Home Flooring Guide

Finding a quality product at a discounted price is the quest for any project including putting in a new laminate floor as part of your home redecoration scheme.  So the first stop is always the "name brand" retailers.  By visiting the top retailers in town to review the highest quality makes and brands, you set a standard for excellence.  During those initial "fact finding" missions, you should collect information about price but plan not to get "sticker shock', at least not in front of the salesman.  Remember that you are doing your research and the price gives you a point of comparison so you know the things to consider when buying laminate flooring.

We know from other commodities we buy more often in life that the name brand is not necessarily the end all and be all of quality.  Laminate flooring like most retail markets is highly competitive.  That means that many competitors of those top name laminate producers that you noted on that initial visit can provide just as much quality in their products as the "big boys".  You won't find out about the competition from the boutique flooring retailers.  This is where some perseverance and creative research will help you find top quality laminate flooring at prices that you can live with.

You've Got a Friend

It always pays to get the advice of someone who has a firm grasp of the laminate flooring market but who has no vested interest in what you buy.  That disinterested expert is the kind of friend we all need to help us find those "hidden treasures" in the flooring marketplace.  So other than your own reading about laminate to learn what makes a quality flooring product and your market research, gathering around you friendly advice is the fastest way to find the flooring you want at the price you want.  So look to these friends for that kind of advice.

·    Your interior decorator.  He or she sees it all and has some real world advice to share.
·    Friends who have put in laminate flooring.  Buy those friends lunch often.  It will pay off.
·    Reviews.  Flooring magazines and reliable flooring web sites can be very helpful.
·    Your installer.  If you have a service you trust that isn't affiliated with a brand, he will know what he is talking about when it comes to what laminate flooring is a good value for the money and where to get it.

Don't Leave the Internet Out

We mentioned web sites that can give you some insight into how to find top quality laminate products but to find them at costs that you can work into your budget.  In a lot of cases, by following links on flooring web sites (like this one) and reading informative articles on those web sites (like this one), you become more informed on how to evaluate flooring quality and what you are trading off if you are considering a lower cost brand of laminate flooring.

The internet should be in your top five "go to" places to search for good deals for quality laminate flooring.  You can even find online retailers who will sell you the exact flooring product you want at a fraction of what retailers working out of showrooms can.   That is because internet retailers don't have to pay for a building or employees.  They don't even have to carry a stock because when you place your order, they can just arrange shipment from the factory.  But be cautious of the shipping charges.  Flooring is bulky so be aware of the cost of shipping and factor that into the cost.  If the shipping runs the cost up higher than buying locally, you are not doing yourself any favors buying online.

Cost Factors

The reason you started your search for quality laminate flooring at the high end retailers was to set your standards high where they should be.  So be careful that in your quest for a better price, you don't bargain away the quality of product you should demand.  When you have that laminate floor installed, that is a remodeling project that is a significant home improvement.  Flooring takes a lot of traffic and endures a lot of abuse.  Quality is a top priority because you don't want you brand new laminate floor to look run down and damaged after a short time.

There are other cost factors that should enter in when you set your budget for the project of putting in new flooring.  How long will the flooring last once it is installed?  What will be the cost of installation?  How easily does the flooring clean up?  Is maintenance difficult if the flooring needs work?  Does the supplier stand behind his product and will he be here in a year when you might need his help?  These are reasonable questions to ask because all of these issues enter into the final decision about what laminate flooring to buy.  By not compromising on quality, you can look for the best deal and still get a floor you can be proud of and one that will serve you and your family for many happy years.