Laminate Wood Flooring History

Most of the people still have no idea what laminate is, but a lot of them are familiar with laminate countertops. These people also refer to their countertops as 'Formica' which is instead a manufacturer's name.

Laminate wood flooring as we know it today was invented by Perstorp AB Holdings, a chemical industry giant. Laminate was marketed under the name 'Pergo' and was developed an alternate to more expensive hardwood flooring. This effort involved a search for another use of decorative laminate which had been widely used on kitchen countertops, as it still is today.

Launched in 1984 and expanded upon by the end of the 1980's, the Pergo brand of laminate wood flooring was the biggest flooring innovation introduced in Europe since the invention of cushioned vinyl in the 1960's. In North America,it was introduced in 1994 and quickly became very popular, both in residential and commercial settings. According to the European Producers of Laminate Flooring (EPLF), over 750 million square meters of laminate wood flooring were sold worldwide in the year 2004. The biggest increase of its growth was seen in the North American market.

Laminate wood flooring is one of the best floors available today. Utilized initially as a countertop solution, laminate has now become an ideal choice wherever a durable, water-resistant, and finished surface is required. It gained an instant fame due to its 'ease to install and maintain' features. Laminate wood flooring has been adopted by millions of consumers because of its hard-wearing durability and beautiful finish.