Exclusive Floors provides supply and installation services for all types of flooring from hardwood and carpet to tile and vinyl. This family-owned company has been servicing homeowners and builders for over 30 years and prides itself on continually providing new training for its sales staff and installers. As a result, their employee turnover is very low and they have second generation installers on staff. Their achievements include a Better Business Bureau A+ rating, a Shell Busey recommendation and a Consumer Choice Award. Their Surrey, BC showroom displays a wide range of flooring products and includes a design centre where customers can spread out their samples and discuss selections.

European Touch Hardwood Inc. is a small Vancouver company carrying a broad range of hardwood products in varied price ranges. Their installation team is capable of putting down both pre-finished and finish-in-place hardwood.

Sales people here are committed to spending enough time with clients to understand their unique functional, lifestyle, aesthetic and budget requirements. Their approach is very ‘hands-on’ and you will deal directly with them from product selection through installation. Their new showroom is sleek and modern with simple displays that keep the environment from feeling overwhelming. Given the sophisticated aesthetic of their showroom, I was surprised to learn that they have many products in a competitive price range with Home Depot and Rona.

European Touch has provided me with outstanding service over the course of my career in design and they’re friendly, fun people. Their experience with both private residences and development projects, small (200 square feet) and large (the entire Vancouver Shangri-La building) enables them to better service all their clients. In addition, their experience with flood damage has given them a wealth of technical information regarding the effects of moisture on wood flooring.

Info provided by European Touch Hardwood Floors Inc.
www.ethfloors.com

1. Get the right type of flooring for your subfloor conditions. If concrete, use engineered. Radiant heat will have several issues relating to wood type. Some woods simply crack apart over those heating systems, even if they are engineered. Get professional advice from a bonded accredited firm.

2. Be aware of the wood hardness and color change characteristics. Some woods experience extreme color change over time. Some woods while described as hardwoods are actually quite soft and damage easily.

3. Understand and try to appreciate that woods of any species have variation in pattern, color, grain, etc. Avoid making your decision after looking at 1 or 2 pieces. Make your sales rep earn their pay by having them bring several pieces or in some cases a whole box and lay the floor out to get a true representation.

4. A level and flat floor starts with a level and flat subfloor. If you are currently living on carpet, be aware that the subfloor may be quite unlevel and require significant cost to flatten to hardwood flooring standards.

5. If you are in a Strata run building, be sure to let them know of your intentions to install a wood floor and ensure that you use a sound dampening underlay that will provide the appropriate amount of comfort for your neighbors below (unless of course, you do not like your neighbors below).