Your laminate flooring guide  
 

Laminate Flooring
By Gary Ng
Although carpet and hardwood are two of the most popular choices when it comes to flooring, they are sometimes inadequate. Spaces like the kitchen, or garage, frequently demand a higher degree of durability and resilience. Carpet absorbs stains and moisture too easily, leading to a dingy looking surface that may also attract odors. Hardwood offers a great deal more durability than carpet, but it also suffers from problems with moisture. A damp hardwood gradually warps and cracks. After several seasons of expansion and contraction, moisture damage can become very apparent with a hardwood floor. Areas in which spills and accidents are frequent can cause scratching or gouging in the as well. Laminate is a great answer to all these problems and more. With a laminate floor, designers can have the classic appeal of hardwood if they so desire, while avoiding many of the typical pitfalls. Laminate is largely impervious to moisture issues and will not absorb water. Stains are not an issue, and as long as they are cleaned up promptly, should not leave a mark at all. Best of all, laminate is very affordable, and can be found in a wide

Taylor unveils Meta-Tec MS-Plus Resilient MBA
Taylor has launched Meta-Tec MS-Plus Resilient MBA, a 100% solids solvent- & isocyanate-free one-component modified silane polymer moisture barrier adhesive for resilient flooring.
Latricrete Glass Tile Adhesive
A non-sag polymer fortified adhesive mortar that mixes with just water and provides an ultra white color that is ideal for installations of translucent tile and stone.
The First Sealer to Give a Beautiful, Luxurious Appearance
The Designer Series from Royal Sealers is the industry's first sealer with Micro Crystals. This premium impregnating sealer is embedded with eye-catching, multi-faceted light reflecting Micro Crystals that enhance the appearance of any surface, adding dimension and character.
Wagner Meters rolls out Rapid RH 4.0
The Rapid RH 4.0 from <a href="www.rapidrh.com">Wagner Meters</a> combines their patented Smart Sensor and redesigned Easy Reader with Touch-n-Sense technology.
ARDEX unveils MC Moisture Control Systems
<a href="http://www.ardex.com/default.asp">ARDEX</a> MC Moisture Control systems are a comprehensive line of best-in-class products for any type of flooring installation over concrete, even in the most demanding environments, according to the company.
Flexco launches Natural Elements in wood, stone looks
Flexco introduces Natural Elements, a new line of wood vinyl plank products available in 4&#8221; by 36&#8221; formats in 18 colors and a luxury vinyl stone tile available in 18&#8221; by 18&#8221; sizes in eight colors.
Floyd & Associates unveils new website
Floyd & Associates has launched its new e-commerce website: <a href="http://www.sampleboards.biz">www.sampleboards.biz</a>.
Tuftex, Anderson partner for Color Coordinates selling system
Shaw Floors&#8217; divisions <a href="http://www.shawfloors.com/Tuftex/">Tuftex Carpets of California</a> and <a href="http://www.andersonfloors.com/">Anderson Hardwood</a> have launched the Color Coordinates display system exclusively for Shaw Design Center retailers.
Ultrabond ECO 885 Premium Grade Polyolefin Backed Carpet Adhesive
MAPEI's Ultrabond ECO 885, which will be unveiled at Surfaces 2011, has been specifically designed to provide both permanent and releasable bonds for non-PVC, polyolefin and most &#8220;eco-type&#8221; backed carpet and carpet tile.
CBC's Halo Floors offers 'Something Different'
Halo Floors, offered under the CBC Flooring family of products, represents one of the most dynamic and refreshing luxury vinyl tile product lines in the industry.
CBC Flooring's Indelval is environmentally friendly
CBC Flooring&#8217;s Indelval Rubber Flooring is recognized globally for its exceptional quality and environmental benefits, due to its high natural rubber content and proprietary high pressure vulcanization process.
TOLI's Mature a sustainable choice
TOLI's Mature commercial sheet flooring from CBC Flooring offers architects and designers a beautiful and sustainable flooring product for healthcare, university and retail environments.
