Ever since it was introduced to the market, laminate flooring has been one the fastest–growing floor choices available. In the early days there were only a handful of laminate floor brands available making it relatively simple for the consumer to make a selection. The situation has changed drastically since, with numerous laminate floor manufacturers both indigenous and from abroad. This has translated into a vast and bewildering choice of laminate floor coverings for the consumer to choose from.

Another obstacle a consumer faces regarding laminates is the lack of technical knowledge from the sales people in stores that stock laminate flooring. Sales people are often not in a position to give a prospective buyer proper advice for the consumer to make a meaningful decision regarding laminate floors for their home.

Price of laminate flooring is most often the prime consideration that drives the buyer and there are literally hundreds of imported laminates on sale at unbelievably cheap prices, but of indefinite quality. Laminate flooring is assumed to have a certain life span backed by a warranty against wear, fading, stains and in certain cases even moisture damage. But the problem with using a laminate product of an unknown manufacturer would be to enforce the warranty should anything go wrong.

Arguably, the single most important aspect of laminate flooring is its ability to resist scratches. This is an indeterminate factor and not covered under any warranty. Keeping that in mind, a prospective buyer would be well advised to invest in a product carrying a quality warranty. The reasoning behind this is that it would be safe to assume that an extended warranty is linked to the surface hardness of the product. Hence a low–end product with a restricted warranty is more likely to be susceptible to scratches when compared with a more expensive laminate.