Balterio laminate flooring is some of the best in the business, and the company has made great strides to create a product that can go toe-to-toe with hardwood flooring options. With a large collection and many specialized innovations, Balterio should be one of your first stops when looking for laminate flooring.
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There is almost an endless supply of choices when it comes to laminate flooring. How is a homeowner to choose? With a reputation for a superior product, a focus on beauty, and a commitment to the conservation of commercial forests, Balterio makes such a choice a no-brainer.
Company Information
According to their website, Balterio is company that was formed in 2001 by a flooring producer and a wood paneling company; both leaders in their respective industries. Their production facility is located in Belgium, in the center of the Ardennes forest that supplies the wood for the manufacture of the high-quality laminate flooring.
Balterio has a reputation for leading the laminate flooring industry with new technology, investment, and innovation. The company puts special emphasis on environmental considerations such as recycling, flooring research, and answering the needs and desires of the customer.
Laminate Flooring Overview
Laminate flooring is a flooring option that hit the flooring industry in the 1990s with much fanfare. Like most new products, laminate flooring has improved greatly in quality since its introduction.
While laminate flooring is typically sold alongside solid hardwood flooring and engineered flooring, it is not really hardwood flooring at all, according to the DBH Remodeling and Construction Blog.
Laminate flooring is made of a plastic cover that is printed to resemble wood and is pasted to a board for strength.
Laminate flooring has many benefits, especially as the quality has improved over the years. For one, laminate can be made to resemble any type of wood design, shade, or color. Its affordable price also makes laminate flooring well within the budget of any remodeler or home improver.
Laminate flooring also has a high durability factor as long as it is installed according to manufacturer specifications. Most laminates are hard to scratch, dent, or mar, due to the high density of the underlying board. The durability of laminate flooring also makes it useful for below-grade installations, such as in a basement.
Laminate flooring also has its drawbacks, just like any other flooring option. While it is very durable, laminate flooring can be damaged. Once it is damaged, it cannot be refinished like solid or engineered hardwood flooring.
For instance, laminate flooring can be easily ruined by water damage from a high-volume leak. Scratches also damage the surface of the printed coating, which is virtually irreparable. Another criticism of laminate flooring is that the nature of the printed covering makes for a repeated pattern that has an artificial look. The laminate flooring industry has addressed many of laminate flooring’s drawbacks in the last few years.
Balterio’s Laminate Options
Balterio boasts of ten different laminate lines from which to choose. The Grandeur line is offered in eight stains, including a wide array of gray tints such as the light Rennaisance Oak to the stately Wellington Oak. There are also standard honey brown tones such as the Roussillon Oak and Old French Oak.
The Magnitude line offers a full spectrum of tints and tones as well. There is the near-white of the Off White Oak, the rich browns of Smoked Oak, and the dark notes of the Blackfired Oak. With the wide range of light, medium and dark tint choices, the Magnitude line will fit any décor or style of room.
Then, Balterio offers the four Traditional lines, labeled Sapphire, Sculpture, Elegant, and Quattro. The Sapphire and Sculpture lines count nine different design choices between them.
The emphasis on these Balterio designs is the rustic yet traditional look of hand-crafted hardwood flooring as it was made by craftsmen of old.
The authentic look of hand-crafted hardwood flooring is very desirable in the flooring world, and laminate manufacturers have answered that demand for flooring that looks like hand-scraped hardwood planks. The designs of the Traditional Sapphire and Sculpture lines have elements that suggest hand craftsmanship and the look of a wood floor straight out of a country manor.
The Traditional Elegant line features six designs in a spread of colors. There is the traditional amber of Royal Cherry, the slate gray of Volcano Oak, and the resonant brown of African Wengé. The line is differentiated by a fine woodgrain pattern, which allows the floor to complement a room without overshadowing other décor elements.
The Traditional Quattro line is made to mimic the look of a parquet floor. According to WoodFloors.org, parquet flooring has a non-linear appearance, often created through geometric designs. The Quattro line offers four shades of brown and one carbon black design.
