Key takeaways
- At RDC, laminate flooring costs $4 to $8 per square foot installed in Phoenix, so 1,000 sq ft runs $4,000 to $8,000.
- Standard laminate is not waterproof; RDC also sells laminate lines their makers sell as water-resistant or waterproof.
- Laminate expands and contracts with heat and humidity, which is why it floats with a gap around the room.
- InterNACHI puts laminate's life expectancy at 15 to 25 years, against 75 to 100 years for tile.
- Every RDC laminate installation carries a 1-year workmanship warranty.
Is Laminate Good for Arizona Homes?
Yes, laminate is a good floor for the dry rooms of an Arizona home: living rooms, bedrooms, dens and hallways. At RDC in Phoenix it costs $4 to $8 per square foot installed and gives a wood look for less than hardwood. Standard laminate is not waterproof, so kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms need a different floor.
- Good fit: living rooms, bedrooms, dens, home offices and hallways, where spills are rare and the wood look matters most.
- Not recommended by RDC: kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms. The North American Laminate Flooring Association says laminate does not suit areas with excessive moisture, such as bathrooms, unless its manufacturer specifies it as waterproof. RDC generally recommends LVP flooring installation or tile in those rooms.
- Homes with dogs: laminate works in dry rooms when accidents are wiped up fast. For a dog that has accidents, compare the best flooring for pets in Phoenix.
Wood-look laminate across an open living room: an RDC job in Sun City.
Is Laminate Flooring Waterproof?
No, standard laminate flooring is not waterproof. Its core is wood byproducts mixed with resins, and MSI notes that a wood-fiber core "can become damaged by water pretty easily." Some laminate lines are sold by their manufacturer as water-resistant or waterproof, and RDC sells those too. At RDC in Phoenix, check that line's warranty before laying it near water.
A waterproof rating covers what that line's warranty says, nothing more. Even a laminate whose surface resists water needs the edges sealed in a wet room. Pergo's Outlast+ instructions allow bathrooms only when every expansion space is filled with foam backer rod and covered with 100% silicone. Water must not get under the floor.
Read the wet-area terms of the warranty before you choose. For the full side-by-side with vinyl, see LVP vs laminate in Phoenix.
Does Laminate Flooring Expand in Arizona Heat?
Yes. Laminate expands and contracts with temperature and humidity, so it is installed as a floating floor with a gap around the edges. Pergo's Outlast+ instructions call for a 3/8 inch expansion space and a room held at 60 to 85°F during and after installation. RDC installs laminate in Phoenix to the instructions of the line you choose.
- Acclimation: the unopened cartons lie flat in the room for at least 48 hours, at 35% to 65% relative humidity. In very dry or very humid climates, they acclimate for 96 hours.
- Expansion space: 3/8 inch around the room and around pipes and other fixed objects, hidden by baseboard trim and transitions. The floor is never nailed or glued down.
- Long runs: a T-molding goes in where a run is longer than 40 feet and in doorways narrower than 4 feet. It gives the floor more room to move.
- Over concrete: a 6-mil polyethylene vapor barrier goes under the floor.
In Phoenix that means keeping the air conditioning running during and after a summer installation, even in a vacant home. The room has to stay inside the maker's temperature range.
Laminate from the front door through the hallway, with the gap hidden under the trim. Sun City.
Which Is Better, Tile or Laminate?
Tile is the better floor for wet rooms, kitchens and the longest life. Laminate is the better buy for dry living rooms and bedrooms where cost and a wood look come first. At RDC in Phoenix, laminate costs $4 to $8 per square foot installed. Ceramic tile costs $7 to $14 and porcelain $9 to $18.
| Floor | Best rooms | Water | Life expectancy (InterNACHI) | Installed cost at RDC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate | Living rooms, bedrooms, hallways | Standard laminate is not waterproof | 15 to 25 years | $4-$8 / sq ft |
| LVP | Whole home, including kitchens | Rigid core sold as waterproof by its maker | 25 years (vinyl) | $4-$9 / sq ft |
| Porcelain tile | Kitchens, bathrooms, entries, high traffic | Handles wet rooms | 75 to 100 years (tile) | $9-$18 / sq ft |
| Ceramic tile | Walls, backsplashes, lighter-traffic floors | Handles wet rooms | 75 to 100 years (tile) | $7-$14 / sq ft |
| Carpet | Bedrooms, media rooms | Absorbs spills | 8 to 10 years | $3-$7 / sq ft with pad |
| Engineered hardwood | Living and dining rooms | Not waterproof | 50+ years | $8-$16 / sq ft |
Life expectancy from InterNACHI's estimated life expectancy chart, a guideline, not a warranty. Prices are typical installed ranges at RDC; final pricing is set for your project and confirmed in your free written estimate.