CBC's Salto brand unveils Unica
CBC Flooring&#8217;s Salto Exceptional Flooring brand offers Unica, a recycled limestone tile with an impressive 80 percent recycled content.
Wagner unveils Rapid RH 4.0
The new Rapid RH 4.0 from Wagner Electronics combines their patented Smart Sensor and a redesigned Easy Reader with patent-pending Touch-n-Sense technology for easy-to-use, fast and accurate RH testing.
Ultra-Step SingleStep new adhesive from Bostik
Bostik introduces Ultra-Set SingleStep, a wood flooring adhesive that offers moisture protection, sound deadening, crack isolation and mold protection.
WELS Sheet combines beauty, performance and low-maintenance
CBC Flooring&#8217;s redesigned, technologically-advanced WELS Sheet, under the CERES PVC-Free Flooring line, responds to growing demand for durable PVC-free flooring products.
Anderson?s Tropical Reflections features LusterLock Ultra finish
Anderson Hardwood Floors presents Appalachian Tropical Reflections. The flooring features LusterLock Ultra, a new finish that offers &#8220;three times the resistance to scuffs and abrasion,&#8221; the company says.
CBC Flooring launches two new brands
<a href="http://www.cbcflooring.com">CBC Flooring</a> is two steps closer to becoming a single-source supplier of commercial flooring products by introducing two new brands.
USFloors' Navarre Timeless an FSC certified hardwood
USFloors presents Navarre Timeless Wood Floors, a 100 percent FSC pure certified, oil-finished hardwood flooring collection.
Dancik unveils Price List Manager
Dancik International introduces Dancik Price List Manager software version 1.0.The program is designed around the Floor Covering Business to Business Association (<a href="http://www.fcb2b.org">www.fcb2b.org</a>) standard for 832 Price Catalogs.
New Floor Heating "Learn & Earn" Webinar, by WarmlyYours
WarmlyYours announces a new training tool designed especially for flooring retailers &#8211; a 30-Minute "Learn & Earn" webinar. The webinar demonstrates how easy and profitable it is to add electric floor heating to your flooring projects... and for your selling efforts you can earn $50 cash on each sale! Click here: <a href="http://www.WarmlyYours.com/webinar">www.WarmlyYours.com/webinar</a>.
LG makes an Impression with commercial tile line
LG Hausys Floors has taken the wraps off the Impression collection of large-format commercial homogeneous tile flooring. The line offers a palette of 31 high-energy colors and an oversized 18" by 18" format. The vinyl enhanced tile is designed to offer twice the PSI resistance of traditional VCT, the company notes.
MAPEI redesigns floor adhesives line
Part of the redesign of its full line of floor covering adhesives, MAPEI has streamlined its Ultrabond ECO 20, 120 and 220 adhesives for multipurpose flooring.
Tile of Spain
Contact: Rocamador Rubio <br>Phone: 305-446-4387 <br>Email: <a href="&#109;&#97;&#105;&#108;&#116;&#111;&#58;&#109;&#105;&#97;&#109;&#105;&#64;&#109;&#99;&#120;&#46;&#101;&#115;">miami@mcx.es</a> <br>Website: <a href="http://spaintiles.info">spaintiles.info</a> <br><br>Innovation and design headlined the Tile of Spain pavilion at Coverings 2009. Manufacturers such as TAU, Apavisa, and Inalco, which earned a &#8220;Best Booth&#8221; award, unveiled the latest trends, products and technology to arrive from Spain. For more information, call 305-446-4387 or visit <a href="http://spaintiles.info">spaintiles.info</a>.
Quick-Step?s Allustra series aims for sophisticated tastes
New from Quick-Step, the Allustra series offers exotic wood looks with a smooth, glossy surface, the company says.
Wedi unveils Fundo Riolito prefab system for showers
Wedi Corp. presents the wedi Fundo Riolito, a prefabricated tileable shower system designed to drain water through a narrow gap between the cover plate and adjacent tiling. Featuring a linear or channel drain, the Riolito is available in three cover plate finishes in high quality stainless steel. The system is designed to drain at 16 gallons a minute, offered in 3" by 5" and 4" by 6" sizes, and ideal for installations where ADA requirements need to be met according to the company.
