UPDATED: Lumber Liquidators Laminate Flooring Linked to Health & Safety Violations

ATTENTION: Arguello Law Firm no longer accepts Lumber Liquidators cases.

UPDATE: Please view a list of the affected laminate flooring products below. If you or someone you know has installed any of these laminate flooring products, please contact Arguello Law Firm for a FREE consultation. You may have only a limited time to file a claim, so call or e-mail us as soon as possible.

A recent report by the CBS-TV news magazine “60 Minutes” found that several samples of laminate flooring from Lumber Liquidators violated federal and state safety laws. Extensive third-party laboratory tests found that the Chinese-made laminate flooring samples contained high levels of formaldehyde. The report also found that the manufacturer falsely labeled the laminate flooring as being in compliance with federal and California standards for toxic emissions.

How Laminate Flooring Is Made

Unlike hardwood flooring, which comes from wood planks, laminate flooring consists of different materials. The bottom layer of the laminate flooring planks is a plastic layer that protects the flooring from moisture seepage. The core layer consists of a high-density fiberboard or particle board. A decorative film layer atop the core board gives the plank its design. An additional clear layer protects the design from scratches and foot traffic. A strong adhesive binds the layers together.

Lumber Liquidators Laminate Flooring Shows High Formaldehyde Levels

The adhesives used in laminate flooring can contain toxic chemicals, such as formaldehyde. Federal and state agencies have established standards for what they consider as “safe” levels of these chemicals. The “60 Minutes” investigation found that the average laminate flooring sample contained six to seven times the formaldehyde levels prescribed by federal law. Tests on other samples discovered laminate flooring samples that contained as much as 20 times the mandated levels of formaldehyde.

Sources: Lumber Liquidators Laminate Flooring Falsely Labeled

The “60 Minutes” also showed how the Chinese manufacturing plants where Lumber Liquidators obtained their laminate flooring mislabeled the products as “CARB Phase 2 Compliant.” “CARB 2” refers to the California Air Resources Board, the state’s air pollution control agency. The report showed hidden-camera interviews with Chinese laminate flooring plant managers. The managers admitted that they mislabeled the products, stating that the manufacturer saved 10 to 15 percent by not following CARB regulations.

Laminate Flooring in Thousands of Homes

The report extended its investigation into Lumber Liquidators stores across the country, including Texas. The reporters purchased more than 30 boxes of laminate flooring and sent them to laboratories for testing. The tests on some samples revealed formaldehyde levels more than 13 times the California limit. Thousands of homeowners across America have reportedly purchased the same laminate flooring products. These homeowners must now remove the flooring product, often at their own expense, or risk prolonged exposure to formaldehyde.

Formaldehyde Exposure Symptoms From Laminate Flooring

Dr. Philip Landrigan, a specialist in environmental pediatrics at New York City’s Mount Sinai Hospital, told reporters that prolonged exposure to formaldehyde “would be risky”. He said that children exposed to the formaldehyde from laminate flooring could have “increased risk of asthma.”

The Centers for Disease Control also compiled a list of symptoms of formaldehyde exposure, including:

• Eye irritation, including stinging, burning, or watery eyes;
• Nose and throat irritation, soreness, runny nose, sneezing, sinus blockage;
• Respiratory problems;
• Wheezing and coughing;
• Chest tightness;
• Asthma;
• Allergic contact dermatitis;
• Skin rash, blisters, or dry flaky skin;
• Headaches;
• Depression;
• Irritability;
• Insomnia;
• Attention deficit disorders; and
• Impaired dexterity, memory, and equilibrium

Source: CBS News

List of Tested Lumber Liquidators Laminate Flooring Products

The lab tests examined numerous different brands of Lumber Liquidators laminate flooring. The list of Lumber Liquidators laminate flooring products included here is current as of April 2, 2015, but more brands may be added as more data becomes available. Please check back with us to see which products have been added to the list.

8 mm

• Bristol County Cherry
• Dream Home Nirvana French Oak
• Dream Home Nirvana Royal Mahogany

12 mm Dream Home Kensington Manor

• Warm Springs Chestnut
• Imperial Teak
• Cape Doctor
• Glacier Peak Poplar
• Golden Teak
• Handscraped Imperial Teak (SKU 10029601)
• Handscraped Summer Retreat Teak
• Sandy Hills Hickory
• Tanzanian Wenge
• Fumed African Ironwood

12 mm Dream Home St. James:

• Oceanside Plank Bamboo
• Vintner’s Reserve
• Cumberland Mountain Oak
• Blacksburg Barn Board
• Brazilian Koa
• Golden Acacia
• African Mahogany
• Chimney Rock Charcoal
• Nantucket Beech

12 mm Dream Home Ispiri:

• Chimney Tops Smoked Oak
• Americas Mission Olive
• Poplar Forest Oak

15 mm Dream Home St. James

• Sky Lakes Pine

Get Answers For Your Laminate Flooring Lawsuit Questions

To find out how we can answer your questions about how defective laminate flooring can affect your case, contact one of our attorneys today. Our intake team will take down the details of your case and quickly connect you to an attorney who understands how to get the most from your laminate flooring lawsuit. You can also fill out the “Free Case Evaluation” form at the top of this page.