BDU Laminate Flooring College™

Laminate Floors: A History of Quality Flooring

What you will learn: history of laminate for use as a solution for floors; benefits of laminate floors; what is EPLF; what does AC rating mean and why is AC Rating important for consumers of laminate floors; future of laminate floors

The popularity of laminate floors is undeniable today, all over the world and most recently in the North American market. But there was a time when laminate floors were looked upon as something of an afterthought, never to be considered a serious contender in the more traditional hardwood flooring market. Find out about how the idea of laminate floors developed, and what now makes laminate floors a smart choice for practicality, attractiveness, and economy.

Laminate floors are looked upon today as being a worthy successor to hardwood, suitable for areas that are not under constant environmental control, or ones which require floors that will be more scratch-resistant and lower maintenance. Laminate floors, invented and popularized in Europe at the end of the 1960s and now enjoying great market success in North America as well, had relatively humble beginnings. Laminate floors were once thought of as a secondary product to the long established countertops industry, used as a means to increase the overall rate of production in the factories as well as a way to utilize more of the material resources used. They’ve come a long way since then.

At one time, few suspected that laminate floors, with their simple yet innovative design, would become a multi-billion dollar industry. But as the first years of the 21st Century progressed, laminate floors have continued to grow in use in North America, both in residential and commercial settings. As the technology to make laminate floors look more and more like an actual hardwood floor, the popularity of laminate floors grew in tandem, as has the recognition of quality brands such as Kronotex, Classen, and Lamton. Today, many an untrained eye would find it difficult to tell the difference between quality laminate floors and real hardwood floors, each displaying the attractiveness of natural wood species.

Laminate floors: humble beginnings, gaining popularity

When laminate technology was first utilized, the main application was countertops, particularly those made by Formica, a name that is literally synonymous with laminate countertops. When seeking a surface which was durable, water-resistant, and reasonably priced, laminate as a material was an ideal choice. Scratch-proof and resistant to moisture, laminates have been proven to be a very practical and low maintenance solution for mass-produced surfaces utilized in homes and in businesses. Logically, as a flooring solution, the benefits of laminate countertops work for floors as well. The ability to withstand foot traffic without scratching and denting is an obvious additional benefit. For these reasons, along with the cost savings of laminate flooring, this relatively new flooring material has earned a significant and well-deserved popularity.

The History of the AC Rating for Laminate Floors

Not all laminate floors are created equal, and as laminate floors became more and more popular, it became necessary to identify, test, and classify laminate floors on the basis of their resistance to wear in relation to recommended usage. A body was formed in 1994 in Bonn, Germany, in order to carry out this mandate. The Association of European Producers of Laminate Flooring (otherwise known as EPLF, headquartered in Bielefeld Germany), devised a series of tests which measured the resistance of individual varieties of laminate floors to various types of wear. The tests include resistance to scratching, burning, staining, and others, including more day-to-day varieties of wear such as the effect of castors on surfaces.

Most reputable manufacturers of laminate floors adhere to this testing, the standardized results known as the AC rating. This rating was solely designed as a guide to the consumer, to enable that consumer to make the best possible choice when considering laminate floors. Should any laminate floors product fail any of the tests required of all laminate floors, it does not receive the AC rating. This set of standards may explain another reason for the success of laminate floors: the industry’s sensitivity to the needs of customers, and reputable manufacturers’ dedication to quality.

Future of laminate floors

Laminate floors have come a long way since being considered as a secondary laminate product. The current popularity of laminate floors for residential applications holds the promise of a preferred flooring choice for professional planners and builders of commercial projects as well. The use of laminate floors is becoming more and more popular with architects and developers, and in response, the laminate flooring industry is set to grow with the demand to an even larger scale. Manufacturers and other interests in the laminate floors industry have an ongoing concern in making sure that laminate floors meet the discerning customer’s expectations: quality design, durability, and pleasing aesthetics. Laminate flooring looks as if it will continue to represent sensible, economic, and tasteful floors, more and more a choice of professionals.

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