Why Buy Flooring ?

Laminate Flooring has several advantages over wood flooring

It is durable, easy to lay and cheap

Wood flooring looks better but it cost upwards of three times the cost of Laminate.
Laminate comes in easy to handle boards with a groove on one end and one side and a projection one the other side and the other edge.

You really need a fixing kit which comprises a jemmy,wedges and a block to protect the edge of the board. You will be hitting the block and not the board !
The block has a groove which corresponds to the projecting edge and slides over it.
This way you get minimal damage to the projecting edge when you tap the boards together.

Before you put laminate down cover your floor with a thin foam sheet which cuts down noise and gives some support.
You could always consider underfloor heating as this can save you money over a period of time.

Lay the projecting long edge next to the longest wall in a corner and build out from there.
This way you will get less wastage and you will have to cut fewer small pieces.
Lay the boards loose at first and then turn them round at 90 degrees to see which way round suits your room best.
The boards just snap together and you tap the block until the join is practically invisible.

You must leave a small gap at the edge of the board and the wall to allow for expansion.

Edge strips are tacked above the laminate to finish the job professionally.

Laminate flooring is very hard wearing, to the point where Ikea can give a much longer guarantee on their laminates than most wood floor shops can. It will not fade or dent easily

It is a lot easier to clean than carpet (and does not get eaten by moths !)

Regrettably Laminate is a little noisy (even with the foam underlay) and sounds hollow when you walk on it.
Laminates come in various qualities and colours now and these are a great improvement on laminates from a couple of years ago.
You can choose from various wood finishes.

Laminates are unsuitable for bathroom or kitchen use as they are prone to spoiling if water is dropped on them regularly.

Edges of Laminates can be damages and a laminate repair kit is a wise investment.

Also, laminate floors will often curl up and get spoiled if you drop water or other liquids on them. This generally makes them unsuitable for bathroom and kitchen use, unless they have been specially treated for it.
It is a good idea to invest in a laminate repair kit (before you need it !) as eventually you may need to repair chips or scratches.
Having said that it is a practical and affordable alternative to carpet or floor tiles.