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Month: November 2017

TORLYS Takes On IIDEXCanada 2017

Posted on by torlys

TORLYS is leading innovation this year at IIDEXCanada 2017 this November. Come visit us at booth #4731 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on November 29 and 30.

EverWood Designer

This year, we will be featuring the newest addition to our line of luxury vinyl flooring: EverWood Designer. These vinyl planks combine durability and beauty, resulting in elegant floors that can withstand heavy traffic while looking like new hardwood floors. You won’t want to miss out on this stunning line of floors.

CorkWood

We will also be showing our line of CorkWood floors, that debuted at SURFACES 2017 in Las Vegas. These floors are as beautiful as wood, as durable as laminate, and as comfortable as cork. Come see their CorkPlus™ underlay and detailed textures for yourself!

TORLYS and Cambria

We have partnered with Club Cambria to show our fabulous Summit Elite Smart Hardwood throughout their booth. You can find them at booth #4841.

We hope to see you at this year’s IIDEXCanada conference. Be sure to stop by booth #4731 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on November 29 or 30 to see our floors.

When you visit our booth at IIDEXCanada 2017, we’d love to hear from you! Share a photo on social media and tag us for a chance to be featured on our Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter accounts.

About EverWood Designer

TORLYS EverWood Designer floors feature on-trend styles and realistic textures in the extra long and wide planks. The planks have matching bevels with a contemporary colour palette. EverWood Designer floors are waterproof, warm to the touch, comfortable, and quiet underfoot. They also feature a CorkPlus™ attached cork underlay with Microban® antimicrobial product protection.

About CorkWood

TORLYS continues to be a leader in cork flooring, introducing the revolutionary CorkWood collection. CorkWood is a truly innovative floor that has everything you ever wanted – the beauty of wood, the durability of laminate and the wonderful comfort of cork. CorkWood has been engineered to bring you all the best-liked benefits of other floors in one superior, all-inclusive flooring solution. Now you can experience the beautiful look of and feel of hardwood, without some of its natural limitations.

How to Install Laminate Flooring in Your Home

Posted on by torlys

Are you getting ready to install new laminate floors in your home? Is it feeling a bit overwhelming trying to figure out the best way to tackle the job?

Installing your own laminate floors can seem like a daunting project. If you lack the ‘handy’ gene and the idea of manual labor has you breaking out in hives, you’ll likely want to leave this project to a professional. However, if you’ve successfully completed other home renovations and are up for a new challenge, laminate flooring installation is a great skill to add to your repertoire.

Start by Selecting the Right Materials

TORLYS laminate flooring is not only stunning but exceptionally strong. Because it’s a hardwearing surface, you’ll get to spend less time worrying about if it can handle what life throws at it, and more time admiring your handy-work. You can choose from 6 designer collections that were created for every style and lifestyle. Plus, with our Uniclic® laminate floors, you’ll be able to walk on your floors as soon as you’re done.

If you’re looking for a transition free option, TORLYS has a variety of products that will cover a space that is 50’ x 50’ without having to worry about transitions. Enjoy a seamless appearance from room to room with no “speed bumps” in the doorways.

Over 90% of residential applications can be installed transition-free, so your home is likely to be clear of speed bumps. Be sure to check out the detailed instructions included with your TORLYS laminate floors when completing a transition-free installation.

Install Laminate Flooring With These Tips

Measure Twice, Shop Once

Nothing will drag out the time it takes you to finish laying laminate flooring like multiple trips to the store to buy more planks. Start by calculating the total area of the room or rooms and add 5% for waste.

Prep the Planks

Think of it as acclimating your new floors. 24 hours prior to installation, place the closed packages in the middle of the room.

Ready the Room

Out with the old, in with the new! Remove existing carpet, baseboards, quarter-rounds and thresholds. This is also a great time to ensure all doors can still open and close after installing the floor (minimum 3/8” – 1cm clearance). Don’t forget to include your underlay.

Sub-Floors Subpar?

Now that you’ve removed the existing floor covering, it’s a great time to give your sub-floor a little TLC. Repair any defects in the sub-floor and make sure it’s clean, firm, flat, dry (less than 3% moisture on concrete, 10% or less on plywood) and smooth.

If there are any loose parts or you have a creaking floor, you should secure the sub-floor with nails or screws and, if necessary, apply a levelling compound.

Decide On a Direction

When you are installing new laminate floors in a room, you should install them parallel to window light. This will make the room look larger and make the floors look natural in your home.

If you are installing the same laminate flooring throughout your entire home, start at your front door. Your floors should run perpendicular to your front door, and in the same direction through your home. This will make your entryway look longer, and create a cohesive look in your home.

If you switch directions of flooring installation in each room, it will make your home look broken up and unintentional.

Don’t Forget the Underlay

Depending on the type of subfloor you’re working with, you’ll likely need underlay. TORLYS offers a variety of underlayment options that will provide a sound deadening barrier for your floor and will also help with insulation. If you live in a condominium or apartment, check with your condo board or management company as they may have specification requirements in regards to sound ratings for your underlayment choice.