Laminate and carpet sit close together on price at RDC, so the choice between them is hard floor or soft. See tile installation in Phoenix, carpet installation in Phoenix or hardwood floor installers in Phoenix for the other floors.
How Much Does Laminate Flooring Cost Installed in Phoenix?
Laminate flooring costs $4 to $8 per square foot installed at RDC in Phoenix, material and labor included. That is $4,000 to $8,000 for 1,000 sq ft and $6,000 to $12,000 for 1,500 sq ft. Taking out an old floor ($3 to $5 per sq ft) and any leveling ($1 to $4) are separate lines on the written estimate.
| Area | Laminate installed ($4-$8) | Old floor removal ($3-$5) |
|---|---|---|
| 500 sq ft | $2,000 to $4,000 | $1,500 to $2,500 |
| 1,000 sq ft | $4,000 to $8,000 | $3,000 to $5,000 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $6,000 to $12,000 | $4,500 to $7,500 |
Please note: these are typical ranges and can vary. Final pricing is set individually for each customer based on your specific project, materials, and scope, confirmed in your free written estimate.
The line you pick and how much the subfloor needs move the price most. Moving furniture is included; baseboards are a separate line. Once the subfloor is ready, a single room is often finished in one day and a whole home in one to three days. See the wider flooring installation cost in Phoenix guide for every material.
Laminate in a Sun City bedroom, run straight through to the vanity nook.
What to Ask Before You Hire a Laminate Installer
Four questions that separate a clear laminate quote from a vague one, with RDC's answers:
Which laminate line for which room?
Standard laminate for bedrooms and living areas; a line its maker sells as waterproof, LVP or tile wherever water is a daily risk.
Is leveling a separate line?
Checking that the subfloor is flat and dry is part of every estimate. Any leveling it needs is its own line, about $1 to $4 per sq ft.
Who removes the old floor?
RDC does, as a separate line at $3 to $5 per sq ft, written into the estimate before work starts.
Whose warranty covers what?
RDC's 1-year workmanship warranty covers the installation, the maker's warranty covers the planks, and RDC takes a defective-plank claim to the manufacturer for you.
Laminate Flooring in Phoenix, North Phoenix and Sun City
In Phoenix the heat matters more than the brand. A floating laminate floor needs its expansion gap and a room kept inside the maker's temperature range. On a concrete slab, both Pergo and the laminate association call for a 6-mil vapor barrier underneath. RDC checks the slab and the room before the first plank goes down.
The median Phoenix home was built in 1985 (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024, table B25035). Of the city's housing, 49% dates from 1970 to 1999 (table B25034). In homes of that age, RDC checks the slab for flatness before laminate goes down and lists any old-floor removal as its own line.
North Phoenix Showroom on Bell Rd
Compare laminate next to LVP, tile and hardwood at the RDC showroom, 1610 E Bell Rd, Suite 101, in North Phoenix. Full-size planks are on display and samples go home free. RDC carries laminate from brands such as Pergo, Mohawk and Mannington. If you want a brand RDC doesn't stock, RDC opens an account and orders it.
A same-day estimate is possible in the showroom; the exact written quote follows a free measure at your home. The showroom is open Sunday to Friday, 10 AM to 5 PM, and closed Saturday. Store details are on the flooring store in Phoenix page.
Sun City and the Rest of the Valley
The laminate photos on this page come from one RDC job in Sun City. Warm wood-look planks run through the entry, hallway, living room and a bedroom. More on that city is on the flooring in Sun City page. RDC also sells and installs laminate in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Mesa, Peoria and Sun City West, and across the Valley from Glendale to Chandler.
One laminate floor, no breaks, from the living room into the hallway. Sun City.
Laminate is one of several floors RDC installs. See every material on the flooring installation in Phoenix page, browse the project gallery, or get a free estimate.