Your Cart

No products in the cart.

TORLYS Design Notes: 3 Tips for Decorating with Grey

Over the past ten years, grey has become the modern-day neutral and has replaced beige as a go-to base colour. Its versatility makes it easy to create a timeless look or a contemporary chic look, with either a mix of other colours or just other shades of grey.

Greys can be used to create an entirely neutral space, or they can act as a neutral to tone down or easily match other colours. Either way, grey is a great way to create a timeless space, and are perfect for anyone that appreciates minimalistic style.

To decorate with grey to get the look you want, all you have to understand is which version of grey is suitable. It’s not always easy, so read our 3 tips for Decorating with Grey and feel free to send us any of your questions!

3 Tips for Decorating with Grey:

  1. Start by choosing either a warm or cool undertone
  2. Layer different shades of grey
  3. Decorate with complementing colours and furniture

1. Choosing an undertone

When renovating or designing a space, it is easiest to start by deciding on a warm or cool undertone So if you want a warm living room, use yellow, orange and red based colours only in your design and décor.

Because grey is not a colour and neither black or white, it’s easy to assume that any grey will go with any colour. But greys have either a warm or cool base. A yellow-based grey has a warm undertone, and a blue-based grey has a cool undertone.

Warm, yellow-based greys leaning towards a taupe colour create an inviting, cozy, and timeless space. They are neutral and modern, yet have a warm feel. For a cooler, sophisticated and modern look, choose a blue-based grey. But stay away from greys with too much of a blue base to avoid a look that is too institutional and cold.

2. Layering your greys

Just like there are different grey undertones, there are varying shades of grey. After all, our eyes can distinguish over 500 shades of grey. From light dove to charcoal grey, all shades can be used to create a beautiful neutral space.

For a minimalistic, airy space, use light greys and whites. Lighter colours make a space feel more open, and a little more fresh. If you’re looking to use a silver or medium grey, white trims, accent walls, cabinets and countertops will brighten up your space.

Often used as an accent colour, dark hues create a beautiful, bold look. They make rooms warm and cosy but also bring a sense of richness. If you’re looking to make a striking statement, don’t use dark hues only as an accent. Instead, make them your space’s main colour.

Light hues are typically used to complement bolder hues and dark hues are usually used as accents. But grey is such a neutral colour that, no matter the shade, it can be used. Use light grey hues alongside dark grey hues to create a grey palette. Or, use light grey hues as a neutral in a colourful palette. You can even use a dark hue as an accent colour in a light colour palette.

3. Complementing colours and furniture

However you choose to use grey, we recommend using more than one shade. You can do this easily by using white or black or another shade of grey paint around your home, or with furniture.

Colours

According to Karen Haller, grey doesn’t draw any attention to itself. This makes it a great colour for areas of business or simplicity. She says virtually any colour can be matched with grey doesn’t have a personality of its own, and allows for other colours to stand out. To take away personality from a colour, add some grey. This way you have a more neutral version of the colour of your choice.

Because grey is a colour that doesn’t have much personality on its own, it has somewhat of a reputation for being depressing. Don’t let this stop you from using it around your home. Grey can be made cheerful with the right accent colours, for example, any wooden furniture or white mouldings or pops of colour in décor.

Furniture

Choose furniture in different shades of grey to layer on the neutral colour palette. Bold, dark grey couches are a great way to continue your colour scheme and also hide stains and wear and tear.

Wood is also a grey essential. Add some natural wooden tables, chairs, floors or even flower pots. Natural wood warms up grey tones and adds some colour without taking away from a simple, modern colour palette. Other natural materials like leather, cotton and wool are a great opportunity to mix in some more colours or layer more greys. Plus, they create a cozy feel in an otherwise modern space.

Are you looking for the perfect grey floors? Or floors to go with your grey space? Visit a TORLYS dealer to explore our different collections and for some advice on decorating with grey.

TORLYS Design Notes: Modern or Vintage

Is it Modern or Vintage? 

