Laminate Flooring Is Hot.

Laminate flooring remains one of the fastest-growing applications for composite panels.

Laminate flooring has been the wunderkind of flooring products since it was introduced to the United States marketplace in the 1990s. Since then, several new factories have sprung up in North America dedicated to the production of laminate flooring planks, and in some cases, tiles.

Parent companies for two of the North American laminate flooring manufacturing pioneers -- Wilsonart Flooring and Uniboard Surfaces -- were previously well established in high-pressure laminates and composite panels respectively.

Curt Haffner, general manager for Wilsonart Flooring, Temple, TX, says his company uses particleboard, medium density fiberboard and high density fiberboard depending on the product. "When moisture resistance is an issue, we'll use MDF or HDF, for example," he says.

Lise LeBreton, marketing director for Uniboard Surfaces Inc., the laminate flooring subsidiary of Uniboard Canada of Laval, Quebec, says Uniboard Surfaces favors using HDF because "we like HDF for its impact resistance."

LeBreton says she is seeing a trend toward the use of a wider range of board thickness in laminate flooring products. She explains that thin boards for laminate flooring are 6-7mm and 8mm thickness has been the most popular thickness for high-end applications.

"We are starting to see 9mm and 10mm thickness coming onto the market," she says. "Our company test marketed it with a narrow board -- 4 inches in width as opposed to 8 inches wide. It gives more of a real wood look at that width."

LeBreton says the widths and thickness that are used depend on the market targeted and what the customer wants in terms of end-use durability and price. "All of the boards are equally good for wearability and moisture resistance but there is a perception that thinner boards are cheaper. It really depends on your target market, which board you use," she says.

REPEAT BUSINESS IS STRONG

Haffner says laminate flooring has been phenomenally popular with consumers. "It has been very well received," he says. "Market studies show 98 percent of customers who have laminate flooring in one room of their house report that they intend on buying it for other rooms, as well.

"Wood looks have been the most popular and I think that has to do with the realism we are able to create. We have a finish that mimics the seal on wood floors very closely. The high-definition printing processes that are used make it difficult to tell some laminates from the wood floor."

Haffner adds that North American consumers not only like the look of laminate flooring, but its resiliency. "Stains, tearing and indentations are not issues when the consumer chooses a good quality laminate flooring. The types of warranties being offered with laminate floors today, which go from 15 years on up, show the manufacturers' faith in their products."

Haffner says tile formats of laminate flooring are catching on. "While wood looks continues to be popular, the industry is developing a range of ceramic tile looks. We are seeing a trend toward laminate flooring with an added texture that gives it the look and feel of ceramic tile, slate, stone and even leather."

Lebreton says her company launched a 15-inch by 15-inch tile line in 1999 with a grout-look dual-embossed on the printed paper to give it the feel of real tile.

GLUELESS MAKING WAVES

At Surfaces 2001, the North American flooring industry's biggest trade event, laminate flooring products that snap or click together and require no glue were in abundance.

LeBreton says systems featuring the new locking systems without glue have pushed suppliers to make boards more dense so that laminate flooring manufacturers can do the profiling that will enhance its ability to retard moisture.

"Consumers are interested in the ease of installation with locking systems, but they are not necessarily interested in giving up glue when the laminate flooring is going into a kitchen or room that may have moisture," LeBreton says.

Haffner says glueless laminate flooring is "technology in the works. The market continues to use a glue installation for some laminate flooring applications because it will give a dependable seal against moisture. The technology is being developed to create moisture resistant edges that won't cup, but at this point, I think the most dependable installation is professionals installing the flooring with glued edges."