How to Choose Laminate Flooring

Choosing quality laminate flooring involves much more than finding a colour that looks good in your home. Board thickness, AC rating, HDF core density, locking system, water resistance and the condition of the subfloor can all affect how your floor performs over time.

At Laminate Floor World, our experience with laminate flooring started with installation more than 20 years ago. That experience has taught us an important lesson: not all laminate flooring is the same. A good-looking floor with the wrong specification can become an expensive mistake.

In this guide, we explain what we look for when selecting quality laminate flooring for South African homes and businesses.

1. Don’t Choose Laminate Flooring on Colour Alone

Colour is naturally one of the first things homeowners notice. However, one of the most common mistakes we see is choosing a laminate floor almost entirely according to appearance.

Commercial customers generally pay more attention to technical specifications such as AC ratings. Residential customers, on the other hand, often concentrate mainly on colour. In our experience, this can lead to the wrong product being selected for the conditions in which it will be used.

Before comparing colours, check the thickness, AC rating, HDF core, locking system, edge profile and water-resistance specification.

2. Check the Density of the HDF Core

The inner core is one of the first things we consider when assessing laminate flooring. We prefer a tightly compressed, high-density HDF core because the core forms the structural body of the plank.

This is an area where two products that look very similar from the surface can perform very differently. Therefore, don’t assume that two wood-look boards are equal simply because they have a similar colour or finish.

You can learn more about plank construction, thickness and specifications in our laminate flooring boards guide.

3. Choose AC4 or AC5 Laminate Flooring

The AC rating helps indicate how well the surface is designed to cope with wear. For the flooring we supply, we prefer to concentrate on AC4 and AC5 laminate flooring rather than very low-specification products.

A quality 8mm AC4 laminate can provide excellent value for normal residential use. Meanwhile, AC5 is particularly attractive where heavier traffic or commercial use is expected.

Don’t automatically assume that the cheapest board provides the best value. In South Africa, consumers can sometimes pay more for entry-level 6mm or 7mm AC3 flooring from large hardware or tile retailers than they would for a better-specified 8mm AC4 product from a specialist flooring company.

4. 8mm vs 12mm Laminate Flooring

One of the questions we receive regularly is whether 8mm or 12mm laminate flooring is better.

We don’t believe every homeowner automatically needs 12mm flooring. If you are working within a budget and primarily want an attractive upgrade, a good-quality 8mm AC4 laminate can be an excellent choice.

However, 12mm flooring offers a noticeably more substantial feel underfoot. Most South African homes are built on concrete substrates. In our experience, 12mm laminate creates a more comfortable and quieter feeling, particularly in bedrooms where people regularly walk without shoes.

For customers wanting a premium specification, we generally look for a combination of 12mm thickness, AC5 wear resistance, a quality locking system and strong water resistance.

Browse our laminate flooring ranges to compare different specifications and colours.

5. Why We Prefer V-Groove Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring naturally expands and contracts as environmental conditions change. For this reason, we generally prefer boards with a V-groove or bevelled edge.

The groove gives each plank a deliberate outline from the beginning. With completely square-edged flooring, small changes between boards can become more noticeable over time and dirt may collect along visible joint lines.

A V-groove also creates a more defined plank appearance and can make the finished floor look closer to individual timber boards.

6. The Locking System Matters More Than Many Customers Realise

An experienced laminate flooring installer can often recognise the difference between a strong and weak locking system while installing the boards.

Weaker locking systems can break during installation. Some also leave fine hairline gaps or lock unevenly, with one side of the board closing correctly while the other remains slightly open.

This is one reason we are selective about the products we supply. As an installation-based flooring company, we prefer selling products that our own teams are comfortable installing.

7. Water-Resistant Does Not Mean Waterproof

This is one of the most important pieces of advice we can give homeowners: no floating floor should be treated as completely waterproof.

A water-resistant laminate board can provide valuable protection against everyday spills on the surface. However, once water travels underneath the floor, it can become trapped between the boards, underlay and subfloor.

Water commonly enters flooring installations around sliding doors, plumbing appliances and external walls where the ground level outside is too high. Poor waterproofing or building work can also become noticeable when South Africa’s summer rains arrive.

