Countertops have long been covered with high-pressure decorative
laminate, an inexpensive plastic veneer that is both
durable and attractive. This material is now widely available
as a flooring product, but installing it successfully depends on
careful attention to detail.
Builders have been using laminate flooring in Europe since the early
1980s. These products are usually manufactured
as planks or tiles, with a laminate surface
and backing sheet bonded to a core of
particleboard or medium-density fiberboard (MDF). The resulting composite
panels are popular with consumers largely because of their looks;
contractors like them because they install easily.
Laminate flooring is made by several manufacturers, but all brands
share similar installation requirements. The material