The Next Best Thing — — Laminate is the ultimate copycat of the flooring universe. Its uncanny ability to visually replicate the look of wood, stone, brick and ceramic is possible due to highly detailed photography of the genuine material. So, when you look at laminate, you're looking at an image identical to the real McCoy. The image is coupled with advanced embossing that adds realistic texture to the floor surface. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish laminate from the material it is mimicking. Laminate also has an easy to clean surface that protects the floor from stains, fading or wear. Laminate's powers of impersonation allow you to get the look and feel of rare, exotic wood or expensive stone at a fraction of the cost, with no natural material drawbacks.