Andrew

5 Tips for Easy Hardwood Floor Maintenance

August 3, 2022 - Andrew

Hardwood floors are a beautiful and classic addition to any home, but they do require some special care and attention to keep them looking their best. Here are five easy tips for hardwood floor maintenance: Vacuum regularly. This will help to remove any dirt, dust, or other debris that can accumulate on the floors and cause scratching. Be sure to...

NWFA Intermediate Installation Training

June 21, 2022 - Andrew

I recently attended the intermediate installation course hosted by the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) in Seattle, WA. The NWFA is the gold standard for everything wood flooring related in North America ranging from manufacturing, sales, and installation. The intermediate installation course is a 3-day event which covers step by step installation techniques for nail down, glue down, and floating installation. Continue reading →

The Benefits of Rigid Core Flooring

May 26, 2021 - Andrew

Rigid core flooring has become increasingly popular for home and business owners. It is an engineered vinyl floor that has a strengthened rigid core. This enhanced core improves dimensional stability. Rigid core planks are less pliable, making them incredibly sturdy. This is a major improvement for vinyl plank flooring, making it feel more like wood. There are also many benefits...

Why Engineered Hardwood Flooring Has Become So Popular

May 26, 2021 - Andrew

You might have noticed a trend in the hardwood flooring market, and that is the rise in the popularity of engineered hardwood flooring. There are many reasons why it has become installed in many homes. From easy maintenance to affordability, engineered hardwood flooring comes with many benefits. On top of all that, it looks amazing! Here are some reasons why...

Effects of Automation on Flooring – Part 3: Installation

February 19, 2020 - Andrew

Traditionally wood floors were installed from raw unfinished wood. Afterward, the wood is then sanded, stained, and finished on site. This process, also known as site-finished flooring, requires a wider scope of experience from an installer and a longer timeline to complete. This ultimately resulted in far more money in the installer’s pocket. In 2017, retailers estimated over 80% of all wood floors sold are now factory finished and that number looks to be even higher by now. Reasons sited were often related to tougher finish and less messy environment during installation. Continue reading →

Effects of Automation on Flooring - Part 2: Retail

November 30, 2019 - Andrew

In 2018 the first Amazon Go store was opened in Seattle. This store is at the leading forefront of automation. Shoppers often go through the entire shopping experience without ever seeing an employee, a human one anyway. Retail flooring is likely the 2nd hardest-hit area. As of 2019, we are starting to see self-checkout and e-commerce as the norm with big box stores. It is only a matter of time before a number of these concepts are adapted widely to independent retailers across the nation. Continue reading →

Effects of Automation on Flooring - Part 1: Manufacturing

October 29, 2019 - Andrew

A decade from now about half of the jobs we know today will be replaced by automation. U.S. Bureau of Labor and McKinsey Global Institute data suggest that not all jobs are hit equally. We’ll evaluate how this will affect the flooring industry in a three-part series from manufacturing to retail to installation and brainstorm a few ways you can prepare. Continue reading →

Buyer's Guide: Luxury Vinyl vs Hardwood

July 15, 2019 - Andrew

Time to pick a floor for your room and you have your heart set on a hard surface. Hardwood floors have always appealed to you but the salesman at your local hardware store says luxury vinyl (commonly known as LVT or LVP) has really taken off in the flooring sector. Now you have a decision to make, what is the best option for me? To answer this we must explore your goals for this project and evaluate your lifestyle: Continue reading →

Mercier Flooring Mill Tour

May 13, 2019 - Andrew

The Quebec province of Canada is held in high regard for producing some of the finest hardwood floorings in the world. World renown brands such as Mercier, Mirage, and Lauzon are trusted brands in the flooring industry. Continue reading →

Best Flooring Styles for Selling My Home

March 27, 2019 - Andrew

It’s no secret that a home with beautiful flooring makes an impression on potential home buyers. My clients will tell me “I love this floor but I’m worried someone won’t like this floor when I try and sell the house”. Flooring trends are changing rapidly with advancing technology in textures, structures, and a race to wider-longer planks. It can be difficult for even flooring professionals to keep up with all the changes. So what’s the right answer for balancing a flooring you love with flooring which will hold the highest long-term value? Continue reading →

The Threat of Rigid Core Luxury Vinyl in 2019

February 11, 2019 - Andrew

In 2018 Rigid Core Luxury Vinyl Flooring has the market by storm. Within this category, you may have heard of terms such as WPC and SPC. All these are acronyms refer to different core structures within the Rigid Core Luxury Vinyl category. Continue reading →

Flooring Tariffs after the Argentinian G20 Summit

December 10, 2018 - Andrew

Amidst the trade war with China, President Trump has increased tariffs on everyday Chinese goods. On September 17, 2018 The White House announced its 10% tariff on $200 billion of Chinese goods beginning September 24, 2018 with intent to increase to 25% at the end of the year. This 10% increase in tariffs includes floor covering categories from hardwood flooring to luxury vinyl. It is estimated around 50% of the flooring sold in the United States each year is manufactured in China. Continue reading →

Flooded Floors Check List [Dealing With Insurance]

September 5, 2018 - Andrew

My first home was a condo with a dark oil finished engineered wood floor. The home was mostly modern décor. Several years after the floors were installed I was watching sports in the living room when my wife asked me why it sounds like there is a squishy sound on the wood floor. Turns out it was a flooded floor... Continue reading →

The Celtics Home Court Advantage… That No One Talks About

July 2, 2018 - Andrew

Next season Lebron James will join the LA Lakers. With Kyrie Irving starring on the Celtics, this breathes new air into the greatest rivalry in sports history. With Lebron’s migration to the Western Conference, the Celtics are poised to become the next big dog in the Eastern Conference in the 2018-19 season. But how does this relate to hardwood floors you might ask… Continue reading →

Tape, Which is Best for Hardwood Floors; A Scientific Experiment

January 15, 2018 - Andrew

Tape gets used on every job site, it could be duct tape, painters tape, caution tape, you name the project they probably have a tape for it. When it comes to hardwood flooring, fasteners are often used for holding the planks together while the glue dries in a floating or glue down installation. Choosing the right adhesive strip is an important factor in determining the satisfaction of the final product. Continue reading →