Laminate Flooring
is an ultra-durable product
that looks like
a real wood or stone floor.
Less costly than the
real thing, it is
easier to install
easy to maintain and
offers long-term wear.
Offering as many
choices as there are
varieties of wood and stone,
Foster Flooring
features the very best
in laminate flooring
complete with
long-term warranties
and customer
satisfaction.
Wilsonart's
Appalachian Cherry
Bedroom
Wilsonart's
Hawaiian Bamboo
Kitchen
Wilsonart's
Brown Oak
Living Room
Laminate flooring is the hottest trend to hit the residential flooring industry since the early days of linoleum! As the younger generation of homeowners look to modernize the look and feel of their decor, laminate flooring has slowly become one of the hottest consumer products on the house and home market.
A New Domain—Synthetic Exotics
Tough, scuff-proof laminates are now available in a wide range of patterns that duplicate the look of wood, including many of the exotic species that have become popular alternatives in natural wood flooring. Nearly indistinguishable from the real thing, these new exotics have all the qualities that make man-made flooring so easy to live with, including easy care, scratch resistance and long wear.
Relatively new to North America, laminates have a dense fiberboard core with a paper pattern layer sealed both top and bottom under high pressure with a plastic-like substance. Sold as planks in wood, stone, tile, and other looks.
How Laminate Flooring Is Made
Laminate flooring is made of various layers that are fused together. The layers in most laminate flooring include:
The Wear Layer
This is the top layer, the one you walk on. It's usually made from cellulose paper that's been saturated with melamine plastic resins that make laminate flooring so incredibly scratch-resistant.
The Design Layer
This is the image you see, typically a photograph or patterned print that has been copied onto cellulose paper. Because it is below the upper melamine layer, it can't be marked, scuffed or even fade.
The Core Layer
This is the backbone of all laminate flooring. The core layer is usually some form of processed particle board and comes in different strengths and thicknesses.
The Stabilizing Layer
This is the bottom layer that holds everything in place. It's usually made from resin-saturated paper, just like the top layer.
In addition, some brands of laminate flooring have an underlayment attached to the bottom. The underlayment is designed to absorb sound and cushion the floor. It is usually made of cork, felt, foam or some similar material.
Laminate flooring is put together in two different ways.
Direct-pressure laminate flooring is the most common variety. All the layers are assembled at once, then heated and pressed to form a bond.
High-pressure laminate flooring is a more recent innovation and is often found in more expensive premium brands. Both the top and bottom layers of high-pressure laminate flooring are treated separately, then fused to core layer under extreme pressure.
The Benefits of Laminate Flooring
The benefits of laminate flooring can be summed up in two words - cost and durability. Laminate flooring offers the appearance of real hardwood floors or stone tile, but for about two-thirds the cost.
However, there are a number of other benefits, such as:
• High UV resistance, blocking the sun's harmful rays and protecting the floor pattern from fading over time.
• Easy installation, especially when choosing pre-glued or glueless brands.
• Excellent warranty protection.
• Easy repairs, since damaged planks can be replaced without contrasting with the pattern of surrounding boards.
• Easy cleaning, since laminate flooring doesn't trap dirt. Most spills can be cleaned up with a mop or sponge.
• Very low emissions.
•Endless design options.
Wilsonart's
Biltmore Cherry
Dining Room
Wilsonart's
Maple Sand
Kitchen
Wilsonart's
English Cherry
Kitchen
A Highly Skilled Staff of Insured Professional Installers
With high expectations from discerning customers, Foster Flooring assures customer satisfaction by using the skills of highly trained, experienced in-house professional installers who pride themselves on fine, careful workmanship.
Fully insured, these accomplished craftsmen treat every job as an artistic challenge.
Supplies and Guidance for Do-It-Yourselfers
Since some customers prefer to do their own work, Foster's keeps a ready supply of installation supplies available for every type of installation. Knowledgeable personnel are always happy to advise do-it-yourselfers who have questions about the best route to success.
Store Hours
Mon., Tues. Wed.: 8:00 - 5:00; Thurs., Fri.: 8:00 - 8:00; Sat. 9:00 - 3:00; Closed Sun.
Closed on selected long holiday weekends. Please call for additional details.
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