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The 2009 MVP Awards (BUILDING PRODUCTS Magazine)

Each year, the editors of Building Products receive hundreds of new product announcements. But none capture our attention more than the annual collection of entries in the Most Valuable Product Awards. The slate is always packed with interesting wares designed to bring value to contractors while catching clients' eyes.

Armstrong's Breakthrough Grand Illusions Laminate is Now Available in Domestic Exotic Wood Designs (ebuild)

Armstrong has expanded its top-selling line of Grand Illusions premium laminate flooring with the addition of domestic exotic visuals, offering consumers beautiful North American species suited for every decor. A versatile palette of colors in the most popular hardwood species are offered in 5" individual board widths that mimic actual installed hardwood.

Laminate Flooring Provides Exotic Looks With Convincing Construction (BUILDING PRODUCTS Magazine)

In a perfect world, you could install natural spalted maple flooring to make a dramatic design statement. The wood has a very dark, irregular grain pattern caused by natural decay for a look unlike any other. The problem is that if you actually walked on it, the boards might crumble to pieces. Replicate that same wood with laminate flooring, however, and you'll have a durable surface with a unique appearance. "You can do a lot of things with laminate that you can't do with the real thing," notes Al Boulogne, product manager for laminate business at Mannington Mills, which makes laminate spalted maple flooring. Laminate flooring manufacturers' ability to mimic exotic or hard-to-find wood species is just one reason their product is gaining market share and, until the housing slow-down, was showing double-digit annual growth. Technological innovations that make laminate look and feel more realistic also are driving sales, along with improved wear layers for added durability.

Pergo Launches Enhanced Vintage Home Line (ebuild)

Pergo is taking realism to a whole new level with the launch of its enhanced Vintage Home line - already recognized as one of the most authentic laminate flooring collections on the market. Coinciding with the introduction of five stunning new décors, all Vintage Home décors now feature premium attached underlayment and the unparalleled realism of AccuWood Textures.

BuildDirect Launches Top Quality Laminate Flooring for Less (ebuild)

BuildDirect, the world's leading online wholesaler of building supplies, is challenging its rivals by offering a new line of high quality laminate flooring at prices up to 30 percent below those of their competitors. Three new Lamton lines of laminate flooring stand out for their high quality finishes that make them virtually indistinguishable from traditional solid hardwood flooring.

First Look (REMODELING Magazine)

Remodeling Magazine staff picks the newest products for the remodeling market. Tamko. Combining the strength of steel with energy-saving technology, MetalWorks Cool Colors shingles offer aesthetics and performance for a wide range of applications. Manufactured to be long-lasting and offer a high solar reflectance, the product is rated by the Cool Roof Rating Council as having initial solar reflectance of up to 0.34 and initial thermal emmitance of up to 0.87. A variety of styles and colors are available. 800.641.4691. www.tamko.com. (MORE)

A New Floor Buyer's Guide Walks Consumers Through the Shopping Process (ebuild)

A new, easy-to-use Floor Buyer's Guide from Armstrong helps consumers understand the things to consider before purchasing a floor and answers the question, "Which Floor is Right for You?' It's designed to take the confusion out of the shopping process and covers pertinent information for all categories of hard surface flooring - Hardwood, Laminate, Vinyl Sheet, Vinyl Tile, Ceramic and Linoleum - in one place.

Mannington Laminate Goes Global with Spring Introductions (ebuild)

Mannington is introducing a whole new world in its Revolutions Plank line with the looks of Acacia, Burlwood, and Brazilian Cherry. Mannington's use of innovative technology and meticulous attention to detail gives these floors the most incredible realism of any laminate on the market today. All of these new looks use Mannington's NatureForm Optix technology which adds to their realism. In addition, they come as 5"-wide single planks, which is the most popular format in hardwood.

Mannington Laminate Introduces New Wood and Tile Designs (ebuild)

Mannington is introducing three new looks in laminate flooring that build off the popularity of nature-inspired home furnishing designs. Today, modular tile is all the rage, and Mannington's plays up that look in its new Adirondack pattern, which was created using the stunning look and texture of real quartzite. Adirondack uses the NatureForm Optix process and embossed-in-register texturing for the ultimate in realism. And each pattern has five unique planks which adds to the realism by practically eliminating the "repeat" so often found in laminate tile. Adirondack comes in four colorways that complement today's popular earthtone and neutral color trends: Valley Green, Cavern Brown, Dusty Canyon, and Mountain Mist.

First Look (REMODELING Magazine)

The newest products for the remodeling market.