Depending on when you were born this living room is either freshly modern or very vintage! Either way, the décor celebrates mid 20th-century contemporary design; it’s bold, original and unique.

Clear saturated colours are used for flooring as well as the accessories and artwork. White walls, chrome lighting, and grey upholstery provide the perfect neutral backdrop. The “off-center” hanging of the artwork breaks all traditional rules of design.

This décor is not for the timid or linear thinker but its worth a try if you feel the need to make your own personal statement. Interior featured in Design Milk.  

TORLYS Design Notes: Modern Luxury

Modern luxury. Just the words themselves sound fancy and unattainable. Luckily for you, we have some design tips on how to achieve the look in your home.

What is Modern Luxury Interior Design?

The meaning of modern is present-day, contemporary and current. Translated to interior design, modern style is a combination of clean lines, elegant finishes, and uncluttered décor. Rich, bold colours, luxurious creams and whites, and natural elements such as wood and leather create a minimalistic yet grand look.

There are many design styles that can be described as “modern”. Not all luxurious interiors require sparkle and glitz. Our favourite modern luxury spaces start off with monochromatic layers of rich, creamy whites neutrals, and rich materials like leather, hardwood, polished chrome, and either marble or quartz.

Modern Luxury Design Tips

Even though the words “luxurious”, “rich”, and “grand” are used to describe this design style, you can achieve this look without breaking the bank. Just know the design elements and know what items are worth splurging for.

Modern luxury design elements:

  • Uncluttered surfaces
  • Clean lines
  • Airy flow
  • Abstract art
  • Natural materials

How to get the look:

Uncluttered surfaces.

Look for furniture that doubles as storage. For example, an ottoman or coffee table that holds your board games blankets. Use open shelving to showcase your favourite decorations. Hiding any cables or wires also helps declutter a space, keeping things clean looking and fresh. This also includes hiding any technology such as heating/cooling systems, remote controls etc.

Clean lines.

Kitchen cabinets and countertops with straight, simple edges. Simple furniture and curtains without any frills. Use slender furniture that is not bulky, and especially avoid couches with rounded armrests.

Airy flow.

Open floors plans are increasingly popular and most new homes are designed to have the kitchen, living room and dining room as one large space. The larger a space looks, the grander it feels. If tearing down walls isn’t an option, use the same colour scheme throughout the rooms you wish were combined. Combine your open floor plan with some natural light and your home will have a sense of openness and luxury. Transparent windows, skylights, glass tubes, and even panoramic floor to ceiling-sized windows are great sources of organic light.

Abstract art.

Bold pieces of art are a great way to add a splash of colour to your home. Find the perfect piece for your at an art gallery, or search online to for posters by talented artists around the world.

Natural materials.

The use of natural elements like wood, stone, cotton and wool will bring a modern, yet warm feeling to a home. Hardwood floors or floors with real-wood visuals, marble or quartz countertops, cotton drapes and wool blankets will complete a modern, luxurious look. Still, keep your floors bare: Covering up your natural floors will take their essence away and prevent their elements from doing their magic. Although polished chrome and gold aren’t natural materials, they add great beautiful contrast and complement organic materials perfectly.

Try it yourself!

Don’t let modern luxury scare you off. All these design ideas are achievable on a budget. Look for inspiration, find what you like, and follow the steps. All you have to do is choose one style of furniture of the other. Keep clutter out of sight, and create an airy, clean, minimalistic vibe. Remember, keeping things minimalistic and uncluttered is key.

New floors are a great way to make your home more modern. Explore our collections online or visit a TORLYS dealer to find the right floors or your space!

TORLYS Design Notes: Vintage Industrial

We love the vintage industrial design look. It’s warm, inviting, on-trend and chic. But what exactly is industrial interior design? And how do you achieve the look?

What is Industrial-Style Interior Design?

Industrial interior design is a design style that started in the early twentieth century, when European countries started moving their operations to low-cost countries, resulting in the many factories shutting down. Though there was no operational need for the factories, people needed residences, thus the factories were turned into condos and apartments, and industrial style became the next design trend.

