Description
Eternity Exotic Collection: Natural Cherry
Eternity Exotic Collection: Natural Cherry 12.3mm AC3 Laminate – Classic Distressed Characteristics
The slight distressed textures found in Eternity’s Exotic Collection perfectly complements any décor. The shade variations found in this collection provide a comfortable and inviting atmosphere. For maximum performance, use VersaPRO Premium Underlayment.
- UV Resistant
- Fire Resistant
- Scratch Resistant
- Slip Resistant
- Stain Resistant
- Fade Resistant
- Hypoallergenic
- Non Toxic
- Mildew Resistant
- Easy Maintenance
Laminate flooring (also called floating wood tile in the United States) is a multi-layer synthetic flooring product fused together with a lamination process. Most Laminate flooring simulates wood (or sometimes stone) with a photographic applique layer under a clear protective layer. The inner core layer is usually composed of melamine resin and fiber board materials.
Laminate flooring has grown significantly in popularity, perhaps because it may be easier to install and maintain than more traditional surfaces such as hardwood flooring. It may also have the advantages of costing less and requiring less skill to install than alternative flooring materials. It is reasonably durable, hygienic (several brands contain an antimicrobial resin), and relatively easy to maintain.
How to Care for Eternity Exotic Collection Laminate Flooring
It is important to keep laminate clean, as dust, dirt, and sand particles may scratch the surface over time in high-traffic areas. It is also important to keep laminate relatively dry, since sitting water/moisture can cause the planks to swell, warp, etc., though some brands are equipped with water-resistant coatings. Water spills aren’t a problem if they’re wiped up quickly, and not allowed to sit for a prolonged period of time.
Adhesive felt pads are often placed on the feet of furniture on laminate floors to prevent scratching.
Inferior glue less laminate floors may gradually become separated, creating visible gaps between planks. It is important to “tap” the planks back together using the appropriate tool as gaps are noticed in order to prevent dirt filling the gaps, thus making it more difficult to put into place.
Quality glue less laminate floors use joining mechanisms which hold the planks together under constant tension which prevent dirt entering the joints and do not need “tapping” back together periodically.
How to Measure Laminate Quality
The North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA) is a trade association of laminate flooring manufacturers and laminate flooring manufacturer suppliers in the United States and Canada. It is a standards developing organization accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)[2] to develop voluntary consensus standards for laminate flooring materials, and it has established testing and performance criteria that are used in North America.
NALFA issues a certification mark named the NALFA Certification Seal which signifies that the product has passed 10 performance tests, has been proven to meet these standards by an independent, third-party testing lab, and has been manufactured in North America.[3] The certification review includes:
1. Static Load – Measures the ability of laminate flooring to resist residual indentation resulting from a static load.
2. Thickness Swell – Measures the ability of laminate flooring to resist increase in thickness after being exposed to water.
3. Light Resistance – Measures the ability of laminate flooring to retain its color when exposed to a light source having a frequency range approximating sunlight through window glass. It is not intended to show the resistance to continuous exposure to outdoor weathering conditions.
4. Clean ability and Stain Resistance – Measures both the ease of clean ability and stain resistance of laminate flooring to common household substances.
5. Large Ball Resistance – Measures the ability of laminate flooring to resist fracture due to impact by a large diameter ball.
6. Small Ball Resistance – Measures the ability of laminate flooring to resist fracture due to impact by a small diameter ball.
7. Water Resistance – Measures the ability of the surface of laminate flooring to resist abrasive wear through the décor layer.
8. Dimension Tolerance – Measures the dimensional variance between tiles of laminate flooring in a manufactured free standing (unrestricted) shape in respect to thickness, length, width, straightness and squareness.
9. Caster Chair Resistance – Specifies a method for determining the change of appearance and stability of a laminate floor, including joints, under the movement of a caster chair.
10. Surface Bond – Measures the force required to delaminate or split away the surface of laminate flooring plank or tile.
The History of Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring was invented in 1977 by the Swedish company Perstorp, and sold under the brand name Pergo. They had been making floor surfaces since 1923. The company first marketed its product to Europe in 1984, and later to the United States in 1994. Perstorp spun off its flooring division as the separate company named Pergo, now a subsidiary of Mohawk Industries. Pergo is the most widely known laminate flooring manufacturer, but the trademark PERGO is not synonymous for all laminate floors.
Glue-less laminate flooring was invented in 1996 by the Swedish company Välinge Aluminium (now Välinge Innovation) and sold under the names of Alloc and Fiboloc. However, a system for holding flooring panels together was also developed in parallel by the Belgian company Unilin released in 1997 and sold under the name of Quick-Step flooring .
The two companies have been in a great number of legal conflicts over the years, and today most, if not all glue-less locking flooring is made under license from either Välinge, Unilin, or even a combination of both.
Laminate products with an AC3 Rating are suitable for residential use with heavy traffic but they are also suitable for commercial settings with moderate traffic. This pretty much means the laminate floor will work well in any area of your home as well as in commercial settings like hotel rooms or small offices.
FloorScore® is the most recognized indoor air quality (IAQ) certification standard for hard surface flooring materials, adhesives, and underlayment.
A standard for formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products, including hardwood plywood (HWPW), particleboard (PB), and medium density fiberboard (MDF). The intention of CARB2 compliance is to set standards for products that could impact the indoor air health quality of any interior spaces.
