For home renovation projects, consider laminate flooring to achieve the perfect style -- affordably. For the price, laminates offer unbeatable durability, style, ease of cleaning, and versatility.

"Laminates are ideal for high-traffic areas like the family room, kitchen, or mud room,'' says Maureen King, director of marketing for Bruce Floors. "They are able to withstand the wear and tear of today's families because they are made of four layers fused together under intense heat and pressure."

An industry expert, King makes other key points about laminates:

*Laminate flooring has a durable wear-layer to repel stubborn stains like paint, nail polish, and wine. It is also burn-, fade-, and wear-resistant.

*Today's busy home owners appreciate the ease of caring for laminate floors. Regular vacuuming to loosen dirt and debris, and an occasional mopping with the appropriate cleaner is all it takes to keep your floor looking great.

*The healthiest floors, according to the 1997 American Health House Blueprint for Health, are smooth surfaces such as laminates. They do not harbor dust mites or other allergens like thicker, denser floor coverings. Made from recycled timber, laminates are enviro-friendly.

*Laminates offer diverse styling options that other floor coverings simply cannot. Wood, stone, granite, ceramic tile, and marble patterns can be achieved beautifully with laminates. Designer accents allow mixing and matching of styles, patterns, and colors.

*Laminates can be installed over virtually any hard surface, including concrete, OSB, or particle board. The pieces are glued to each other, not to the subfloor, which creates a "floating floor" over a foam cushion and a moisture barrier.

If you're looking for a floor covering that will neither break the bank nor require you to devote much time to its maintenance, laminates are a good investment.

Published: May 18, 1998

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