Dated Sunday, 20 January 2002 · Engineered plank features commercial-grade Alumide finish for durability
As part of its strategy to renew its commitment to the commercial segment of the hardwood flooring industry, Tarkett has introduced Avenues, its first prefinished engineered plank developed specifically for this market.
Avenues combines hard hardwoods with an engineered construction and a commercial-grade Alumide finish to give architects and specifiers a high-performance floor that reflects the warmth and beauty of hardwood. The company holds a reputation in the architectural community for its unfinished Bondwood and specialty parquets, but the growth segment of the market is driven by prefinished products; the introduction of Avenues allows it to compete in the commercial sector with a range of species and colours built for the day-to-day demands of these environments.
Avenues is a five-ply engineered plank with a square edge. It is 3/8 inches thick and is available in three-inch and five-inch widths in random lengths up to 42 inches. Species and colours include red oak natural, white oak natural, hickory cornsilk, hickory carmel and maple natural. Moldings include quarter round, reducer and stair nose.
The line was developed with a variety of end-users. Research confirmed that commercial customers want a hardwood floor that meets the tough performance requirements of a specific installation and the design aesthetic that a wood floor lends to an interior — that is, they want it to look like real wood and not a plastic imitation.
The Commercial Alumide finish is applied using a process that incorporates greater levels of aluminum oxide than the residential formula, enhancing the durability and cleanability of the surface. For daily maintenance, regular vacuuming and damp wiping are recommended; no spraying or buffing is necessary. From the design standpoint, the process leaves a low-gloss, satin finish.
Avenues carries a three-year commercial finish warranty, a 25-year residential warranty and a 25-year structural warranty.