Highlighting the factory’s architectural design elements, industrial style mixes rough, natural materials with cool metals. The style is similar to Scandinavian interior design, which is minimalistic, and uses neutrals and light woods to create a Nordic feel, yet it uses cooler, darker colours and more stainless steel.

Industrial-Style Design Tips

For those who love this design style, there’s good news for you: You don’t have to find a condo in an old factory to get the look! There are many decorations and design elements that are achievable in a regular home to get that industrial vibe.

 For starters, here’s a list of industrial elements:

  • Exposed brick
  • Exposed ducts and plumbing
  • Concrete floors, countertops and walls
  • Neutral tones: Black, white, charcoal grey
  • Repurposed furniture
  • Industrial lighting

If you’re looking to get a better feel for the interior design style, get inspired by the root of the trend by looking at old warehouses, factories and military buildings. We also recommend searching for condominium buildings that used to be an old factory.

How to get the look:

Industrial style is all about showcasing elements others try to hide, and mixing reclaimed, rustic elements with metal. Although the trend was started to save money by not having to cover up ducts and plumbing, achieving the look and deconstructing walls to expose these elements is pricy. If you have the budget for it or not, there are many things you can do to achieve the look.

Exposed brick walls.

You can achieve this look by removing any plaster or drywall in your home. But not everyone can be so lucky to find brick. What you can do is add real brick to a wall, or find a brick pattern wallpaper. The red adds a warm, rustic feel and is a popular industrial element. If you’re not a big fan of exposed brick, do a gallery wall to share all your memories. Using black and white photos will really add to the vintage industrial look you’re going for.

Exposed ducts and plumbing.

Exposing these elements can be costly but they make a true industrial-style statement, so if you have room in your budget, it’s worth doing. If you don’t, adding some metal piping in other ways can help you achieve the look. The best way to do this is by using furniture with metal frames. For example, a wooden coffee table with black metal legs. Furniture plays a large factor and there are a lot of options out there to fit this style.

The use of concrete.

Concrete is cool looking and to the touch. It’s grey colour and rough, cold surface is perfect for an industrial look. Concrete floors, countertops and even concrete walls add a beautiful, durable and neutral finish to a home. Just be careful, concrete can be cold underfoot. If you choose to use concrete, add some area rugs to warm things up.

A neutral colour palette.

A neutral colour palette keeps things minimalistic and doesn’t take away from any of the industrial elements in the space. Use some dark browns and greys to add some depth, or even some camel for your furniture, but other than that we recommend sticking to black and white. Along with neutral colours, use mild patterns. No fancy swirls or designs.

Repurposed furniture.

Adding to the points made under “Exposed ducts and plumbing”, repurposed furniture is a must if you want to have a concise flow of industrial-style elements throughout your home. Look for vintage pieces at your local antique store or thrift shop. Go for wooden and rustic metal pieces, and pick up some leather finds that have a worn look. Industrial furniture is usually bold, so choose whatever stands out to you and makes a statement.

Industrial lighting.

Use light fixtures that expose normally hidden elements, like black or stainless metal framing and exposed light bulbs.

Vintage industrial style highlights old factory architectural design elements and can be similar to Scandinavian interior design. At TORLYS, we carry a number of different floor styles. Visit a TORLYS dealer  to find the right floors for your vintage industrial space.

The Resale ROI: 11 Improvements For Your Home

If you’re selling your home, doing some simple renovations can increase your selling price and get your house off the market much faster. All you have to do is focus on certain rooms in your home, freshen things up with simple decorating tips, and consider changing your floors. With these tips, you’ll be able to entice buyers — and maybe even start a bidding war.

Put those open houses to an end by reading up on how to prepare your home for resale in order to increase your return on investment.

Kitchen Renovation Ideas

Real estate agents and professional stagers will tell you that the kitchen sells the home. Even if you don’t cook, or if potential buyers are not Martha Stewarts themselves, it pays to make your kitchen look appetizing.

