A laminate plank is a pressed sandwich: a resin-soaked paper surface on top, a wood-fibre board in the middle (usually HDF, high-density fibreboard), a balancing sheet underneath, and a joint milled into the edges so the planks lock together. EIR (Embossed in Register) describes the texture of that surface, while Valinge 2G, Valinge 5G and Unifit are names of joint profiles cut into the core. Below, we read the spec lines of four boards from our laminate flooring collection layer by layer, so those terms make sense the next time you compare two boxes.
The layer stack inside every laminate board
The European laminate standard, EN 13329, defines a laminate floor covering as a rigid plank or tile with "a multiple layer structure: e.g. backer, substrate, décor and worked edges that allow the product to be joined together to form a larger integral unit". From the top down:
- Surface layer. Thin sheets of paper soaked in a thermosetting resin, usually melamine. The decor print sits here, and the standard notes this layer may vary in surface texture and gloss level, which is where EIR comes in.
- Core, which the standard calls the substrate. The thick wood-based board that gives the plank its stiffness and carries the joint.
- Backer. A layer on the underside that balances and stabilizes the board so it stays flat.
- Worked edges. The tongue, groove and locking shapes milled into the edges of the core.
EN 13329 also notes that some laminates come with the underlay pre-attached to the backer. None of the four boards below lists an attached pad, so plan on a separate underlay.
Four boards from our range, read line by line
These are the spec lines as our product pages and titles state them.
| Board | Thickness | Plank size | Surface line | Joint named on the page | Box price and coverage | Per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riche Toronto Collection, Sandy Driftwood | 12mm | 196mm x 1216mm | Random EIR, AC 3 | Valinge 2G Drop Lock (Waxed Joints) | $69.99 for 15.4 sq ft | $4.54 |
| Swiss Krono Grey Oak (MV 803) | 10mm | 190mm x 1380mm | AC5 | Valinge 5G | $42.83 for 17.22 sq ft | $2.49 |
| Goodfellow Prag No.028 | 12mm | 7-5/8" x 48" | AC5 | Unifit Click (Floating) | $60.54 for 20.18 sq ft | $3.00 |
| Egger EM7206 | 8mm | 7.60" x 50.87" | AC3 | Valinge Click (Floating) | $40.48 for 21.42 sq ft | $1.89 |
Prices checked October 6, 2026. Box prices and coverage come from our current catalogue, and the per-square-foot figure is the box price divided by the square feet in the box.
Two things stand out: only the Riche page names a surface texture, and while every board names its joint, the Egger page does not say which Valinge generation it uses.
HDF core: what the letters and the density figure mean
EN 13329 defines the substrate as core material "containing wood for at least 65 % in mass". The standard then lists the usual options: particleboard, MDF (medium-density fibreboard), or a so-called High Density Fibreboard (HDF), which it describes as "a MDF-board with a density" of at least 800 kg/m3. Put simply, HDF is the same kind of fibreboard as MDF, pressed until it reaches at least 800 kg per cubic metre, and the standard's core is at least 65% wood by mass.
Swiss Krono, the maker of our Grey Oak board, explains how laminate cores are made on its own learning-centre page: both HDF and MDF "are made from softwood fibers that are broken down, combined with a wax and resin binder, and formed into panels using heat and pressure." The company states that its laminate core is HDF, that it does not use MDF, and that HDF "offers superior stability and strength compared with MDF". The same page says the plank edges are cut to specific profiles so the boards fit together, which links the core to the joint.
What our product pages say about the core
The Sandy Driftwood page says the board is built on a "High-Density Fiberboard (HDF) core". The Goodfellow and Egger pages do not name the core material, and none of the four pages prints a density figure. If density matters to you, ask for the manufacturer's technical sheet before you order and compare it with the standard's threshold.
EIR texture: when the grain you feel follows the grain you see
EN 13329 notes that the surface layer may vary in texture, and EIR names one kind of texture. Our Sandy Driftwood page describes its Random EIR (Embossed in Register) surface as texture that "matches the visual wood grain", so the feel of the board follows its printed grain.
The Riche Toronto Collection runs to 10 colours in our catalogue, all in stock and all at $69.99 per 15.4 sq ft box, which works out to $4.54 per sq ft. It is the dearest of the four boards here, and EIR is the line the other three do not match. If texture decides it for you, compare boards side by side under raking light, since a lightly embossed decor can look similar in a photo.
Valinge 2G, Valinge 5G and Unifit: joints cut into the core
The joint is a profile milled into the edges of the core, and some designs add a small insert on the short ends. The joint names on our pages come from two companies: Välinge Innovation designs the 2G and 5G profiles, and Unifit is a profile from Unilin Technologies. Each design sets how the short end of a plank goes down.
