Shaw Floors makes laminate alongside its carpet, vinyl, hardwood and tile lines. Its current laminate is sold as waterproof, and its installation guides and warranties spell out how the floor should go down and be cared for.
Here’s what we found on Shaw’s site and in its documents in November 2026. Shaw updates colors and lines, so check the current listing for the product you’re considering.
What Shaw Laminate Offers
Pet Perfect Laminate
In January 2026, Floor Covering News reported that Shaw had expanded its Pet Perfect brand into hard surfaces, laminate included. The laminate style is called Komondor, and the report listed eight colors.
Shaw says the floor has waterproof protection that keeps pet accidents and spills on the surface, plus enhanced resistance to scratches from pet nails. The planks are 9.25 inches wide, with an embossed-in-register texture, an ultra-matte finish and an attached underlayment.
It’s covered by the Pet Perfect Promise, a residential laminate limited lifetime warranty. Floor Covering News reported that under the promise, Shaw will replace the floor if a pet scratches it.
Oak Crest
Oak Crest is another waterproof Shaw laminate. The listing we checked shows a 7.55 inch plank with a lacquered bevel and a LockNPlace joint with a clip.
It’s approved above, on or below grade. Its warranty document is titled a residential waterproof lifetime limited warranty with a 30 year scratch warranty.
Repel Laminate
Shaw’s Repel laminate is a water-resistant line rather than a waterproof one. Its warranty says plainly that it is not waterproof and that excessive wetting should be avoided.
If you’re caring for an existing Shaw floor, find out which line you have, since the water and care rules differ.
Installing Shaw Laminate
Shaw publishes separate installation guides for each joint type, so the first step is getting the guide for your exact product. The points below come from Shaw’s laminate installation page and its angle and tap installation guide.
Room Conditions
Shaw says its laminate needs no acclimation when site conditions are met. That means relative humidity between 35% and 65%, a temperature between 65°F and 85°F, and the HVAC system running for 7 days before, during and after the install.
Subfloor Prep
The angle and tap guide calls for a clean, dry subfloor that’s flat within 3/16 inch over 10 feet. Concrete needs a 6 mil polyethylene vapor barrier, with the pad above it unless the planks have one attached.
Shaw’s waterproof warranty puts moisture testing on the installer. The angle and tap guide adds that without documented moisture readings, a damage claim can’t be considered.
Expansion Space and Transitions
Laminate floats, so it needs room to expand and contract. Shaw’s installation page calls for a 1/2 inch expansion space around the room and any fixed objects, while the angle and tap guide lists 3/8 inch at walls, so follow the guide for your product.
That guide also requires an expansion T-strip once the floor runs 45 feet in length or width, and transition strips in doorways 36 inches wide or less. Door jambs get undercut so the planks can slide underneath.
Layout
Shaw’s guide calls for staggering end joints at least 8 to 12 inches between rows, and its installation page suggests 12 to 16 inches. Pieces should be at least 6 to 8 inches long, and the last row no narrower than 2 1/2 inches.
Direction is a personal choice. Shaw notes that running planks parallel to the longest wall can make a room seem larger.
Tools and Common Mistakes
For a DIY install, Shaw lists spacers, a tapping block, a pull bar, a hammer, a table or hand saw and carbide-tipped blades. Its angle and tap guide adds safety glasses and a dust mask.
These are the steps in Shaw’s guides that are easiest to get wrong.
- Leaving out the vapor barrier over concrete
- Cutting the last row narrower than 2 1/2 inches
- Running one floor past 45 feet without an expansion break
- Pinning the floor under cabinets, trim or tight door jambs so it can’t move
- Leaving the tongue on planks that sit against a wall
- Gluing joints, which the guide reserves for limited-clearance spots only
Everyday Care
Shaw’s laminate care instructions are simple, and most of them come down to keeping water and grit off the floor.
- Blot spills right away with a dry or barely damp cloth.
- Sweep, dust mop or vacuum with the hard floor attachment, not the beater bar.
- Clean with a barely damp sponge mop and a cleaner made for laminate.
- Don’t pour liquid on the floor or use a mop wet enough to leave puddles.
- Skip steam cleaners, steel wool, abrasive cleaners, wax, polish, soaps and buffing machines.
- Use walk-off mats at entrances, a protective mat under rolling chairs and floor protectors under heavy furniture.
- Keep indoor humidity between 35% and 65% all year.
What the Warranty Covers
Shaw’s residential waterproof laminate warranty covers topical moisture, as long as the water doesn’t flow over the edge of the floor. Standing water, flooding, hydrostatic pressure and leaks from pipes, faucets or appliances are excluded.
For professionally installed floors, Shaw includes reasonable labor costs in the first two years, and after that the remedy is material only. The warranty applies to the original buyer in an indoor residential setting, and a claim starts with the dealer where you bought the floor.
Is Shaw Laminate Right for Your Home
Shaw’s waterproof lines make sense for kitchens, entries and busy family rooms, especially in homes with pets. If you’re still weighing laminate against other floors, our honest guide to whether laminate is right for you covers the tradeoffs.
Thinking about a light color like Shaw’s Birchwood Cream? Our white laminate flooring guide covers undertones, finishes and upkeep.
Quality Installs is a family-owned flooring installer in Glenview that installs laminate, hardwood and vinyl plank. Our laminate flooring installation page explains how we handle laminate projects from start to finish.