Kitchen Facelift

Depending on the current state it’s in, some minor upgrades could be all you need. Add some new light fixtures, modern hardware, freshly painted cabinets and even some new tea towels to add inexpensive, fresh touches to your kitchen.

Bigger Impact

If your kitchen needs a little more TLC, installing a new backsplash or a new kitchen tap could make a big change and clean things up. Consider hiring a professional cleaning service to help you get your kitchen in order. Kitchen’s are usually large, busy rooms of the house and some extra help getting it ready could take a lot of stress off your shoulders.

Staging Makes a Difference

Preparing for your home’s photoshoot and for open houses also means going the extra mile. Put out some practical decorations such as fresh fruit and flowers, and some decoratively stacked cookbooks for a “lived in” feel without making anything look cluttered. By giving off a homey energy, buyers will be more likely to picture themselves living in your home, getting your closer to an offer!

Bathroom Renovation Ideas

When it comes to boosting the resale value of your home, the bathroom comes second right after the kitchen. Bathrooms have very high ROIs — between 70-100%, but they’re also one of the most expensive renovations per square foot.

Switch it Up

If you’re trying not to blow your budget, follow the same tips we mentioned for kitchens: change dated light fixtures, update hardware and put out new hand towels.

Time for an Upgrade

Replace damaged or outdated vanities, or just give the cabinets a fresh coat of paint if you’re looking to make a more permanent change. No matter what you do, make sure your bathroom is clean and fresh because grimy bathrooms don’t start bidding wars.

Rules For the Rest Of The Home

General Home Maintenance

There are universal decorating tips you can do to prepare to sell your home that are applicable to every room. Little changes can really freshen up your home and help you get the best ROI.

Curb Appeal

Improve your home’s exterior. Clean up and shrubs and bushes, cut your grass and add some new exterior lighting and house numbers. Painting the outside of your house can all give your home a modern look and attract attention and a front porch or back deck can add extra living space. An inviting front door also makes your home more appealing to buyers. A fresh coat of paint can really help with this.

Fresh Coat of Paint

Paint is one of the most cost-effective ways to give your home a facelift. Use neutral, light tones to appeal to as many potential buyers as possible and make things look bigger.

Appeal to Buyers’ Senses

Have a new home smell. Take out the garbage and recycling, remove any pet products like pillows, toys and bowls, and use simple clean aromas around the house (don’t over do it with complex air fresheners). If you need help with any of this, hiring a professional cleaning service is a great option.

Declutter Your Home

Organize your closets and remove any excess decorations and furniture to open up your floor space and make rooms look bigger. Remember — if it looks like you don’t have enough room for storage, buyers will think that the home is too small and won’t put in an offer. Showcase how you can maximize your home’s space by adding a closet organizer or making room under the stairs to store your holiday decorations. This will help buyers envision the home’s full potential.

Fix What’s Broken

Make repairs. If buyers see broken taps, loose kitchen cabinets or doors that don’t close easily, they might get scared and reconsider making an offer. Have all repairs don’t so that buyers can enter their potential new home without any mishaps.

New Floors

Just like a fresh coat of paint, new flooring can make a huge difference in your home. A popular choice is hardwood. Everyone—and we mean everyone—loves hardwood. In the kitchen, in the bedroom, in the hallway; you cannot have enough hardwood flooring in your home. Unfortunately, traditional hardwood can be expensive, and a big investment for a house you’re about to sell.

Luckily, there are other flooring options that have the same wood looks as hardwood for a fraction of the cost. Plus, they’re easier to maintain and are super durable. At TORLYS, we offer a range of products that look just like hardwood with the same wow factor that hardwood brings. Explore our collections to find the perfect floor for your home!

Don’t Get Floored: Choosing the Right Flooring for Your Facility

The innovations in commercial and industrial flooring have given contractors and designers so much more choice and freedom to create unique spaces. However, unless you know exactly what you want, how much a floor truly costs and the overall impact it will have on your facility, all the choice and style in the world is not going to benefit you. Take the time to explore your needs before you explore your flooring options.

