Porcelain tile for porches, patios and slabs

So it's been a while since we added an item of interest!  It's almost like winter never happened...and now it's gorgeous outside once again.  We're thinking of how best to enjoy our outdoor spaces right about now, and what better way than by adding some extra oomph to our porches, patios, balconies or boring concrete slabs with a gorgeous colour-body porcelain tile. Wood-look tiles can add warmth, texture and amazing visuals while stone-looks add sophistication and elegance.  When installed well with the proper water-proofing techniques applied if necessary, colour-body porcelain can easily withstand our crazy Canadian climates, and adds amazing interest to your exterior all year round.  So if your outdoor-enjoyment spaces could use a little sprucing up, by all means give us a holler.

A gorgeous linear large format wood-look porcelain above and a stunning slate-look multi-size porcelain below, both courtesy of google images.

New Homes Needed for Hardwood, LVP, Tile and Carpet

Urgent--your assistance is required immediately.  We have very limited space in our warehouse and need smaller amounts of flooring products removed asap!

While quantities last, we're clearing out 160sf of a stunning grey-toned 3/4" engineered hardwood, now $300 instead of $960.  We also have 240sf of one type of walnut luxury vinyl plank and 250sf of another type, both for $200 instead of $600 for the quantities mentioned.

In addition, we have quantities of tile and carpet looking for new homes--it's just plain cruel to keep them cooped up in our dark and dreary warehouse, so please contact us if you think you can re-home some of these poor lonely items, all at very, very economical rates.

4 3/4" by 3/4" engineered oak Vintage Pewter   160sf for $300

Luxury vinyl plank in Walnut, 250sf for $200.00

Transforming Vision into Reality

Sometimes we encounter clients who are unsure of just what it is they're looking for, and investigate all options until they find the perfect products.  Other times our clients have a complete vision of the look they wish to create, down to the very product codes intended for each space.  It is our great pleasure to assist any and all types of clients, and our highly skilled installers are only too eager to help transform vision into reality.  Whether it's hardwood, tile, luxury vinyl, laminate or broadloom on the floor, or intricate stonework on fireplace surrounds, or precise inserts on custom shower walls, we can complete those visions for the home.

Solid vs. Engineered Hardwoods--Real, Fake, Better, Worse???

While engineered hardwood is now a serious contender in any homeowner's search for the perfect wood floor and has been for quite some time, there are still those that don't think engineered hardwood is a "real" hardwood option.  Many believe there is solid hardwood, then there is laminate, case closed.  

Engineered hardwood and laminate flooring are two very different species.  While there is nothing "real" about laminate, engineered hardwood consists of a solid wood veneer of varying thicknesses depending on the manufacturer, adhered to multiple layers of cross-directional sheets of wood.  It is this multi-layer ply that creates the stability of engineered over solid--it's main advantage, aside from using less raw materials, making it more ecologically friendly.  

After 23 years in the business, it's amazing to see the shifts and trends in the industry.  In the beginning, engineered hardwood was very expensive, and was mostly installed only in concrete homes or in the occasional basement which demanded glue-down installations.   Most people preferred the solid option, citing the ability to refinish the floor over and over, and its affordability over engineered at the time.  Truth be told, in these 23 years, we have yet to see someone refinish a pre-finished hardwood, be it solid or engineered.  We have seen site-finished floors refinished, and the reason for that is you just can't duplicate the factory finish with its consistency and durability.  While it's true that a solid hardwood will allow more refinishing than an engineered, hardly anyone seems to do it, especially with handscraped, antiqued, or brushed surfaces that are virtually impossible to duplicate after sanding.

I'm certainly not meaning to poo-poo solid hardwoods--they're equally stunning, but having lived with both solid and engineered, the solid woods do tend to gape in the winter and swell and cup in the summer, although very controlled humidity levels can help with this.   Also, with engineereds being in higher demand, there are more of them out there, covering more price points and aesthetic styles.  Lastly, if you really like the look of those wide planks, from 6 1/2 to 9" or more, you will never get that in a solid simply because it's just not stable enough to support that width, and it would eat up too much raw material to even try.  5" is basically the limit.

So moral of the story?  Trends come and go, styles change and evolve, but solid and engineered are BOTH hardwoods.  I've probably defended the engineered option more here because that's what I tend to do in my daily life.  It IS hardwood, and outperforms solid hardwood almost any way you cut it.    There will always be those who prefer solid hardwood and that is A-OK, but hopefully now, not because it's "real" while engineered is "fake"...