Description
SWISS KRONO Liberty Santiago Oak
Durable laminate wood floors made with Swiss Precision.
SWISS KRONO Liberty Santiago Oak Flooring – High-quality and robust laminate floors made from sustainable wood High-quality wood is the basic material for SWISS KRONO laminate floors. Innovative laminate technology ensures stylish flooring covers that leave nothing to be desired in terms of care, resistance and indoor climate. This technology is based on high-density fiberboards (HDF), which are enhanced by an attractive decorative paper and an authentic surface structure. With the two collections made in the USA we offer the full range of visual options and technical requirements for your home. If you just want realistic wood optic and feel, or if you need some extra protection against the difficulties your active life with kids and pets has in store, our range offers everything you could possibly want or need underfoot.
Swiss Krono Liberty Santiago Oak Laminate flooring: Sophisticated look, resistant material
When it comes to Arizona Quality flooring, how it looks is only half the battle, as the laminate is still frequently exposed to mechanical stress on a daily basis. Furniture and other objects of various weights that are yet to have found a permanent home are put on it, walking boots tread over the surface countless times, and dirt can penetrate the structure. The result is subtle, but can be obvious and disruptive over time: scratches, dents splinters and chippings must be replaced, which can prove costly. This is why our wood flooring is fitted with a scratch-resistant, robust protective film that protects laminate floors against mechanical damage. Even the underside of the laminate has a high level of workmanship in the form of a compact, fine film that protects the wood core against damp and ensures that the laminate stays dimensionally stable.
What exactly is SWISS KRONO Liberty Santiago Oak Laminate?
Laminate technology is based on high-density fiberboard (HDF). This is a wood-based material consisting of wooden fibers that have been soaked in adhesive and pressed together under heat with very high compression (over 800 kg per cubic meter). Attractive, decorative paper that has been protected against mechanical damage with a resilient, abrasion-resistant protective film is then pressed onto the surface. A compact, fine film on the underside also serves to protect the wood core against damp.
Let’s review each of the four layers
Layer A: Wear or overlay layer
The top laminate flooring layer is the wear or overlay layer. Aside from putting the finishing, lustrous touch on every plank, it serves several important functions that enhance the floor’s durability:
- The wear layer seals and protects the surface of the laminate floor from everyday minor wear and accidents such as scuffs, scrapes and scratches commonly caused by pet claws, shoes, kids toys, furniture legs, vacuum cleaners and the like.
- It shields the decorative paper layer from harmful ultraviolet rays that could fade the color. Most people like big open windows. Problem is that if those windows face south or southwest, prolonged exposure from sunlight can subject the floor to a big dose of ultraviolet rays. UV rays can actually create photo degradation (fading) that breaks the chemical bonds in color. In essence, the color gets “bleached” over time from the sun without proper Wear Layer protection.
You’ll notice a range of finishes (from near matte to high-gloss) in the wear layer depending on the desired style of flooring. As you can see, a lot goes into laminate flooring to make it such an ideal floor for wear and affordability as well as beauty. We put all those important elements and more into every plank we make at Swiss Krono.
Layer B: Decorative paper
Next comes the Floor décor or decorative-paper layer. The decorative paper is a high quality printed design that gives the laminate plank its distinctive appearance. That appearance can be a realistic reproduction of wood, stone or marble in a multitude of colors and patterns, as well as such non-traditional designs as leaves or grass, artwork or paint splatters.
Layer C: HDF core or board
The core layer of Swiss Krono laminate flooring is high-density fiberboard (HDF). There is also medium-density fiberboard (MDF), which Swiss Krono does not use in the production of its laminate flooring planks. Both HDF and MDF are made from softwood fibers that are broken down, combined with a wax and resin binder, and formed into panels using heat and pressure. However, HDF offers superior stability and strength compared with MDF for the production of laminate flooring; it makes a better floor.
During the manufacturing process, the HDF core will be milled to absolute, micron-precise tolerances. The edges of each plank will be cut to specific profiles to make them easily and consistently fit together for a snug, reliable installation according to one of four locking systems. The extreme micron-milling precision required for these locking systems panel profiles is only possible with an HDF core.
Layer D: Backer paper
At the base of every Swiss Krono laminate flooring plank is a bottom balancing layer that keeps the board straight. The backer seals the back of the laminate board so its dimensional stability isn’t compromised in any way, for example by moisture. Some Swiss Krono laminate planks have foam padding added, eliminating the need for an underlayment; underlayment or padding enhances the acoustical quality of the floors when you walk on it.
How does laminate flooring underlayment work?
