Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring is built from a dense fibreboard core with a photographic wood or stone-effect layer underneath a clear wear layer, giving you a realistic finish at a lower cost than real wood or stone. The range runs from 7mm up to 12.3mm thick, with finish effects including oak, walnut, merbau, pine, slate and concrete, from brands including QuickStep and Egger.

Patterns

• Plank — the standard long-board layout, the most common and versatile format
• Herringbone and chevron — laminate versions of these classic patterns, looking without the cost or fitting time of real wood parquet
• Tile and Versailles — tile-effect and larger decorative panel formats for a different look again

Thickness and wear

Thicker boards (10mm and up) generally feel more solid underfoot and can be a better match for busier rooms, while thinner boards (7mm–8mm) are a common, budget-friendly starting point. The wear layer on top is what resists scratches and everyday wear, so a higher-traffic room is worth pairing with a laminate that has a thicker or higher-rated wear layer.

Fitting

Almost all laminate in this range uses a click-lock system, fitted as a floating floor over an underlay rather than glued or nailed down. That makes it realistic for a confident DIY installation, and it's part of why laminate is often chosen over real wood for a faster turnaround.

Where it works

Laminate holds up well in living rooms, bedrooms and hallways, and standard laminate handles occasional spills in a kitchen without issue. For genuinely wet areas like bathrooms, you need a specifically water-resistant range rather than standard laminate — we stock Aqua Protect laminate for exactly that purpose.

Sound and underlay

A decent underlay does more than protect the subfloor. Foam, cork or rubber underlays reduce impact noise between floors and add a bit of thermal insulation, which is worth factoring in if you're fitting laminate in a flat or above a room used often.

Samples and ordering

Free samples are available by post, or come and see the finishes in person at our NW2 North London showroom, open Monday to Saturday, 8am to 5pm. We've supplied London homes with flooring for over 20 years and offer trade accounts alongside standard online ordering.

FAQ

Is laminate flooring waterproof?
Standard laminate isn't waterproof and isn't recommended for bathrooms, though it copes fine with occasional kitchen spills. Water-resistant ranges like Aqua Protect are made specifically for wetter areas.

Do I need underlay with laminate flooring?
Yes, in almost all cases. Underlay cushions the floor, reduces noise transmission, and helps even out small imperfections in the subfloor.

What's the difference between 8mm and 12mm laminate?
Thicker boards generally feel sturdier underfoot and can better handle high-traffic areas, though the wear layer rating matters as much as overall thickness for scratch resistance.

Can laminate be fitted over underfloor heating?
Many laminate ranges are compatible, but this varies by product, so it's worth checking the specific range before fitting over UFH.