The History of Laminate Flooring

The introduction of laminate flooring to the mass market was a huge development in the industry. However, it didn't start out that way. Around 1977 the Pergo company developed a material designed for counter tops. It was made from layers of paper and resin fused together under extremely high pressure to create a durable composite. This product, known as laminate, was attached to an underlayment and sold in measured sections for various needs. By the mid 1980s laminate flooring caught on, and the rest as they say is history.

This is not to say a lot didn't go on between then and now to bring laminate flooring to where it is today. As a matter of fact, this material was reworked until it was around 10 times more durable than the original counter top material. As researchers learned more about this material in relation to flooring, manufacturers created laminate that was twice that strong. Another innovation was the installation procedure for laminate flooring. In the past, floors were installed by gluing or nailing them down.

Laminate floors are not nailed or glued. They fit together via interlocking pieces. Many people are able to install their own floors, which is something the manufacturers have encouraged. The fact that most anyone can put down their own flooring is a major selling point. Not only does the flooring click together easily, it is much lighter and smaller per carton than hardwood. Because laminate flooring got its start in Sweden, it's no surprise that 90 percent of the laminate floors sold there are installed by the buyer and not by a flooring professional.

In the United States, laminate flooring has also become extremely popular. The biggest flooring manufacturers in the world such as Armstrong, Shaw and of course Pergo are making fabulous laminate flooring choices for every possible residential or commercial application. The wide range of color and pattern choices and the convenience of modern laminate flooring makes it extremely popular. Many types of laminate can be installed right over your old flooring and is easily replaceable. As time goes on it's likely laminate flooring will improve even further as companies develop new technologies and manufacturing techniques.

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