Have You Met The Ultimate Wood Flooring Guy?

Have You Met The Ultimate Wood Flooring Guy?

The Ultimate Wood Flooring Guy is a contest hosted by Wood Floor Business. Its purpose is to shine the spotlight on contractors who are extraordinary in their work ethic, integrity, and their professionalism. 

Tim, owner of Woodchuck Flooring and the Woodchuck Flooring team submitted a video nominating Clinton as the Ultimate Wood Flooring Guy of 2022. It came as no surprise when the Wood Floor Business team agreed that Clinton deserved to be named the Ultimate Wood Flooring Guy. 

Clinton has worked in the service department for 11 years and counting. Clinton goes above and beyond to ensure that our customers’ needs are met and that your new floors are installed to perfection. Outside of the showroom you can find Clinton enjoying a soccer game (both playing and watching) or gardening. And in case you were wondering, his favourite flooring is the walnut herringbone with boarders. 

We’re proud to have Clinton on our team, and happy that he was named the Ultimate Flooring Guy of 2022! 

Watch the nomination video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zl4NMuJlUw

Read the article here: https://www.woodfloorbusiness.com/digital-edition/c4fcbd6f?utm_source=Other+Communications&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ATHLCD221208006&utm_term=&oly_enc_id=6133J8716601E4A#1

Wood Floors In Canada & When To Turn Your Furnace On

Wood Floors In Canada & When To Turn Your Furnace On

It’s that time of the year. Temperatures are dropping and it’s time to fire up the furnace. If you have hardwood floors, you may have wondered how the change in temperature affects your wood floors. Well, we’re here with answers! 

Nearly 90% of wood floors that are damaged end up this way because of indoor air issues. As the air quality, temperature and overall conditions in your home change, your wood floors absorb or lose moisture. Wood floors last longer, and stay in their best when installed in a stable, monitored environment. Meaning no sudden changes in temperature, or fluctuating humidity levels. 

The good news is, you can better maintain your home’s temperature and humidity levels with a good HVAC system. Instead of bundling up and waiting until the last second to turn on your heat for the winter, or keeping the windows open and fans going until the heat and humidity is unbearable in the summer, consider maintaining a consistent temperature in your house all year round. The small price you pay turning your heat or air conditioning on early will be worth it when you compare the cost of replacing your wood flooring prematurely.

Best Hardwood Floors For Pet Owners

Best Hardwood Floors For Pet Owners

Are you an animal lover looking for a durable hardwood flooring recommendation? Look no further.Whether you have cats’ dogs, or rabbits we’ve got the perfect recommendations that are sure to last in a home of furry friends.You don’t need to sacrifice your love for wood floors because you have pets.Softwoods like pine or fir are poor choices for homes with pets. Your pets’ nails will quickly lead to gouges in the floors sealer which will create long shallow dents, marks, and scratches. No amount of site applied surface preparation will shield against your pets’ nails.Below are our recommendations for pet friendly floors:

  1. Brazilian Walnut: Brazilian hardwood flooring is a hard and dense wood. It is specifically known for its resistance to marring, denting and wear. This imported walnut option is sure to be durable against the biggest and toughest paws.
  2. Maple: Hard Maple is a top flooring choice, and is a domestic product. It’s been used as a surface for basketball courts so it is a great option to withstand pet traffic. An important note to keep in mind is that hard maple is different than a maple. It’s a specific type that has impressive hardness ratings.
  3. Cork: If you’re looking for a unique wood floor, consider cork. The material is non-slip, and is impervious to hard impacts. It can also be refinished, and even repaired in the case of a gouge making it a great pet-friendly option.

Bring your furry friend by the showroom to see our wood flooring options in real life.

Call (416)299 5151 to book an appointment.

Eco-Friendly Wood Flooring Options: Our Top Sustainable Choices

Eco-Friendly Wood Flooring Options: Our Top Sustainable Choices

As a society, we are slowly but surely becoming more environmentally friendly and socially responsible. We have seen an increase in people exploring green practices to make their homes eco-friendlier, including investing in sustainable options.

Now you may be thinking, what makes a flooring option sustainable? By definition, sustainable refers to something that is capable of being maintained. Choosing sustainable products for your home means picking ones that are high quality and built to last. Eco-friendly flooring means it was sourced from a company that manages forests responsibly, and is FSC certified. FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) is devoted to ensuring that forests are regrown, biodiversity is preserved, and air and water quality is protected. The non-profit’s stamp of approval indicates that forest operations met their extensive criteria including protecting wildlife, minimizing the use of toxic chemicals, and not being sourced via clear cutting.

