Laminate Flooring Anaheim, CA
A hard-wearing wood look for whole-house projects, installed by our own crew.
Laminate is the floor for people who want the look of wood across a whole house without the cost of hardwood. It resists scratches better than most real wood, it feels firm and solid underfoot, and newer water-resistant lines handle the occasional spill far better than the laminate of twenty years ago.
City Tile & Cabinets has supplied and installed flooring from our showroom at 1535 S State College Blvd since 1998. On Tile Row you can set laminate next to luxury vinyl, engineered wood, and wood-look porcelain and compare them in the same light before you decide.
How Laminate Is Built
Laminate is a layered product: a tough clear wear layer on top, a high-resolution photographic layer that gives it the wood or stone look, a dense fiberboard core, and a backing layer for stability. The core is what makes laminate feel firm, and it is also why it reacts to standing water in a way vinyl does not.
Because the core is a composite wood product, it falls under federal limits on formaldehyde emissions. The EPA’s formaldehyde standards for composite wood products require compliant products to be tested and labeled, so check the box for the compliance label.
Laminate vs. Luxury Vinyl
|
Laminate |
Luxury vinyl |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Feel underfoot |
Firm, closer to real wood |
Softer, quieter |
|
Scratch resistance |
Very good |
Good, depends on wear layer |
|
Water |
Water resistant lines handle spills; standing water is a problem |
Waterproof core |
|
Best rooms |
Living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, offices |
Kitchens, laundry, bathrooms, rentals |
Many whole-house projects use both: laminate through the living areas and bedrooms, and luxury vinyl or porcelain in the kitchen, laundry, and baths. Our luxury vinyl page covers the other half of that comparison.
Where Laminate Works Best
Good fits. Living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, home offices, and homes with dogs, where scratch resistance matters more than water resistance.
Think twice. Full bathrooms and laundry rooms. Even water-resistant laminate is not meant to sit in water. Choose vinyl or porcelain tile there.
Installation
Laminate is a floating floor: the planks click together and rest on an underlayment rather than being glued or nailed down. That makes the subfloor the deciding factor. On concrete slabs, which most Orange County homes sit on, we moisture test, use an underlayment with a moisture barrier, and level any dips, because a floating floor over an uneven slab will bounce and eventually separate at the joints. On raised wood subfloors, we fix squeaks and loose panels first.
We leave expansion gaps at the walls, undercut door casings so the planks slide underneath, and finish with baseboard and transitions. Most rooms are done in a day; whole-house jobs take a few days.
Serving Anaheim and Orange County
We install laminate across Anaheim and nearby cities including Orange, Tustin, Fullerton, Garden Grove, and Santa Ana. We are open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Is laminate waterproof?
Some lines are rated water resistant and handle spills wiped up promptly. Standing water can still damage the core, so we do not recommend it for full bathrooms.
Can laminate go over concrete?
Yes, with a moisture test and an underlayment that includes a moisture barrier.
Is laminate good with dogs?
Yes. Its wear layer resists scratches better than most hardwood and many vinyl products.
Can laminate be refinished?
No. Unlike solid hardwood, it cannot be sanded. Damaged planks are replaced, so keep a box of spares.
Do you install it, or just sell it?
Both. Our own crew installs every floor we sell.
Compare Samples in Person
Visit our showroom at 1535 S State College Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92806, call 714-278-3576, or request a free quote.