The Importance of Prioritizing

The first question you should ask yourself is: “What do I need in a floor?” Aesthetics—the hue, look and feel of a floor—is usually a person’s predominant priority, but there are other important features to consider. While a new style may be trendy now, will it still be popular in five years? Picking a classic looking floor that complements any decor will allow you to redecorate to remain on-trend instead of switching out an outdated floor in a couple of years. Durability and environmental impact should be high on your list of priorities, as well as ease of maintenance and installation.

A TORLYS floor addresses many of your priorities because they have an EDGE: Ease, Design, Great Value and Environment. TORLYS offers beautiful, intelligent and durable floors that are environmental to their core. The LEED® Green Building Rating System is a certification tool for new construction and renovation. A TORLYS smart floor can directly increase credits achieved in a LEED designed building.

The Real Cost

The initial price of a floor isn’t its total cost. There’s installation, underlay as well as the cost of upkeep. Consider the lifetime expense of the type of flooring you’re looking at before you make a decision:

  • Is it durable? It looks good today, but what about tomorrow?
  • Is it easy to maintain?
  • Will it require frequent waxing or refinishing?
  • If an area gets damaged or stained, do you have to replace the entire floor?

All TORLYS floors are designed to be durable. From their core to their finish, they are built to stay beautiful. All have exceptionally hardwearing surfaces and are easy to clean and maintain. If there’s an accident and part of the floor gets damaged, TORLYS Bulldog™ Easy Plank Replacer allows you to switch out individual planks instead of replacing your entire floor.

Total Impact

The type of flooring you choose should depend on where it’s being installed. Think about your space. Where are the high-traffic areas? Is there a higher chance of your floor getting wet in a certain area? What about noise—will footsteps echo down a hallway and disrupt the entire building? Today’s innovative flooring allows you to mix and match styles and consider new, unique options.

TORLYS offers more than hardwood and laminate. Cork and leather floors can create a look no one else has and perform like you wouldn’t believe. TORLYS latest innovation EverWood and EverTile are elegant, contemporary and remarkably long-lasting. They will accommodate the high-traffic needs of the busiest facility. Plus, the cork underlay of a TORLYS EverWood floor meets many industry sound standards, allowing you to get the look of hardwood without the noise.

If TORLYS was not on your list of flooring companies, it should be. When it comes to durability and environmental priorities, total cost of ownership and overall impact, a TORLYS floor will check off all your boxes. Learn more with our Four Musts for Flooring Your Establishment.

Mold: A Monster Problem for Your Home and Health

Mold, a fungus that grows in the form of multicellular filaments called hyphae, is made of simple microscopic cells organisms and can grow virtually anywhere — especially in warm, damp areas.

While it’s fine for a fungus to grow on the floors of a forest, it can be a major problem when it starts growing in your home because it can cause serious damage and affect your health.

Learn how to spot the fungus, its symptoms, and how to prevent it from occurring and spreading in this guide on mold.

How to Spot Mold

The key to stopping mold is spotting it. The tricky part is that mold comes in various colours, shapes, and sizes. Whether it’s black, white, orange, green, or purple, you need to be careful and know what it is you’re dealing with. Keep an eye out for anything suspicious in order to repair it before it spreads further and causes costly damages.

Mold thrives in wet or damp areas, making bathrooms and kitchens a popular spot for it. Take a look at these 100 Pictures of Mold to get a good idea of what mold can look like to ensure you don’t miss any signs. If you suspect mold, get your home checked by a trained mold tester. The longer you wait to handle the problem, the bigger and more expensive it will be.

Where to Find Mold:

  • Carpets
  • Wood products
  • Fabric products
  • Ceiling tiles
  • Drywall
  • Wall paper
  • Insulation
  • Cardboard
  • Food and plants

Quick Examples of Mold:

  • Slimy black spots on your shower curtain
  • Fuzzy white patches (sometimes found on basement floors)
  • Slick orange film on a kitchen sink

What to do If You Suspect Mold

You should always be on the lookout for mold and know what to steps to take if you suspect it. Start off by doing a visual inspection of your home and looking for signs of mould or excessive moisture, such as stains or discolouration on floors, walls, window panes, ceiling tiles, fabrics and carpets. Obvious signs like leaks, condensation, flooding, or a musty odour will be an easy giveaway. If you find mould, it’s important to contact professional assistance right away as it will grow within 48 hours.

