Flooring Facts
Types of Flooring
Solid Hardwood
If properly cared for, a premium solid hardwood floor can last for over a century. Manufactured from a single solid piece of wood, solid wood flooring can be professionally sanded and refinished several times during its life. Ideal above or on grade (main floor), but not below (basement.)
Engineered Hardwood
100% real wood with greater usage options, and superior stability (very little movement) through Canada's trying seasonal humidity fluctuations. Made from a core of real wood, and a top layer of hardwood wear layer glued atop the core. Can be installed on, above or below grade in existing and new home construction.
High Performance Laminate
Cost-effective, versatile and prized for its aesthetic impact, Laminate flooring is made by pressing multiple layers of resin/melamine-impregnated paper on top of and below high density fiberboard (HDF). The top surface is a transparent overlay, which creates a strong, damage-resistant surface that protects the decorative layer beneath.
More scratch resistant than real wood, Satin Flooring High Performance Laminate can be used anywhere, even bathrooms. And because it clicks together board-by-board, single boards are easily replaced.
Engineered Hardwood Floating Flooring
A technologically advanced, fashion-forward floor that combines the superior durability and solidity of engineered hardwood with a floating feature, similar to laminate, that lets you install them on any subfloor. A patented "click" design with self-locking joints makes them literally a snap to install. Made with a super-strong, recycled HDF (high density fiberboard) core.
Luxury Vinyl
3D imaging technology allows Luxury Vinyl plank flooring to enhance a wide spectrum of interiors offering the perfect balance between style and function. Textures and sizes abound. Plus vinyl flooring is very easy to install; our Genesis Luxury Vinyl flooring requires no adhesives and installs vertically. Vinyl flooring can also be installed over existing (flat) floors.
Wood Species
Maple
Maple is an extremely durable hardwood with a very pale, creamy white colour, with slight shade differences from board to board. Depending on the grade chosen, Maple flooring can contain varying ranges of brownish/black mineral streaks. Maple graining is very light and fine; many times barely visible.
Red Oak
Red Oak is one of the most popular domestic wood species for hardwood flooring. Red Oak is known for having moderate to heavy graining with moderate colour variations. Colouring of Red Oak ranges from light to dark reds to shades of brown. Red Oak may also have pink undertones and because it grows slowly, it's prominent for having many growth rings on each board.
White Oak
White Oak is stable, strong and very functional. Colour ranges from light brown to a pinkish tint or even a slight gray hue. White Oak has an open grain with longer rays than Red Oak. There is variation among boards in texture and colour but not as pronounced as with Red Oak.
Wood Finishes
Nature Finish
Low sheen, lightly brushed finish that enhances the natural characteristics of the wood. It masks dust buildup and footprints, and resists the wear & tear caused by active families and high traffic.
Smooth Finish
A slightly higher sheen than Nature Finish, Smooth Finish highlights the natural warmth of the wood, providing a traditional, sophisticated look.
Wire Brushed
This texture, which accentuates the natural grain, is crafted by lightly scraping the finish with a wire brush, creating long, linear strokes that expose a more open grain and bring out the wood's natural character.
Hand Scraped
Hand Scraped surface textures evoke craftsmanship, and appear random and natural. The board surfaces are scraped to give a hand-hewn, rustic look that adds warmth and a cozy, lived-in feel.
Band Sawn
Reminiscent of original barn board, our Band Sawn finish is achieved with a precision sawing method that creates a varied, worn effect that can complement any décor scheme, ultra-modern to traditional.
Laminate Finishes
Registered Embossed
An embossing process perfectly follows the grain of the wood image, recreating the most authentic embossed wood look.
Authentic Embossed
Two different sheen levels of finish are used during the embossing process, flawlessly replicating the depth and dimensions of real wood flooring.
Satin Scraped
An antiqued, hand-scraped appearance is given to the floor, reflecting the vintage styling of long ago, yet undeniably fashion-forward.