Consider new flooring and you'll find yourself considering a whole host of price and product options. Look into Shaw laminate flooring and the options become more clear, the price more pleasant.

Shaw laminate flooring can be found in designs that look like true hardwood, slate or tile. In actual fact, the laminate flooring is made from a composite material that's designed to resist the wear and tear that's common on household flooring. There are four layers in Shaw laminate flooring.

Laminate Layers

The first layer in Shaw laminate flooring is the back layer. This layer is reinforced with melamine for moisture resistance and structural stability.

The second layer found in Shaw laminate flooring products is the fiberboard core. This layer is an ultra-dense core board that provides stability and impact resistance. The third layer, the decorative layer, is actually a highly detailed photograph that gives the floor the look of authentic wood or tile.

Finally, the fourth layer of Shaw laminate flooring is the wear layer. This is a clear, tough finish that's reinforced with aluminum oxide. Aluminum oxide is one of the hardest mineral compounds that's known to man and it helps resist staining, wear, surface moisture and fading.

Once you choose which type of Shaw laminate flooring you want to purchase, you'll be settled by the notion of VersaLock, which is a method by which the laminate flooring pieces literally fit together or lock, almost as with a puzzle. It makes for a glue less installation, with less mess and cleanup after.

Within the realm of wood flooring, there are a myriad of choices in Shaw laminate flooring. You can choose from three color families, light, medium and dark, and five basic wood types, which include oak, pine, cherry, beech and maple. You might also choose laminate flooring that looks like teak, birch or eucalyptus.

If you choose your Shaw laminate flooring from the other floor options, again you can choose light, medium or dark. Within this family, you might choose floors that are made to look like stone or slate.

While authentic wood floors can be difficult to care for properly, Shaw laminate flooring from the wood selection is as easy as tile. There are no worries about how much moisture is on the floor and no worries about scuffing and fading. It's no wonder laminate flooring has become more popular than its authentic cousin.