If you’ve been in the flooring business for a while, like we have, you know laminate flooring has had a certain reputation. Decades ago, this flooring performed poorly in damp scenarios and often had a hollow echoing sound when walked on. The visuals were also not as appealing as other floor options.
Over our 100+ years of experience, the team here at Fishman Flooring Solutions has seen the integrity and visuals of laminate flooring evolve and improve dramatically over the years. The laminate of today isn’t your grandma’s laminate.
As a flooring retailer, you may be hesitant to stock a product typically seen as outdated. With the recent improvements to both the aesthetics and structural components of laminate, this type of product fills holes in your product offerings, fitting right in with the rest of your stock of engineered hardwood, LVP, LVT, and more.
The Laminate Flooring of Yesteryear
When your customers think of laminate, they probably picture their grandmother’s laundry room or kitchen—big, blocky brown squares that showed every bit of wear and tear. Maybe it began to buckle a bit from the moisture and heavy use.
Fortunately, Landmark Interiors has turned the laminate process on its head! Explore our Look Book and you’ll see that laminate’s made great strides in improving upon these qualities, bringing reliable, water-resistant properties and classic aesthetics to the modern family home. Let’s get into the details below.
Visual Components of Today’s Laminate Flooring Resemble Natural Hardwood
We all know you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover; however, there’s no denying that looks matter. When your customers walk into their laundry room, kitchen, or bathroom, they need a product that withstands exposure to water, so they don’t have to sacrifice style for function.
Today’s laminate flooring doesn’t require homeowners to compromise on form for function; they can have both.
The Tidewater collection from Landmark Interiors, for example, resembles hardwood in various natural hues, such as the hazelnut-like Eastern Shore or sand-inspired Cape May. These are ideal for any interior design style, including minimalist, farmhouse, rustic, and modern.
The more natural aesthetics of today’s laminate mean homeowners can even install it in their foyer to greet kids who may bring dirt or water inside when they get home from school.
Modern Laminate Is More Resilient
In addition to looking great, the laminate floors of today are resilient enough to stay that way for much longer. While your grandma’s laminate may have warped and buckled from moisture, today’s products tend to be:
- Water resistant
- Scratch resistant
- Fade resistant
- Pet friendly
Laminate products, like our Sawgrass line, are created with MDI technology—a versatile molecule used for adhesives and sealants that increases laminate core board strength.
MDI technology helps reduce water absorption to an industry-leading 6%. The tap lock installation mechanism also locks securely in all directions, which increases topical moisture resistance.
Our laminate products also have an AC4 (abrasion class) rating, which surpasses the industry standard AC3, to provide superior scratch resistance.
These water-resistant and scratch-resistant qualities mean laminate flooring from Landmark Interiors is less likely to warp or buckle in moist environments and is more likely to look like new, long after it’s installed.
Safer Products for Kids and Pets
Safety is a final and highly important aspect to consider, with the laminate of today. Our modern products are produced with an epoxy binder vs. the formaldehyde in products of the past, meaning fewer harmful chemicals circulate in your home.
If your customers have kids or pets who spend a lot of time on the floor, they’ll want to know that play time, nap time, and tummy time are all safe for their most vulnerable family members.
All Landmark Interiors water-resistant laminate products are eco-friendly and sustainably sourced. The lack of formaldehyde binders also makes them CARB2 compliant.
Stock Water-Resistant Laminate in Your Store Today
It’s clear that the laminate of today isn’t your grandma’s laminate. If you want to offer your customers a product that can stand up to everyday use, while also maintaining that homey look, consider water-resistant laminate from Landmark Interiors.
Become a dealer, today!