Pricing and Cost of Laminate

For some people, price is not a major issue. But laminate is one of the best product in terms of price versus performance. Most laminate can provide excellent durability because it's built into the product. Certain factors can make a difference, though.

 
Why the Cheapest Floor May Be Too Costly
What separates a cheap floor from an affordable floor is most often durability. While the laminate material is stronger than other materials, many "bargain" floors will be a greater cost in the long run, because they are too thin to handle years of traffic, have a thin veneer wear layer that makes your floor wear more quickly, and have tongue-and-groove edges that are more likely to form gaps over time. As a result of these structural issues, these floors often have short warranties, and often have the same pattern on every board, making the overall appearance of the finished product far less attractive. Plus, because they almost always have to be installed with glue, you'll have to pay for adhesive, and in many cases, will have to hire someone to install it. So going with the cheapest laminate flooring available is a very bad idea.

For not much more per square foot, you can find a truly good deal. These floors come with strong construction, durable wear layers, and can often be found with a glueless installation! Additionally, floors like this from a major manufacturer will typically carry decent warranties as well. So before buying the cheap floors advertised in the paper, take some time to consider what the true bargain floor is.
 
Laminate Floors Look Good At Any Price
If price is not as big a concern for you as attractiveness or strong durability (pet owners pay attention), there are a number of options in between. Most of the common floors from manufacturers will be only slightly higher in cost than the bargain priced floors, but are stronger, more attractive and easier to install. And if you want a floor that will look as close to real wood or tile as possible, floors that feature textured embossing use a special technique to give the floor a feel that more closely mimics natural materials. And embossed-in-register floors take it a step further, taking their texture directly from the pattern on each board! These floors are often nearly indistinguishable from the real thing, and look absolutely stunning.

All laminate floors tend to be less expensive than actual hardwood or tile, however. And the most expensive laminate floor will almost assuredly be less than the most expensive hardwood.