Laminate

The New Age of Laminate Flooring

Today's laminate is a far cry from the originals of more than a decade ago. Once an economical mimic of wood, stone, tile and even resilient vinyl décors, modern laminate is very different.

It's actually evolved into its own unique flooring fashion with distinct characteristics. It is now possible to replicate wood, stone and tile to the exact color and texture of your choice and to select from special effects which make laminate rather trendy in today's designer circles.

Even the hand-scraped and distressed look, beveled edges and antique finishes, so hot in hardwoods and exotics, have found their way to fashionable laminate floors. Look very closely at the surface texture. Fashion laminate is presented with what is called embossed-in-register textured finishes, a very precise way of creating an accurate surface texture directly above and matching the laminate image beneath – be it wood, stone or tile. The technique allows for a stippled tile or stone or coarse-to-fine-grained wood you can feel as well as see.

In the early days, laminate flooring featured basically shiny or matte finishes. Today, you can have those (much improved with extended durability warranties) plus anything in between, even the hot new hand-rubbed looks.

Another recent evolution is the format of the individual laminate piece. Look for traditional planks in three inches, but also wider products in four- and five-inch widths. Depending on the look you want, laminate can be found in individual plank pieces or multiple plank panels for extremely fast installation.

Speaking of installation, new technology means modern laminate flooring can boast a tight, glueless, snap-together, prefinished system for a tight, precision craftsmanship finish. Install it today and live on it tonight.

Take the time to looking beyond the physical beauty of laminate. There, you will find some very practical features appropriate for today's lifestyle, such as moisture- and sound-blocking backings, antistatic and mold- and bacteria-fighting qualities.

Want to know more about the world of fashion laminate flooring? Stop in and let us show you how laminate is the crossroads of fashion and function.