Flooring in your home or cottage should not only look good, it should be strong enough to handle the wear and tear of a busy family.
“Textured luxury vinyl offers a natural wire brushed look which is perfect for a busy home with pets and children,” explains Peter Schultz of The Floor Shop. It’s an easy-to-maintain option that comes in a variety of designs and colours.
“Textured floors offer natural camouflage from dents, scratches and many of life’s happy accidents,” says Peter.
However, there are many who are in love with real hardwood floors. Several years ago, darker colours were all the rage, but now natural, light- coloured, wide-plank oak or maple engineered floors are trending. One of the manufacturers, whose products are sold in the stores, uses a fuming process that is designed to bring out the natural beauty of the wood.
“Dark floors look like a million bucks when they’re clean,” says Peter. “But everything shows up on them, especially dog hair and dust. They require a lot of cleaning to keep them looking their best.”
“We’re also seeing more of our clients going with satin and matte finishes as opposed to high-gloss,” says Peter. “Satin finishes provide a nice sheen without it being overpowering, while matte finishes allow the wood’s natural colour to stand out on its own.”
In order to provide an attractive flow to the entire flooring surface, Peter notes that the same material can be used for the floor vent grills. Gone are the plastic or metal vents.
Condos to cottages
The Floor Shop opened in 1989, and in the 32 years since, they have continued to showcase their expertise in not only understanding the best types of flooring to meet the needs of families, cottagers, and condo owners, but also what is required to install the perfect floor. There are installation techniques to combat seasonal movement often found in homes and cottages; there are others when installing in condominiums, as each building has its own set of rules.
“As well, a big consideration in condominiums is sound that potentially carries to the units below: it’s essential to have an acoustical underlay which meets the condos requirements for sound deadening barriers,” he says.
“Knowing which products to use and where to use them is why choosing experienced flooring specialists is a must,” says Peter, noting that as long-time cottagers, they have expanded their service area north of Toronto to include Muskoka.
Detailed budget
As a company standard, The Floor Shop provides detailed written estimates for every job they quote, carefully itemizing both materials and labour.
“It provides transparency and avoids questions of hidden costs,” says Peter. “This gives our clients a clear understanding of what they’re paying for, which gives them peace-of-mind.”
TEXT CHRIS OCCHIUZZI | PHOTOS ANDREW FEARMAN