Bennington House of Tile

1267 Harwood Hill - Bennington, Vermont 05201 Phone: 802-442-2494 Fax: 802-447-3395

Laminate Flooring: Where it started

In the early 1980s laminate flooring was introduced in Europe. It was created with several layers of paper saturated with resins, which were then pressed together to make a highly wear-resistant final material. A decorative paper layer determined the laminate’s pattern. The finished laminate was then glued onto a carrier and cut into sections with extremely exact dimensions. These first laminates that were sold were ten times stronger than a countertop. As time went on, and feedback was received, the laminate’s strength increased to over 20 times that of countertops. Consumers in Europe started opting for laminate flooring over real wood because of convenience: laminate was packaged in lightweight easy-to-carry cartons, and could be transported with relative ease. A huge do-it-yourself-with-laminate market was created as a result. Laminate’s popularity spread throughout Europe -- first in Sweden, then to Scandinavia, Germany, the Benelux countries, and eventually to the rest of Europe, where its popularity continues to this day. Laminate flooring was introduced in the United States in 1994 by Pergo, Sweden. Its popularity in North America has surpassed that found in European countries.