Mold Symptoms

Contact with mold causes people to become sick, and  For some, symptoms can occur almost immediately, especially if someone has a sensitivity or allergy. For others, it can take time for a reaction to occur.

Symptoms include:

  • Headaches
  • Sneezing and coughing
  • Wheezing and trouble breathing
  • Rashes
  • Itchy eyes
  • Runny/stuffy nose
  • Nausea
  • Joint pain
  • Asthma attacks

Keep a close eye on infants, elders, people whose immune systems are compromised due to HIV infection, cancer, liver disease or chemotherapy, and people with chronic lung disease. They are typically more sensitive to mold and may react faster and severely.

How to Prevent Mold

Since mold grows in wet areas, you need to take control in monitoring the moisture in your home.

You can do this by:

  • Installing proper ventilation throughout your home
  • Drying wet areas as soon as possible
  • Using mold-resistant products
  • Keeping an eye on your home’s humidity levels
  • Directing water away from your home

Mold Could Be Lurking In Your Flooring

Just because you can’t see mold doesn’t mean it’s not there. Mould can grow anywhere as long as there is a food source, moisture, warmth and time. It can breed under your floor or between floorboards, and it reproduces quickly. In fact, once mold starts to grow, it can multiply a million times in half a day.

Since you are in constant contact with your floor, walking on it, lying on it, sitting on it, mold in flooring is especially concerning. Keeping your home clean, dry and at a lower humidity level will help stop mold and mildew from growing. However, the best way you can prevent fungus from breeding is to choose a floor that inhibits its growth.

TORLYS floors are one of the only floors on the market with Microban antimicrobial product protection. With built-in protection from microbes, TORLYS flooring is designed to defend against the spread of mold and mildew. Microban product protection is embedded into the CorkPlus™ BLUE underlay of several TORLYS floors—when bacteria make contact with the Microban surface, it is neutralized. Plus, cork is naturally hypoallergenic.

If you want to protect your home and your health from mold, think prevention—think TORLYS with Microban® antimicrobial product protection.

Four Musts for Flooring Your Establishment

If you’re like most business owners, you want your establishment to impress your guests to keep them coming back. Nowadays, aesthetics are important to guests, especially savvy millennials. Everything from paint colour to decor to lighting to art on the walls helps you create the atmosphere and look you’re going for because as everyone knows, little touches make a big difference.

But what about the floors? They cover a large area of your establishment. Choosing the right colour can help make your space look bigger or cosier, more modern or traditional. Choosing the right surface can help your floors resist any wear and tear resulting from high-traffic or the moving of furniture.

The point is, choosing the right floors for your establishment is a big decision, and we’re here to help you make the right one. Here are four things to consider when choosing the floors for your establishment:

Beauty

When guests visit your establishment, they want a little bit of luxury—nice linens, amazing drinks, impeccable food and trendy décor. After all, it’s their getaway or night out. Deciding on a floor is just as important as selecting a picture. The right floor can make your establishment look stunning, stylish and in some cases, more spacious.

Today, hotels, restaurants and bars are featuring more hardwood because of its impressive good looks. While hardwood is beautiful, it does have some downfalls (e.g., it can scratch and dent easily). However, TORLYS EverWood and EverTile takes hard surface flooring to a whole new level. Available in a variety of the latest colors and styles, this hybrid floor is gorgeous and then some.

Durability

The amount of traffic a hotel, bar or restaurant sees—and we hope your establishment sees a lot—can cause substandard floors to crumble under the pressure. Dropped plates and glasses, wheels from luggage, high heel shoes and daily wear and tear caused by constant foot traffic can leave a floor scratched, stained, dented and dull. Even if your floor can stand up to your patrons, humidity from a kitchen or pool can cause certain floors to cup or warp.

