WSJ: New Mohawk Laminate Flooring Most Realistic

Dalton, GA, May 25, 2007--Mohawk Industries recently unveiled its newest collections of laminate flooring, which offer homeowners more realistic looks and extreme durability.

When describing the new Mohawk Earthworks laminate collection, The Wall Street Journal said, “Despite the lower price, we found the patterns and matte finishes of this line looked the most realistic.”*

“With Mohawk’s 2006 acquisition of Unilin, a leading manufacturer and marketer of laminate flooring in Europe and the United States, we are now able to produce laminate using the most advanced technologies,” said Roger Farabee, Vice President of Marketing, Mohawk Industries, Inc. “We print more patterns on colored rather than white laminate paper, allowing for random and natural patterns and coloring throughout the floor, creating a more realistic look.”

Mohawk laminate planks are more style-oriented than typical laminate, featuring more surface design elements such as furniture-like faux techniques and a variety of scraped looks. Some patterns mimic exotic wood species such as Merbau or Ebony planks. Other patterns mimic real stone, ceramic, and concrete with individual tiles embossed and varied to best resemble realistic patterns.

Along with its realistic look, Mohawk laminate contains a denser core, making it less prone to denting, nicking, and stains than other types of flooring. A denser core also provides greater resistance to swelling from liquid, minimizing expansion between boards. Produced with an aluminum oxide top coat to protect the flooring from the everyday wear of pets and foot traffic, Mohawk laminate is more durable than wood and can withstand extremes such as cigarette burns and household chemical spills. And laminate is softer under foot than ceramic.

“We’ve produced this laminate with wear, impact, scratch and stain resistance built into the floor,” added Farabee. “We’re giving our consumers the comfort of knowing their flooring will look fashionable while withstanding household wear for years to come.”

Mohawk offers simple installation with its InstaClic® glueless system. This patented method allows for fast, easy angled or sliding installation. Even when the space is tight, InstaClic will ensure a secure locking action. Also available is a complete line of moldings featuring quarterround, stairnosing, and InstaformTM, a unique 3-in-1 molding system. Mohawk also offers a bull nose molding for tile varieties.

In addition to extreme durability and easy installation, Mohawk offers underlayments that serve as sound and moisture barriers. SilentGUARD underlayments decrease sound within a particular room and MoistureGUARD underlayments decrease sound from traveling to rooms below. Both also serve as a moisture barrier between the subfloor and the laminate.

The newest Mohawk Laminates are available in various colors and styles in the following five collections:

Earthworks Collection – ceramic and stone looks

Dimensions: +/-16” x +/-16” x 8mm planks

Elements Collection – wood looks

Dimensions: +/-7.5” x +/-54.34” x 8mm planks

Handworks Collection – wood looks

Dimensions: varies

Hemispheres Collection – wood looks

Dimensions: +/-6.14” x +/-54.34” x 9.5mm planks

Traditions Collection – wood looks

Dimensions: +/-7.5” x +/-54.34” x 8mm planks