Keene's new Quiet Qurl mat features Muffler Technology
Keene Building Products' Quiet Qurl 55/025 MC MT Muffler Technology is a nominal 0.25&#8220;, &#8220;U&#8221; Groove entangled core mat designed to limit impact noise between floors. On the top side, a point bonded, moisture resistant fabric is laminated to the core so that gypsum concrete and other materials can be placed to create a floating floor. On the bottom side, a highly compressible polyester fabric is bonded. This &#8220;muffler&#8221; almost completely compresses when installed with a 1.25&#8221; gypsum concrete floor underlayment, according to the company.
Rotozip's Tile Dock designed with safety, performance in mind
The new Tile Dock tile cutting station from Rotozip provides the professional a convenient, lightweight, and safe method to secure tiles while making detailed cuts, bull nosing and edge sanding, according to the company. The system also minimizes cracking by providing support to the back of the tile. The Tile Dock Kit (part #TD1-10) includes a clamping platform, quick clamp, corner dogs, vacuum adapter, and tracing templates. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.rotozip.com">www.rotozip.com</a>.
Invista
Phone: (770) 794-4064<br>Contact Name: Sally Philson, Misti Moore<br>Email: <a href="&#109;&#97;&#105;&#108;&#116;&#111;&#58;&#115;&#97;&#108;&#108;&#121;&#46;&#112;&#104;&#105;&#108;&#115;&#111;&#110;&#64;&#105;&#110;&#118;&#105;&#115;&#116;&#97;&#46;&#99;&#111;&#109;">sally.philson@invista.com</a>, <a href="&#109;&#97;&#105;&#108;&#116;&#111;&#58;&#109;&#105;&#115;&#116;&#105;&#46;&#109;&#111;&#111;&#114;&#101;&#64;&#105;&#110;&#118;&#105;&#115;&#116;&#97;&#46;&#99;&#111;&#109;">misti.moore@invista.com</a><br>Web Address: <a href="http://www.stainmaster.com">www.stainmaster.com</a><br><br><center><strong>WE KNOW WHAT SMART SHOPPERS WANT<br>Performance &#8226; Quality &#8226; Value<br><br>We Can Help You Provide It</strong><br><em>with</em> <strong>STAINMASTER&#174; carpet <br><br><a href="http://www.stainmaster.com/about-stainmaster/surfaces_ad.jsp">Click here for details</a>.</strong></center>
EcoTekTiles, three-part modular tile system, new from Ustek
Ustek Inc., in partnership with China's Augin Team International, presents a new modular three-part tile system called EcoTekTiles. Comprising a patented engineered polymer interlocking base with a built-in underlayment and top surface tile, the product features easy locking installation, the company says. Tiles can easily be removed or replaced as needed, Ustek notes, and are offered in a range of looks, including "realistic marble, terra cotta, and wood patterned PCB as well as natural cork." For more information, visit <a href="http://www.ecotektiles.com">www.ecotektiles.com</a>.

selection of shades, colors, and styles. Installation of laminate is also fairly simple. When first purchasing a set of laminate tiles, check each to make sure there are no broken tiles. Once sure that the entire package is intact, give the tiles a few days to adjust to their new atmosphere. There may be some contraction or expansion involved when the laminate tiles change environment. Be sure to follow all manufacturer guidelines that are included with the tile packaging. Specific instructions on how to glue the tiles are very important, and can affect the overall aesthetic quality and durability of the end product. It is also important to ensure that the tiles are placed with a quarter of an inch space between the wall and the flooring. Although an extensive set of tools is not needed for in home installation, you may need something to cut the tile around corners, fireplaces, stairs, etc. A wet tile saw would definitely be adequate to cut laminate flooring. Having a level surface for installation is also crucial. Be sure to fill any holes in the subflooring, or sand away any protruding areas that might stick up afterward.
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