This is why we prefer explaining the limitations of water-resistant flooring before installation instead of simply selling a product according to a waterproof marketing claim.

8. Check the Subfloor Before Choosing the Floor

Even premium laminate flooring can fail when installed over an unsuitable substrate.

The subfloor needs to be sufficiently level, stable and dry. If it is uneven, movement can place additional pressure on the locking system and eventually cause joints or boards to fail.

Moisture should also be tested before installation. A floor can look dry while still containing excessive moisture, which is why our installation teams use moisture testing as part of assessing the site.

We also don’t recommend installing laminate directly over carpet. Carpet is soft and creates movement underneath the floating floor, which can place unnecessary stress on the locking system.

The correct laminate flooring underlay is important, but underlay should not be used to hide a badly uneven subfloor.

9. Expansion Gaps Are Crucial

Laminate is a floating floor and needs space to move. Correct expansion gaps must therefore be left around the perimeter and other fixed points during installation.

If sufficient expansion space is not provided, the floor can push against walls or other structures and eventually begin lifting.

This is one of many reasons why the quality of the installation matters just as much as the quality of the board. Read more about our professional flooring installation services across Gauteng.

10. Think Carefully About the Room

We particularly like laminate flooring in dry interior spaces such as bedrooms, studies, passages and suitable living areas.

We are much more cautious about kitchens, bathrooms and other areas with a high risk of water exposure. In fact, in our own homes we favour laminate particularly strongly for bedrooms.

Over the years, we have seen laminate floors in kitchens damaged by leaks around fridges, washing machines and sinks. Therefore, choosing quality laminate flooring also means knowing where not to install it.

11. Choosing Laminate Flooring for Homes with Pets

For homes with pets, we generally prefer a strong laminate specification. Where the budget allows, our preference is a 12mm AC5 laminate with good water resistance, ideally with at least a 72-hour water-resistance specification.

The harder wear surface is useful in busy homes, while the water resistance provides additional protection against everyday spills and pet-related accidents when they are cleaned promptly.

We have also seen vinyl surfaces scratch more easily than many homeowners expect. Therefore, don’t automatically assume vinyl is the better option simply because you have pets.

12. Country of Origin Isn’t Everything

Many consumers assume European flooring must automatically be superior to products manufactured in Turkey or China.

Our experience is different. A factory in Turkey or China can manufacture an excellent flooring product when the correct specification and quality level are ordered.

Flooring is not like buying a luxury perfume or motor vehicle where the badge alone may carry significant value. We prefer looking at the actual board specification, construction and performance rather than judging quality purely according to the country printed on the box.

13. Inspect the Installation Before the Team Leaves

Once installation is complete, take a few minutes to inspect the finished floor.

• Check that expansion gaps have been correctly allowed for.
• Look for open joints between boards.
• Check for chipped or damaged planks.
• Make sure all doors open and close correctly.
• Check that skirtings are properly secured.
• Check that door profiles and transitions are secure.

A professional installation should look finished when the team leaves, not simply have the flooring boards laid.

14. Don’t Buy Cheap Laminate Flooring Without Comparing the Specification

One of our strongest recommendations is simple: compare what you are actually getting for your money.

Don’t buy a low-specification 6mm or 7mm laminate simply because it is being sold by a large retailer. Compare it with the price of an 8mm AC4 V-groove, water-resistant product from a specialist flooring supplier.

Because Laminate Floor World imports and purchases selected products directly, we can concentrate on offering stronger specifications at affordable prices.

Compare current options on our laminate flooring prices page or look at selected deals on our laminate flooring sale page.

Our Advice After More Than 20 Years in Flooring

The biggest mistake we see is assuming that laminate is simply laminate.

With ceramic tiles, even an inexpensive product can still provide a very durable surface when installed correctly, while a more expensive tile may primarily offer a more desirable design or finish. Laminate and vinyl flooring are different because the construction and technical specification of the product can have a major effect on performance.

When choosing quality laminate flooring, look beyond the colour. Compare the HDF core, AC rating, thickness, locking system, V-groove, water resistance and suitability of the room. Then make sure the subfloor is properly prepared and the floor is professionally installed.

If you want a more detailed overview before making your decision, visit our main laminate flooring page or our laminate floor buyer’s guide.