Additionally, the Stretto line features 12 design choices that are meant to have a chic edge. Eight of the designs feature cool, ultra-light tones of blond and ashy gray; some have very minimal woodgrain, while others have striking swirls and whorls. The four remaining designs are darker, including the blended whites and browns of Black Walnut and the smooth amber of Wild Cherry.
The Conference line was created for commercial use, though it is suitable for residential use as well. Standing up to high traffic, the Conference line offers a lifetime guarantee for residential use and a 15-year guarantee for commercial use. There are six classic color designs that should suit any tastes.
The Authentic Style Plus line attempts to present the laminate flooring as a cohesive unit; reducing the look of lines between boards for a seamless presentation. It is offered in seven color design options.
Lastly, Balterio offers its Pure Stone line, which consists of laminate floor tiles that resemble stone rather than hardwood flooring. The line features the near-white of Limestone White, the gray of Belgian Blue, the brown of Limestone Tobacco, and the near-black of Belgian Blue Honed.
Balterio Features
In addition to a large collection of lines, Balterio offers many features that create a superior product. First, most of their collections are offered in many different sizes. There are standard boards, extra long boards, wide boards, and narrow boards. The Pure Stone line is sold as tiles.
Next, Balterio has gone to great lengths to offer a product that resembles true hardwood flooring as much as possible. One innovation in a quest for authenticity is the patented v-groove.
Essentially, the company places a grove in the flooring planks that resembles the natural spaces between planks of solid hardwood flooring. There are straight v-grooves for a sophisticated look and random v-grooves that have a more rustic, handcrafted feel.
Balterio also offers another patented feature aimed at closing the gap between laminates and true hardwood flooring. The True-to-Nature Touch technology utilizes the wood in the underlying planking to simulate the feel and look of actual wood flooring. Enhanced by the patented Chrome Zone finish, the luster of true hardwood flooring can be yours as well.
Balterio also has introduced other features that improve the usability of its laminate flooring line. Many of the installation innovations that have been introduced in the laminate industry have come from Balterio. These new locking techniques allow the laminate boards to be installed without glue, nails, or staples. One simply lays a new board down and locks it into place to install it.
Laminate Costs
As a general rule, laminate flooring is one of the cheapest options available. Prices can run well under $1 per square foot, which cannot be said for solid hardwood flooring or engineered hardwood flooring. Certainly, such a low price does not apply to most other flooring options either.
As with most things, cheap flooring will usually act cheap; the World Floor Covering Association cautions consumers against buying inferior laminates. Balterio laminate flooring certainly costs a great deal more on the retail end than the average laminate, but it is anything but average laminate flooring.
The higher cost reflects the craftsmanship and technology that has gone into the product, such as the True-to-Nature Touch and Chrome Zone finish.
Most Balterio laminate flooring options come with a 25-year residential warranty and a 12-year commercial warranty.
Additionally, Balterio can be found on discount flooring websites such as this one at great savings. Such sites are a great way to get a superior product at a great cost.
Balterio’s Accolades
The Balterio name crops up again and again in industry recognition awards, making the company’s name synonymous with quality and innovation. According to the Balterio website, the PressXpress locking system won the Innovation award at the 2012 Wood Flooring Summit in Hanover, Germany.
Reviews and ratings always give Balterio laminate top marks and high praise. Named one of the best in laminate flooring, some reviews suggest that it outperforms true hardwood 
flooring. The company has also won awards for the best laminate product and best flooring website from various interior design magazines over the years.
Another accolade of Balterio’s that must be mentioned is their attention to environmentally sound manufacturing and end products. In 2009, Balterio joined the Program for the Endorsement of Certification Schemes, or PEFC, which promotes stewardship and renewability of the world’s forests. Balterio claims that they plant a new tree for every one that is cut down for use in the laminate industry.
If you are looking for a laminate product that is as beautiful as it is versatile and as environmentally green as it is durable, then Balterio laminate flooring should be one of your top choices.
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