Valinge 2G on Riche Toronto Sandy Driftwood
The Sandy Driftwood page lists "Valinge 2G Drop Lock (Waxed Joints)" and says each plank "includes a waxed locking system for improved moisture protection and a quiet, professional finish." Välinge itself files 2G under angling installation and describes it as a system that "involves angling flooring panels to engage the locking mechanism". The company also says angling systems "result in more time-consuming installation that may require two people to complete." Because the page says drop lock and the maker says angling, read the installation sheet in the box before you start.
Valinge 5G on Swiss Krono Grey Oak
5G is a fold-down joint. On Välinge's 5G Fold Down page, the company explains: "When a panel is folded down, a flexible 5G insert is pushed into an insert groove." As the panel reaches its final position, the insert snaps out into a wedge groove and locks the boards vertically and horizontally. In other words, the short end locks in the same motion that folds the plank down onto its neighbour.
Grey Oak is $42.83 for a 17.22 sq ft box, or $2.49 per sq ft, one of 3 Swiss Krono 10mm colours we carry, all in stock, from $2.49 to $2.89 per sq ft.
Unifit on Goodfellow Prag No.028
Unilin calls Unifit a "two-piece fold-down" that "makes use of a plastic insert that ensures strong locking performance over the entire width of the short side of the panel." Its Unifit page lists three ways to close the short end: drop-down, angling, or snapping or tapping the planks together horizontally, useful where it is difficult to tilt them.
Prag No.028 is $60.54 for a 20.18 sq ft box, or $3.00 per sq ft, in a 12mm by 7-5/8" plank. Goodfellow is a 7-colour line in our catalogue, all in stock, from $3.00 to $3.47 per sq ft.
Egger: Valinge without a generation number
The Egger EM7206 page lists "Valinge Click (Floating)" and, in its specification table, simply "Valinge", without saying 2G or 5G. That does not tell you whether the short end angles in or folds down, so check the installation sheet here too. The Egger board is the thinnest at 8mm, with a 7.60" wide plank, and costs less per square foot than the other three: $40.48 for a 21.42 sq ft box, or $1.89 per sq ft.
We carry 5 Egger 8mm colours, all in stock, from $1.89 to $1.99 per sq ft. The Goodfellow and Egger pages share one installation line: "Leave a 6–8mm expansion gap around the perimeter."
Where AC rating and thickness sit in the stack
The AC class printed next to each board (AC 3 on Sandy Driftwood, AC5 on Grey Oak and Prag, AC3 on EM7206) is a durability class, a separate question from how the plank is built. Our guide to AC3, AC4, AC5 and AC6 ratings explains each class, and the AC5 laminate brand guide compares the heavier-duty lines by brand.
Thickness is the other number on every title. The 8mm, 10mm and 12mm figures here are whole-plank thicknesses; none of the pages splits them into core, surface and backer, or lets you compare core density between two boards of the same thickness.
Which spec line to read first
- You care how the surface feels: look for an EIR line. Among these four, only the Riche Toronto Collection states one.
- You plan to install it yourself: read the joint line. A fold-down short end (Valinge 5G or Unifit, as their makers describe them) locks as the plank is folded down.
- The joint has no generation number: check the packed instructions before the first row, as with the Egger board.
- You want a number for the core: ask for the technical sheet and check the density against the 800 kg per cubic metre HDF threshold.
- Price is the main filter: across these four boards, material runs from $1.89 to $4.54 per sq ft.
For thickness and style by room, see how to choose laminate flooring for a Toronto home; for every brand we stock, see our 2026 laminate buyer's overview.
FAQ: laminate cores, EIR and joint names
What is laminate flooring made of?
Mainly a wood-based core. EN 13329 defines that core as material with at least 65% wood by mass, and it is topped with resin-impregnated paper (usually melamine resin) that carries the printed decor. A backer keeps the board flat, and the locking edges are machined into the core.
Is HDF the same thing as MDF?
Same family, higher density: the standard treats HDF as MDF board pressed to at least 800 kg per cubic metre. Swiss Krono uses only HDF for its laminate cores.
What does EIR mean on a laminate box?
Embossed in Register. On our Sandy Driftwood page it means surface texture that lines up with the printed wood grain. "Random EIR" is the wording on our Sandy Driftwood page, and all 10 Riche Toronto Collection colours carry EIR in their product titles.
Is Valinge 5G the same as Unifit?
No. They come from two different companies, Välinge and Unilin. Both are fold-down designs that use an insert in the short end, and Unilin adds that Unifit can also be angled or snapped together horizontally.
Do you quote laminate installation as well as the boards?
Yes. Send the room sizes and the board you picked, and we price supply and installation together in one quote.
Get a laminate quote from our Toronto showroom
Narrowed it to one or two boards? Request a quote online with your room sizes, or use our contact page for spec questions.
Top Floorings Depot
3781 Victoria Park Avenue, Unit 1, Toronto, ON M1W 3K5
www.topfloorings.com
Call: 416-499-0117
Text: 416-770-8819