Laminate Flooring Provides Exotic Looks With Convincing ConstructionDramatic Details

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"A lot of consumers will want, say, Santos mahogany," he says. Whereas the real product could cost as much as $25 per square foot, "now we can offer them an alternative that is $6 per square foot and also offers better durability," he claims. Similarly, modular tile looks offer the appearance of a custom-designed floor without the added installation expense.

High-pressure laminate, the material used in countertops and for high-end residential flooring, can feature natural fibers from recycled coffee sacks or real wood veneers, which are laminated to a very dense backing and coated with melamine plastic and an overlay of aluminum dioxide, according to Abet Laminati's Anthony Riggi. The process creates an extremely durable, impact-resistant product, he says, "where you don't have to tell your guests to take their high heels off."

Wilsonart. The Styles collection includes four new 3 ½-inch-wide and eight new 5-inch-wide plank products. The spalting in the 5-inch-wide tapestry maple (pictured) creates pleasing and subtle hues of light caramels to rich chocolate, according to the manufacturer. As part of the Classic collection, all Styles products carry a 20-year residential warranty covering wear, fade, stain, and topical moisture. 800-433-3222. www.wilsonart.com.
	Mannington Mills. Acacia, burlwood, and Brazilian cherry (pictured), are the newest looks in the company's Revolutions plank line. Acacia and Brazilian cherry both feature the manufacturer's OptiClear finish, which complements the smooth graining and subtle texture of the exotic species, the maker says. All of the new products come as 5-inch-wide single planks, the most popular format in hardwood, the manufacturer adds. 800-356-6787. www.mannington.com.
Formica. With a semi-piano, random-pitted finish, the 10-millimeter-thick Mirabella collection has micro-beveled edges and long, narrow planks measuring 54.33 inches by 4.45 inches. The line's eight visuals include metropolitan walnut, Virginia walnut, Brazilian chestnut, Larissa chestnut, Ava plum, Ethan plum, Swiss pear, and Brazilian mahogany (pictured). The collection carries a 30-year residential limited warranty. 800-777-5145. www.formicaflooring.com.
	Berry. The Mansion flooring line features the BerryLocPlus locking system, which installs in a single motion, reducing installation time, says the firm. The collection's six new exotic décors include Brazilian cherry (pictured), which features a natural wood embossment. The boards are 10 millimeters thick and feature a limited lifetime warranty. 888-929-7994. www.berryfloor.com.
Mohawk. Carrolton, a new 8-millimeter laminate in the company's Elements collection, is a three-strip design offered in eight colors, including oak, walnut, hickory, and maple. The product's InstaClic glueless installation system allows for fast angled or sliding installation, according to the manufacturer. Even when the space is tight, the system ensures a secure locking action, the maker adds. 800-241-4900. www.mohawk-flooring.com.
	BHK. Six new exotic and traditional wood patterns are available in the Moderna SoundGuard glueless laminate lineup. Morado (pictured), kempas, jacaranda, country maple, and black ash all have two-strip planks, while Nordic fir features a single plank. SoundGuard features a sound-deadening system with a sound insulation backer affixed directly to the back of the flooring panel, the maker says. 800-663-4176. www.bhkuniclic.com.
Bruce. The Park Avenue collection features premium, piano-finish wood visuals that capture the look and feel of real exotic wood, according to the maker. Five visuals include ironwood in two shades, pradoo, makore, and exotic walnut (pictured). The product's 12-millimeter thickness provides improved in-room sound, meaning it sounds more like a genuine ¾-inch hardwood floor, the manufacturer adds. 800-233-3823. www.bruce.com.
	Abet Laminati. With 14 new, funky designs based on Memphis patterns from the 1980s, the Serigrafia line of high-pressure laminates now includes 37 total choices, according to the maker. Each sheet is individually silk-screened and measures 51 inches by 120 inches. 800-228-2238. www.abetlaminati.com.
Pergo. The Vintage Home line now features the realism of AccuWood textures and a premium attached underlayment for more authentic sound, according to the manufacturer. Available in five new styles—Berkshire oak (pictured), Hudson oak, Eastwick oak, Lenox oak, and Nantucket pine—the collection showcases a multi-dimensional process that replicates the pattern, layering, and sensation of hardwood, the maker adds. 800-337-3746. www.pergo.com.
	Armstrong. The Grand Illusions collection is said to feature true wood looks in four exotic species, including Melbourne acacia, pictured. Defined by a high-gloss piano finish, the planks are 5 inches wide and show only one board visual per plank, creating a more realistic installed appearance, the company says. The floors also feature a "kissed edge bevel" that is half the size of a standard microbevel. 800-233-3823. www.armstrong.com.
Shaw. The Americana collection showcases five wood species, including figured teak, Georgia pecan, and Tennessee hickory (pictured). Offered in 5 7/16-inch-wide planks, the collection features micro-beveled edges that accentuate each plank, according to the maker. The line also features the manufacturer's Loc N Place installation, which requires a single-action angle and drop in which the ends of the planks click vertically. 706-278-3812. www.shawfloors.com.
	Quick-Step. The Arté collection includes inlaid, oversized square medallions that are intricately patterned and rich in wood tones, according to the maker. They can be used on their own or paired with Perspective collection planks. Medallions also can be used as a focal point or as a room border. The collection is available in Versailles light medallions or dark medallions, pictured. 866-220-5933. www.quick-step.com.