Find your nearest TORLYS dealer and talk to them about your laminate project. They’ll be able to help you pick the right flooring and help you decide if this is the kind of project you can DIY, or if you require professional installation.

Tackling a laminate flooring project that involves stairs? Check back for an upcoming article on installing laminate on stairs.

9 Answers to Your Top Laminate Flooring Questions

Posted on by torlys

Are you considering installing new laminate floors in your home? We’re sure that decision comes along with a number of questions and things you need to know before purchasing. That’s why we’ve put together this list of answers to your laminate flooring questions.

From what laminate flooring is to its lifespan and the best installation methods, we’ll answer all of your top questions in this blog post! If you have any other questions about laminate flooring or our other flooring collections, reach out to us on social media!

Answers to Your Laminate Flooring Questions

1. What is Laminate Flooring?

Laminate flooring is comprised of multiple materials fused together through a unique lamination process. Laminate floors have come a long way from the plastic-looking floors of the past. While many people believe that hardwood is the flooring of choice, today’s laminates have evolved to include innovative technology that provides beautiful, worry-free durable flooring that offers the natural wood looks that everyone wants.

When installed, most people will find it difficult to determine if these floors are hardwood or laminate. Advanced technology makes these TORLYS floors so special including:

The top finishing layer includes a transparent, wear-resistant finish that is highly resistant to stains, wear, impact, scratches, burns and household chemicals. Laminate’s durability makes it a good choice for active households, especially those with pets.

2. How Good Does It Look and How Long Does it Last?

Every TORLYS laminate floor is gorgeous; the collection features a wide range of “grains” that are virtually indistinguishable from hardwood. Laminate will give you the look of hardwood and outperform it as well. TORLYS laminate flooring provides the utmost flexibility and is extremely durable—it will stand up to traffic, kids, and pets. You’ll be able to create a statement in any room while benefiting from a floor that will endure.

3. How is Laminate Flooring Installed?

There are two options for installation: flooring retailer or DIY. All TORLYS floors are designed to be easy-to-install. No matter which option you choose, installation goes smoother thanks to TORLYS patented Uniclic® joint technology. However, if you’ve never installed flooring before, or only have a few DIY jobs under your handyman belt, it’s best to hire flooring retailer to do it for you. Dealers are experienced and come with all the tools for the job.

Before installing a finished floor, you need to take care of your subfloor first by securing loose planks and fixing damaged sections. If you don’t, it could affect the quality and performance of your laminate flooring. The subfloor also needs to be level. A subpar subfloor can result in a finished floor that is loose and squeaky. It can also cause your new laminate floor to cup and gap. If your subfloor is in poor repair, it may cost more than you want to spend to fix it, but it’s worth it.

4. How Large of a Space Can Laminate Be Installed in?

You can install laminate flooring in any size of room, but some laminate floors require transitions to reduce gaps in larger spaces. That’s not the case with TORLYS smart laminate, though! Thanks to advances in flooring technology, TORLYS smart laminate floors can be installed transition-free in spaces up to 50′ x 50‘*!

* transition-free installation does not apply to the Lexington laminate collection.

That means that if you have a large home with an open floor plan, you won’t need to install any speed bumps like transitions or mouldings to cover gaps. TORLYS smart laminate floors can also be installed through doorways and archways without transitions or mouldings. How great does is that? Just read TORLYS installation instructions on our website for complete installation details.

5. How Much Does Laminate Flooring Cost?

When it comes to laminate flooring, the saying “You get what you pay for” is extremely accurate. The price range varies for laminate—it can cost between $1.50 to just under $7.00 per square foot. The cheaper the laminate, the cheaper the materials that went into making it.

Don’t be fooled by looks either. Most laminates look very good when first installed, but it’s how the laminate performs over time that matters. Less expensive laminate doesn’t last as long as quality laminate. It will also be more prone to dents, scratches, warping, and cupping. TORLYS laminate is more expensive than $1.50 per square foot, but it’s designed to last decades and has the lifetime warranty to back it up.

Before you decide on a cheaper laminate floor, ask yourself if you want to replace your floor in a few years.

6. How is Laminate Flooring Maintained?

TORLYS laminate flooring does not need any special cleaners or treatment at all! We do recommend a TORLYS EcoCare cleaner, but you never need to wax or polish it. While you can’t refinish a laminate floor, TORLYS laminate features a hard, durable surface that is water, stain and fade resistant. Its super-strong surface also protects against scratches, but should your floor sustain any damage, restoring a TORLYS floor is easy compared to other floors.

7. Is it Easy to Repair Laminate Flooring?

You can quickly and easily repair minor scratches in TORLYS laminate floors by using a TORLYS touch-up kit. For irreparable damage, TORLYS Bulldog Easy Plank Replacer allows you switch out damaged planks, eliminating the need to replace your entire floor. If you’re questioning whether a scratch is reparable or not, don’t hesitate to reach out to your TORLYS dealer.

