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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 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 →

Your wood flooring was delivered last week and your installer is scheduled to come over tomorrow morning to install your hardwood flooring. What seemed so intuitive at the store now seems overwhelming with the decision you must make on which direction to install your hardwood flooring. After all, this might be a decision you will have to live with for a long time. Luckily, we are here to help you make the correct decision. Continue reading →

It is important to remember that wood, no matter its species or its hardness rating, is an organic product and made of fibers that absorb nutrients and water. The fibers within wood are constantly changing in tension, flexibility, and solidity.  Continue reading →

Macchiato Pecan, also commonly known as Brazilian Pecan/Hickory, is a wood indigenous to South America specifically Paraguay, Bolivia, Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil. Its similarities to Pecan and Hickory are uncanny and often characterized by the variations in color. Continue reading →

When doing a kitchen project the first question that comes up is should the hardwood floors be installed before or after the cabinets? The correct answer is not as simple as it might seem. First we must consider how your hardwood flooring will be installed. Floating, nail down, or glue down? If installing a floating floor, the answer is simple. Install the cabinets first because heavy cabinetry cannot sit on top of a floating floor or it will restrict movement and increase the chances of flooring separation. However, when installing a wood flooring nail down or glue down, there are more factors to consider. Continue reading →