Hard surface flooring typically last longer than soft surface flooring. You also want to select a floor with a strong core that will stand up to dents and a finish that is scratch resistant. TORLYS EverWood flooring has both and is repairable plank-by-plank thanks to TORLYS’ unique patented Bulldog™ Easy Plank Replacer. Plus, it’s waterproof and incredibly quiet.

Cleanliness

Guests can be messy. Waiters can drop drinks. Chefs can spill dishes too. Your floor needs to be durable and easy-to-clean to prevent health hazards. Again, hard flooring is the best choice. Simply swipe-mop a TORLYS EverWood or EverTile floor and it’s clean. TORLYS floors also feature Uniclic joints that eliminate dirty grout lines as well.

Floors that are easier to clean have less dirt and grime, which means less mold and mildew growth. Guests with allergies will be more comfortable, the air will be cleaner, and “musty” carpet smells will no longer be a problem. All TORLYS floors are anti-microbial.

Affordability

Solid hardwood flooring can be expensive, but who says you need SOLID hardwood flooring to achieve a trendy and stylish look? EverWood flooring looks just like solid hardwood, but outperforms it. And it costs less. Plus, all TORLYS floors feature Uniclic joints that allow you to replace one plank at a time. If only a few planks are damaged, then that’s all you need to replace—not the entire floor.

Whether you’re remodelling a space or creating a brand new one, don’t forget about the flooring. They make a major impact on your establishment’s design and atmosphere while affecting your expenses. That’s why we recommend luxury vinyl flooring.

The right floors for your establishment will impress your guests and create a welcoming space for your employees. When looking for the perfect floors, look for something that look good, will hold up against daily wear and tear, is easy to clean and is within budget.

Luxury vinyl floors, like TORLYS EverWood and EverTile are the perfect combination of beauty, durability, cleanliness and affordability for your establishment. Take a look at how other businesses have incorporated our floors in their establishments, and explore our flooring options to find the right design for you.

Sun, Fun and Floor Care: Summer Maintenance For Hardwood and Laminate

The warmer weather is here, and with it comes conditions that could cause damage to your hardwood or laminate flooring. But we have the tips and tricks to help you keep your floors bright and beautiful!

Humidity

Most hardwood and laminate flooring comes with a humidity clause in its warranty. These clauses typically include a recommended humidity range for your home. For example, TORLYS’ humidity range is 30%-60% for all of their floors.

Why is it important to control the humidity? If the air in your home has too much moisture in it, it could cause laminate and hardwood to expand. The wood will absorb the extra water in the air and begin to swell. This leads to cupping and warping.

Even just a few days of high humidity can ruin hardwood and laminate. Running a de-humidifier will keep humidity levels low. You may want to consider purchasing a combination humidifier/de-humidifier if winter is extremely cold in your area. Dry air can damage hardwood and laminate flooring too.

Dirt

The sun is out, which means the kids are outside playing. And when they come in, so does the dirt. Mud, sand and other debris can act like sandpaper on your hardwood or laminate—scratching it, ruining its finishing and wearing it down.

If you don’t already have a mat at the front door—and if you have kids, you probably have two or three in place—put one down that is non-skid and made from cotton. Rubber or fibre-backed mats may stain or scratch floor finishes. Also, make sure everyone removes their shoes at the front door.

When it comes to cleaning hardwood or laminate, avoid wax and oil based floor cleaners. Premium floor companies will provide you with high-quality cleaners, including floor dressing to help protect the original finish and floor stripper to remove and reapply floor dressing.

Never use a wet mop on your floor or a treated mop that has been used to clean other floors (e.g., bathroom tile) or furniture in your house. A non-treated, clean dust mop is ideal to remove soil and dust. Wipe up spills immediately with cloths or sponges. If a sticky substance such as gum gets on your floor, freeze it first with an ice cube and use a plastic scraper (e.g., a credit card) to gently remove it.

