A truly high quality floor will have a minimum of 4 layers:
The top layer would consist of a transparent scratch and stain resistant wear layer with a high taber (wear-resistance) value.

Next would be the design layer, a melamine resin impregnated paper, having various patterns and designs ranging from woodgrains to stone to even more imaginative and decorative type designs.

Then would come the core, which would be constructed of a high quality, high density fiberboard, manufactured with a water resistant glue.

Finally would be the stabilizing layer or balancing layer. This layer is also impregnated with melamine resin and is of a thickness to balance the product, thus eliminating "cupping" or "warping".