Flooring · Laminate
Water-Resistant Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is a wood-look floor built on a dense HDF core with a tough decorative wear surface. Sovern House supplies water-resistant laminate to the trade worldwide: AC4–AC5 abrasion grades, EIR register-embossed wood texture, Unilin or Valinge click, and FloorScore and CARB2/TSCA certification, OEM to order.
What is laminate flooring?
Laminate is a multi-layer floor: a high-density fibreboard (HDF) core, a high-resolution decor layer, and a transparent melamine wear layer that carries the abrasion resistance. It is the highest-volume floor in many markets because it delivers a convincing wood look at a lower cost than engineered wood, and installs fast as a click floating floor.
The number that defines a laminate is its abrasion class, AC. Higher AC means a tougher wear layer: AC4 suits general residential and light commercial, AC5 handles heavier commercial traffic. We supply AC4 and AC5, and register-embossed (EIR) surfaces where the emboss lines up with the grain for a realistic, tactile finish.
Standard laminate is not waterproof, but a water-resistant laminate on a treated HDF core resists standing water (up to around 72 hours) with a swell rate under 10% tested to EN 13329 Annex G, and a wax-coated 4V bevel that keeps moisture out of the joints. For genuinely wet areas, rigid-core SPC is still the waterproof choice.
Compared with SPC, laminate is warmer and quieter underfoot with a more traditional wood feel, and is radiant-heat compatible; SPC is fully waterproof and more dimensionally stable. We help match the floor to the space and the subfloor.
Specification
Because we manufacture OEM to order, thickness, abrasion grade, size, and underlay are configured to your project. The ranges below are indicative; full spec sheets and certificates are issued at quotation.
- Type
- Water-resistant laminate flooring; click floating floor
- Core
- Water-resistant HDF (black-core option), density ≥ 850 kg/m³
- Thickness
- 8 mm and 12 mm
- Abrasion grade
- AC4 to AC5 (approx. 45–55 gsm wear surface)
- Surface
- EIR register-embossed wood texture; wax-coated 4V bevel
- Click
- Unilin or Valinge (5G) locking
- Plank size
- e.g. 1218 × 198 mm and 1520 × 238 mm; other sizes to order
- Water resistance
- Up to ~72 hrs standing water; swell < 10% (EN 13329 Annex G); radiant-heat compatible
- Underlay
- EVA or IXPE options
- Trade terms
- OEM / private label available; MOQ, lead time, and FOB/CIF quoted per project
Certifications
Our laminate is certified for North American and international specification. Certificates are issued on request against your order.
- FloorScore
- CARB2 / TSCA Title VI
- CE (EN 14041)
- EN 13329
Typical applications
Related ranges
Laminate is one of several flooring systems we supply. Where waterproofing or subfloor conditions call for something different, these are the closest alternatives.
Waterproof click floor
SPC Rigid-Core Flooring
Fully waterproof stone-plastic composite for kitchens, bathrooms, and wet zones.
Resilient vinyl
Luxury Vinyl (LVT)
Glue-down and rigid-core vinyl in wood and stone looks.
Flooring range
All Flooring
Engineered wood and the full flooring range, on the main flooring page.
Laminate flooring: common questions
What does the AC rating mean?
AC is the abrasion class, a measure of how well the wear layer resists traffic. AC4 suits general residential and light commercial; AC5 handles heavier commercial traffic. We supply AC4 and AC5.
Is laminate flooring waterproof?
Standard laminate is not waterproof. Our water-resistant laminate resists standing water for up to about 72 hours with a swell rate under 10% (EN 13329 Annex G) and a wax-coated bevel, but for genuinely wet areas we recommend rigid-core SPC, which is fully waterproof.
Is it compatible with underfloor heating?
Yes. Our water-resistant laminate is radiant-heat compatible. Confirm the temperature limits and buildup with us at specification.
What click system do you use?
Unilin or Valinge (5G) depending on the line. Note that patented click systems can carry a licence fee for some markets, which we confirm at quotation.
Can I request samples and OEM?
Yes. We ship samples, manufacture to specification, and tailor decor, size, abrasion grade, and branding for bulk and contract orders. MOQ, lead time, and FOB/CIF are quoted per project.
Specified With Confidence
Every surface carries the ratings your project has to file.
Formaldehyde, reaction to fire, wear, and slip are documented per product and verified through independent testing. Full certificates and spec sheets are available on request.