I've sold Lico products in their cork line (printed cork). They are AMAZING floors. I love how tough the printed finish is on cork floating planks. Lico is Swiss made (ahem...as in the most expensive area in the world to manufacture anything...that's why their clocks and their chocolate and their cheese are so expensive). The precision of the Swiss is evident in everything they touch. The Swiss have a higher level of production then the Germans (and that's saying something...just don't tell the Germans...they get huffy).

If I could work with a Lico product in my own home I would be deliriously happy.

Purchase what you like and be happy you have made an amazing choice. Their floors BLOW the EU requirements out of the water! Everything is as Eco-friendly as they can get.

No...I am not affiliated with them in anyway. I'm just a cork flooring expert who loved working with their HIGH END products. I don't get anything from talking about them or 'selling' people on their products.

If you want the best of the best of the best in the category....go with Lico.

Thank you. Sounds good to me. I was looking at their laminate flooring, I’m assuming it’s of the same standard. The ICC sound rating seems to be high above most other similar products.

Don't look at IIC ratings. Look at the Delta IIC rating (triangle symbol in front of an IIC). A 'bad' IIC rating is below 10. A 'nothing special' Delta IIC number is between 10 - 15. A GOOD Delta IIC rating is anything above 18.

A 6mm cork underlay will ADD 11 dB to the Delta IIC rating. If the flooring is Delta IIC 10 (I didn't look so don't quote me) then 6mm cork adds another 11 dB worth of insulation = 21 dB of sound insulation.

Can you send a link to the laminate you are looking at. I'm not seeing it on Finesse-floors.com

Was looking at https://lico-us.com/hydrofix/

Which I believe is the same product as the

https://finesse-floors.com/ascent/

I also found that it’s largely unavailable from suppliers which I don’t understand. Which is strange

The Ascent is their 'vinyl' product. It is not laminate. It is quite thin. I do not believe it is allowed underpad underneath.

Lico is a HIGH END manufacturer. When was the last time you thought, "Huh. Vinyl floors for $8.50/sf...what a great deal!" Probably never. Why? Because most people think vinyl is worth $2.99/sf.

Because Lico is HIGH END they have a very limited amount of retailers who WANT to carry the expensive lines....especially when 90% of buyers will NEVER spend that amount of money on a 'fake' floor...ever.

Lico Switzerland has actual laminate (not just vinyl). The European lines are very high-end. I've seen their laminate (you know...the stuff Home Depot sells for $0.97/sf) sell for well over $7/sf in Canada and the USA.

You can see why it might be hard to find.

First of all thank you so much for your insight. I really appreciate it and hope that others will benefit from your advice. I know I have.

Just so it’s clear in my head. What is the name of the lico product that is laminate? It’s not obvious on the lico website. Also, if I struggle to get lico what would you say is a decent plan B in the United States. Again, thank you.

The Lico website is full of options: www.lico.ch (the "ch" is for Switzerland).

They call it 'Eco Design' under 'Design Floors'

https://lico.ch/en/product/design-floors/eco-design/

The Delta IIC = 18 dB. That's VERY good for a laminate floor.

Apparently not available in the US. Only the Vinal. Shame. I wondered what you consider the best laminate available in the US market?

There are German made laminates available in Canada/USA. Patricia has the name of her laminate...maybe she will drop by.

are there any updates from posters here? pictures if anyone installed it?