Guide to Selecting Flooring.Laminate flooring is one of the most popular flooring choices around. It's easier to install than solid-wood hardwood floors and is much less expensive.

Laminate floors get their name because they're composed of different wood-based materials that are layered, or laminated, together then topped with a wood grain photographic imprint on the face of each board.

You can get all the benefit of hardwood floor and spare yourself the expense by substituting a quality wood laminate. Or you can even go for a tile or stone laminate. One of the benefits of laminate is that it's cheaper and easier to install than other materials.

However, be aware that it can fade after time—especially if you get the wrong kind. You'll want to make sure that the variety you pick out includes UV protection. This will help extend the life of your floor.

Prefinished plank flooring is easier to install than hardwood flooring and offers the same appearance. The "planks" consist of medium-density fiberboard (MDF) sandwiched between plastic laminate.

The top laminate looks like random-grain wood, but its plastic composition makes it scratch- and stain-resistant.