Wood is one of the best eco-friendly and renewable materials you can choose for your home. Fewer raw materials are used to create wood flooring products, and they also require less energy and natural resources. If you’re interested in installing eco-friendly flooring in your home, keep an eye out for these sustainable wood flooring options:

Palm Wood

Palm trees that no longer produce coconuts are getting a second life as flooring. Typically, trees that do not produce coconuts are burned or dumped. When reclaimed for flooring it helps keep more of the rainforests intact by becoming a source of income for the farmers. Palm wood is a great versatile option for both homes and businesses as it its hard-wearing qualities are well suited for high traffic areas. Being a dense hardwood, it is less prone to damage.

Cork

Cork is a great versatile eco-friendly option with plenty of benefits. Cork comes from the bark of the cork oak tree, which can be harvested without harming the tree. The bark regenerates within three years, which makes cork a particularly renewable resource. Cork is also anti-microbial, it does not produce off-gas that can damage the quality of the air in your home. Additionally, it does not develop mold or mildew. It is considered a durable option due to its soft sponge like texture. It can sustain regular wear and tear and will not succumb to dents or gouges because of its unique texture. Cork is a natural insulator, it will feel warm to touch, rather than ice cold during the winter months. Lastly, cork is a great noise absorber making it a great option for high traffic areas, or loud spaces, like recording studios, where you would prefer sound not to travel.

Interested in exploring sustainable flooring options for your next flooring project? Give us a call, or stop by the showroom! 

Should I Install Cork Flooring?

Should I Install Cork Flooring?

If the word “cork” only brings to mind wine bottle stoppers, think again. Cork Flooring is a beautiful, comfortable, and sustainable alternative to traditional flooring options. This sleek and contemporary style of flooring has experienced a surge in popularity over the years. Cork comes from the bark of the cork oak tree found throughout the Mediterranean. Portugal is the largest producer of cork in the world with over 30% of the world’s cork trees and 70% of the world’s total cork production. Cork bark is made up of a tiny sealed honeycomb cellular structures containing gas of 90% air. These cells provide cushion and insulation. Cork can be compressed up to 40% and quickly returns to its original shape. This makes cork a very unique flooring material compared to either hard and delicate counterparts. As an added bonus, cork is environmentally friendly as it is a renewable and sustainable natural resource. Trees are harvested, on average, every 9 years and can produce up to one ton of cork per year. Cork trees typically have a lifespan of 150-200 years. 

Benefits of Cork Flooring

  1. Durability 

Cork flooring is resistant to cracking and abrasions. It’s also impermeable to liquids. Cork flooring has the ability to bounce back, so you don’t need to worry about your furniture causing indentations. When properly maintained, cork flooring will last 40+ years. 

  1. Health and Safety 

Cork is naturally resistant to mold, mildew, and termites. It is also considered anti-microbial. These natural properties make cork flooring healthy and safe for adults, pets, and babies. 

  1. Noise Reduction

No need to tip-toe around the house for a late-night snack when you have cork floors. Unlike hard materials like tile, wood, or vinyl, cork reduces impact noise like the sound of people or pets walking, or something falling on the floor.

Cork is a natural thermal insulator. With a warm hand (or foot) feel, this hardwood and tile alternative will reduce your energy bills through the cold winter months. Its resilience makes it easy to stand on for long periods of time, and makes it resistant to stains, mold and mildew. This renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable option has a minimal impact on the environment from harvesting through to the manufacturing process making it the perfect option for the environmentally conscious homeowner.

Interested in learning more about cork floor options for your home? Visit us in-store to learn more: https://woodchuckflooring.com/

3 Tips For Protecting Your Floors On Vacation

3 Tips For Protecting Your Floors On Vacation

You go on vacation to relax, and spend some time outside of your house. But what happens to your hardwood floors when you’re out of town? Even after being transformed into flooring, wood is still a natural material that reacts to changes in the environment like humidity, temperature and light. Here are our top 3 tips to protect your floors while on vacation because the last thing you want to worry about while you’re kicking back on the beach is the condition of your flooring. 

  1. Check for drastic weather changes that can affect flooring 

If you live in a region that experiences drastic weather changes it may be worth investing in a thermostat that can be controlled remotely. Whenever there is a sudden peak or drop in temperature you can remotely adjust the settings on your thermostat to ensure you maintain the appropriate temperature and humidity levels inside your house. 

  1. Close all windows and skylights completely 

Prolonged periods of sunshine exposure can lead to the lightening of your hardwood floors. To keep your floors protected make sure you close all windows and skylights, and close your curtains or blinds. Another protective barrier would be adding a protective screen on the glass to reduce the amount of light that shines through.  

  1. Don’t turn your thermostat off! 

The indoor temperature of your house should remain between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit with a relative humidity level between 30%-50%. When it is too humid your hardwood flooring absorbs moisture from the air. This results in swelling and expanding of the wood which creates pressure between the boards that can lead to cracking. When humidity is low, it can result in the wood boards shrinking which can result in cracking and buckling as well. 

To prevent this from happening, leave your air conditioner and dehumidifier on while away to maintain the appropriate temperature and humidity levels. 

Questions about best practices for maintaining gorgeous hardwood floors? Give us a call!