UV

Light is the biggest influencer of your hardwood’s colour, and in the summer, damaging ultra-violet rays are at their strongest. UV rays not only have the ability to burn your skin, but your flooring as well. They can cause fading, bleaching and even darkening.

You should protect your floor from sunlight all year long, but especially in the summer. Use curtains and blinds to block out the sun. If you have horizontal blinds, you don’t need to close them fully, just angle them upwards. Consider replacing your windows with Low-E glass to block out more UV rays and save on energy costs. You should also use rugs to protect your floor. Finally, think of your floor’s finish and/or dressing as sun screen—apply more when needed.

The Best Flooring For Furry Family Members

Dogs are our beloved, and often energetic, fur babies. They run to the door to greet us. They run to the door to go out. They run to the door to go for a walk. And all this running can cause unrepairable damage to flooring, if your floor is not suitable for pets. Below, we’ve rated the most popular flooring choices on their pet-friendliness so you can make the right decision for your pet-friendly home.

Hardwood

Hardwood is one of the most beautiful and popular flooring choices on the market today. However, it’s not the best choice if you have pets. “Accidents” can stain wood and soak into the planks, even if you clean them up quickly. If you have a TORLYS hardwood floor, you can replace stained sections with the TORLYS patented Bulldog™ Tool. If it’s not TORLYS hardwood, you may have to strip, sand and refinish your floors, however, stains may reappear because salt crystals found in pet urine tend to seep deeply into the floor.

Spills from water bowls and sharp nails can also ruin hardwood even if your flooring is coated with a high quality urethane. In fact, pets can actually do more damage to hardwood than children. Pets are just too hard on hardwood.

Rating: 2 paws

Laminate

Laminate is more durable than hardwood, making it a much better choice for pets. It won’t show scratches, stands up to house training and is easy to clean. Plus, laminate flooring is now trendier than ever thanks to advances in engineering and design. Premium laminate looks just as good as hardwood, and outperforms it.

Laminate does have some downfalls though. Pets, especially dogs may slip and slide on its surface. Embossed or textured laminate may help prevent accidents. You can also put down non-slip rugs for everyone’s comfort.

Rating: 4 paws

Cork

Surprisingly, cork is a good choice for pets. Cork’s antimicrobial properties reduce the growth of mold and other allergens. Low-allergen flooring will also help family members with pet allergies.

Cork is moisture resistant, when treated properly with layers of durable finish. Accidents and other spills wipe up easily and won’t leave a stain or an odor when cleaned up quickly. It is also scratch resistant, comfortable and quiet—Fido’s pawsteps will not be as loud on a cork floor.

Rating: 4 paws

Tile

Tile is a good choice for pets, in terms of wear and tear. It is tough and won’t scratch easily. Urine will not damage its integrity or seep into it. However, all the qualities that make tile ideal—durability and imperviousness—make it uncomfortable for pets and their people. Tile is extremely hard and often cold. Rugs can help, but make sure they are non-slip to prevent falls.

Rating: 3 paws

Vinyl

Luxury vinyl flooring is an excellent solution for home owners who love pets and sophistication. Coming in a wide range of styles and hues, luxury vinyl is scratch and stain resistant as well as easy to clean and maintain.

Like cork, vinyl is also low-allergen and quiet to walk on. It’s also considerably more comfortable than stone or tile. Pet friendly, kid friendly and fashion forward, vinyl is purrrfect.

Rating: 5 paws

Carpet

Some experts claim that carpet is the worst flooring choice for pets for two reasons. First, it’s easily damaged. Nails and rough paws can destroy fibres, especially if the carpet is looped or berber. Second, it’s harder to clean than other type of flooring. Accidents soak in easily and quickly. Dust and dander will embed into it.

Carpet does have some benefits though. It’s soft and comfortable. It also absorbs sounds, muffling the pitter-patter of little paws and feet.

Rating: 1 paw

When it comes to choosing the best floor for your pet friendly home, take your time and consider a more expensive option. Higher priced flooring is more durable, and in the long run, the best bet for your pet. You may need to replace a lesser quality floor, or the wrong type of flooring, after a year or even a few months.