and a floor that doesn't promise at least that much may have problems or defects.

At the same time, however, a laminate may be warranted for a long time, but with certain loopholes in the warranty that limit their liability. In general, expect the following guidelines in a warranty:

Fade
Guarantees that the color of the floor will not change from exposure to sunlight or normal household electric lighting.
 
Stain
Guarantees that the floor will not permanently stain from typical household usage. This ** warranty will not cover moisture damage, and in order to qualify, you must follow the care instructions provided by the manufacturer.
 
Manufacturing Defects
Guarantees that the floor will not contain any defects before installation. This warranty will not cover flooring already installed or damage incurred through shipping, so be sure to inspect all flooring and packaging thoroughly before installing it. This warranty may be shorter than the length of other warranties, be sure to check with the manufacturer regarding your specific product.
 
Moisture Damage
Guarantees that the flooring will not experience warping or discoloration from moisture damage from proper mopping and everyday spills. This warranty will not include damage arising from excess exposure to water, like flooding, leaks, pet urine, etc. It also does not cover moisture damage coming from beneath the floor, so be sure to use underlayment that meets all the manufacturer's specifications (often found in the warranty) to protect your floor from moisture damage arising from the subfloor.
 
Wear
This warranty specifies that your floor's laminated surface will not wear through. This will not cover damage caused by reduction of gloss, household accidents, vacuuming without using a wand or brush attachment, or any other improper usage.
 
Joint Damage
Guarantees that the floor will not come apart or create gaps between the pieces. This will not cover planks that have been repeatedly removed from the joint during or after installation of the floor.