8. Which Direction Should You Install Laminate Flooring?

When you are installing new laminate floors in a room, you should install them parallel to window light. This will make the room look larger and make the floors look natural in your home. Now… this instruction may sound a bit confusing. What we mean is to start laying the planks of your floors along the same wall as the main source of natural light, as in the photo above.

If you are installing the same laminate flooring throughout your entire home, start at your front door. Your floors should run perpendicular to your front door, and in the same direction through your home. This will make your entryway look longer, and create a cohesive look in your home. If you switch directions of flooring installation in each room, it will make your home look broken up and unintentional.

9. How Do You Lay Laminate Flooring?

This is one of the most-asked laminate flooring questions. Like we said earlier, laying laminate flooring is best left to the professionals to reduce the risk of gaps and improper installation. For all you DIY fans, we will be sharing laminate installation tips in a future blog, so stay tuned for that.

In general, you should use boards from a number of boxes of laminate flooring to ensure a mix of colours and shades. This will prevent your floors from looking too chunky or having large variations in colour throughout the room.

We hope you learned something new about laminate flooring from this blog post! If you have any other laminate flooring questions, be sure to send us a message on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

To bring TORLYS laminate flooring into your home, stop by your local TORLYS dealer to see our beautiful floors in person!

6 Best Basement Flooring Ideas for Your Home

Posted on by torlys

For many people, the word basement brings to mind a cold, damp, dark space. Perhaps it’s just a room filled with boxes or that part of your home that houses your hot water tank and fuse box. Some might even think of it as creepy. But we’re not here to talk about the basement from your childhood. Today, basements are full of potential. Think of it as a blank canvas, waiting to become a theatre room, play space or even additional bedrooms. Choosing a basement flooring and finishing your basement not only expands your living space but also increases the value of your home.

One of the most important decisions when finishing a basement is the flooring. Whether you’re installing a basement subfloor or your new floor will be installed directly over the basement concrete floor, you want to select a product that not only looks great but is designed for an area that is prone to moisture.

Here are 6 of the best basement flooring options to make your space cozy, modern and a place you’ll love spending time in.

Basement Flooring Options for Your Home

1. CorkWood Designer

CorkWood Designer is a fantastic choice for basements thanks to its durability and the added comfort it provides in a chilly basement. It comes in extra-long, wide planks in an array of beautiful wood patterns, on-trend colours with a variety of realistic textures, so there’s sure to be an option that fits your basement vision. It also boasts a 3mm top layer and polyurethane finish equivalent to top-rated AC4 laminate. The beveled edges are sealed for increased water resistance and it’s an FSC® certified option, so it’s good for the environment too.

2. Cork Florence Designer

Cork Florence Designer flooring from TORLYS is an excellent insulating product for cold basements and a modern take on traditional cork flooring. The wide planks are the longest available in the cork collection. They are available in a variety of beautiful natural colours and styles. Each plank is richly textured, designed with a 4-sided beveled edge and complete with the TORLYS smart finish giving it the durability you want in a basement. It’s also an FSC® certified option.

3. EverWood Designer

An excellent choice for vinyl basement flooring, EverWood Designer is warm to the touch and comfortable underfoot. This series has the longest and widest planks along with trendy styles and realistic textures. EverWood Designer has 4-sided finished bevels that match easily with a contemporary colour palette. Its 0.5mm wear layer and waterproof qualities also makes this great a practical option if Fido is prone to accidents on the floor.

4. EverTile Elite

Ceramic and slate tiles can be a beautiful and practical solution for basement floors. Traditional tiles can be cold, but with EverTile Elite you get a uniquely warm and durable surface. These tiles are on-trend and come in a range of colours and textures with 4-sided bevels and a 0.5mm wear layer. Plus, they can stand up to pets*, kids, and spills. Looking for unfinished basement ideas? Check out these Pinterest inspirations.

* pet-friendly features of EverWood and EverTile apply only to pet urine, not to pet scratches.

5. Smart Hardwood

Hardwood in the basement? You bet! Smart Hardwood from TORLYS is not only beautiful, it’s gap, cup and dent resistant. Choose from a variety of rustic, crafted textures with a matte or medium gloss finish to emphasize the natural grains. This hardwood has a 4-sided bevel and is full of character, just like your new basement.

6. Don’t Forget Underlay

Even though you don’t see the underlay, it plays an important role in the durability and comfort of your new basement floor. Many TORLYS underlay options offer antimicrobial technology and a moisture barrier to protect against subfloor moisture. This is ideal in basements due to the amount of moisture that is likely present. The Safe & Sound underlay for TORLYS is great for minimizing subfloor imperfections and has unique acoustic properties. There is also the CorkPlus™ with Microban® product which is great for insulation and even offers antimicrobial protection.

Find your nearest TORLYS dealer and chat with them about your basement flooring needs. They’ll be able to recommend the right flooring and underlay for your basement. Then, you’ll be on your way to spending more time in your comfortable basement.

Planning a kitchen renovation next? Stay tuned for our upcoming post on Kitchen flooring options.

TORLYS