Laminate flooring offers the look and feel of ceramic tile, hardwood and slate. Laminates are made from composites that are designed to endure beyond the average wear and tear of a typical floor. A high-pressure manufacturing process fuses four layers into one extremely hard surface. The four layers are:

• Bottom layer - the back is reinforced with melamine for structural stability and moisture resistance.

• fiberboard core - Shaw Laminate's ultra dense core board provides impact resistance and stability. It also features an edge sealing treatment that provides even further structural stability.

• Print layer - Providing the floor's beauty, the print layer is actually a highly detailed photograph that gives the laminate the appearance of wood or tile.

• wear layer - The melamine wear layer is a tough, clear finish reinforced with aluminum oxide, one of the hardest mineral compounds known to man, to resist staining, fading, surface moisture, and wear. Aluminum oxide is also applied to the back layer to seal out moisture.

Laminates need underlayment between them and the subfloor to perform the way they were intended.
 

• To provide sound absorption.

• To provide moisture barrier to protect your flooring.

• To provide the cushion that one expect with a floating floor.