Laminate Choices

The look of timber on a budget could be the best way to describe laminate. It mimics the natural look and richness of timber, but with the added durability and quality laminate offers.  What’s more, laminate is easy to maintain and available in many different timber designs from the light tones of oak to the rich darker tones of mahogany.

Styles

Just like timber, laminate is available in 1-Strip, 2-Strip and 3-Strip styles to cater for the look and feel you want to create. The images on this page will give you an understanding of how this works.
But to really envisage which style would best suit your home, visit our Flooring Gallery or visit your nearest Choices store.

What's the difference between a good and a poor quality laminate? The answer is quite simple. Laminate flooring is basically a 'photograph' of real timber that's been engineered onto a backing board and covered with a melamine coating.
The better quality laminates use a superior photograph which, gives a truer image of the real timber with more colour, light and shade. They have higher quality backing board to ensure it retains its shape and fits together with other boards to give you a superior finish. Better quality laminates have a superior melamine finish, which helps the board resist scratching or damage, makes it easier to clean, and helps it retain a timeless appearance.
In the end, a good quality laminate floor will give you long term value as your floor will look sensational for years and years to come. If you're unsure of what will be most suitable for your home, visit our Flooring Gallery or to view our entire range visit your nearest Choices store.

It's important to select the correct underlay for a timber or laminate floor as it plays a vital role in keeping the floor cushioned and quiet.  Always select an underlay with a plastic moisture barrier attached, as this will prevent moisture entering your floor from the sub-floor beneath. You'll find that a peel and stick tape is fitted to most quality underlays to help seal the joins.  Acoustic underlays like Quiet Step Combi-Lay are recommended for installation in multi-storey applications because they reduce footfall noise by up to 30%.
 At Choices, rest assured that we would use the right underlay for the job, one that is recommended by the best product manufacturers and distributors in Australia. Ask your Choices Flooring consultant for more information on the underlays available.