Underlayment does two things that are critical to a successful laminate flooring installation:1. Underlayment takes out any minor deviations in the subfloor.2. Underlayment delivers superior acoustical performance. If your laminate flooring planks already have an underlayment pad attached do not use additional underlayment because doing so will void your Swiss Krono warranty.
How Should I Clean Laminate flooring?
We recommend buying a laminate-flooring cleaning kit. You can also clean your laminate floor using a damp mop and a homemade cleaning fluid made from three parts of water and one part of vinegar.
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GREENGUARD Gold Certification
Swiss Krono USA, one of the largest manufacturers of laminate flooring in the U.S., announced on February 26, 2018, that its laminate wood flooring earned UL GREENGUARD Certification, giving families a healthier flooring option. Recognized and referenced by over 400 codes, rating systems, and procurement policies worldwide, UL’s GREENGUARD Gold Certification Program requires that products meet some of the world’s most rigorous standards for low emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into indoor environments.
Using dynamic environmental chamber testing, Swiss Krono USA laminate wood floors were tested for total VOCs, formaldehyde, and over 300 VOCs with health-based limits. The GREENGUARD Gold label validates that these floors are low-emitting and support healthy indoor environments.
“Swiss Krono USA has always been focused on offering safe, sustainable flooring. But with asthma reaching epidemic proportions, we saw a need to ensure that consumers know our flooring continues to be safe for homes, especially for kids and pets. The GREENGUARD Gold Certification provides consumers with third party verification that our laminate floors are a healthier option than other floors in the market. We want to deliver families great products and peace of mind,” said Erik Christensen, CEO and President of Swiss Krono USA.
“By earning the GREENGUARD Gold Certification, Swiss Krono USA has demonstrated their dedication to supporting healthier indoor environments, a critically important effort, as Americans spend upwards of 90% of their time indoors,” said Alberto Uggetti, Vice President and General Manger, UL Environment, a division of UL (Underwriters Laboratories) that works to advance global sustainability, environmental health, and safety by supporting the growth and development of environmentally preferable products, services, and organizations.
FloorScore® certified
In many ways, laminate flooring is an earth-friendly flooring solution, because the idea behind laminate flooring is to faithfully recreate the beauty of natural wood in a more durable, longer lasting floor. Swiss Krono USA technology not only gives us the ability to recreate the color, tonal variations and textures of different wood species but can preserve that natural beauty so it can withstand the wear, foot traffic and occasional accidents that come with everyday living.
Why it Matters
FloorScore® is a certification program established by the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) for hard surface flooring and flooring adhesives products that meet strict indoor air quality requirements. Products bearing the FloorScore label meet the indoor air quality emissions criteria of LEED, CHPS, the Green Guide for Health Care, and are recognized by a long list of healthy building programs.
With adults spending nearly 90% of their time indoors – where pollutant levels can be two to five times higher than outdoor air – achieving good indoor air quality has become a concern for many home and building owners. Elevated levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can cause short- and long-term health issues ranging from triggering asthma and allergy attacks to neurological and respiratory disease. FloorScore® Certified products show significant reduction in both the individual chemicals emitting from the products as well as the overall levels of chemicals being released.
“We are very excited to make this certification,” Travis Bass of Swiss Krono USA says. “We take tremendous pride in our ability to manufacture high quality laminate flooring in Barnwell, S.C., that is able to achieve such stringent standards for low chemical emissions, with regular and rigorous testing and verification.”
There are many ways Swiss Krono laminate floors are a healthier flooring solution for your home and for the planet:
- Sustainable core – All of our laminate-flooring designs contain a wood-fiber core made with ecologically sustainable pine trees, allowing us to bring you the look and feel of exotic hardwoods without harming exotic or endangered species.
- Efficient production – We are able to use almost every part of the tree when Swiss Krono laminate flooring is made, providing a more efficient manufacturing process.
- No harsh chemicals needed – Swiss Krono laminate flooring requires very minimal maintenance and unlike hardwood, it will never need to be refinished. Regular sweeping and occasional damp mopping with our mild cleaning solution will keep your floor looking like new for years to come, with no need for harsh chemicals.
- Simple installation – With our mechanical locking systems, Swiss Krono laminate floors install easily without the need for glue or nails. This simple installation process means fewer power tools are needed, which results in less energy use and less waste.
- It’s here for the long haul – With warranties of 30 years or more, Swiss Krono laminate flooring is more durable than carpet or hardwood, and won’t have to be replaced nearly as often. This translates to less waste being sent to a landfill.
- Low VOC inks – The decorative paper layer used in Swiss Krono laminate flooring is printed with water-based, low volatile organic compound inks, which are safer for consumers and the environment.
- Responsible packaging – Swiss Krono laminate flooring cartons are made from recycled cardboard.
