Laminate flooring has really evolved. I suspect that the laminate you’ve got has been there for a while, and may have scored lower on the AC rating (below 3). These days, there is way more to choose from when it comes to laminate flooring, including handscraped effects, high-gloss piano finish, and thicker boards (12-14mm are now more common).

So, where laminates of lesser quality certainly can look cheap, laminate floors are like any other product – there is good and bad product floating around out there. When shopping for it, just make sure you’ve looked at AC rating, thickness, a reputable locking system type, and a good quality HDF core. And of course, make sure that the vendor your deciding on will support your purchase if anything goes wrong.

Hope this helps!