News: Check out the 2011 "Best of NeoCon" winning product
Motus by Halcon, a revolutionary conferencing solution for elegant corporate spaces, received international acclaim at this year’s NeoCon® World’s Trade Fair, which was held in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart earlier this month. This collection of
adaptable folding tables and mobile accessories allows effortless transformation from boardroom to flexible multi-use space. The reconfigurable line was awarded the “Best of Competition” during the annual “Best of NeoCon” awards ceremony.
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| Pictured above: Motus Conferencing by Halcon |
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| Pictured above: Motus Conferencing by Halcon |
Considering an Installation of New Hardwood Flooring?
Meet Matt Bechtel …
We know the feeling. Every time you walk past your dining room, you keep telling yourself you’ll eventually rip out that tattered, dated wall-to-wall carpeting and replace it with beautiful, timeless hardwood flooring. Or maybe it’s the staircase, living room or bedrooms that are bothering you. You let days pass, then weeks, and finally months, and before you know it, you have out-of-town guests arriving and wish you’d acted sooner.
Matt Bechtel has witnessed this scenario play out time and again throughout his 13+ years with Apex Wood Floors. As part of our sales and design team, it’s Matt’s job to make the transition from old to new a positive, rewarding one for our customers.
Homeowners have different reasons for wanting to tear up old carpeting, vinyl or tiles and install new hardwood flooring. They’re usually motivated by the following:
- Pride of ownership and the “WOW” factor: Hardwood flooring is the ultimate, classic flooring choice for any home. It has never gone out of style and never will. It’s a permanent upgrade that will last in the home for generations to come.
- Increase in Home Value: Hardwood is the only floor that makes your home value go up; it’s actually an investment and not an expense.
- Care and Maintenance: Hardwood floors are easy to maintain and can be cleaned regularly with simple solutions and lightweight supplies.
- Alleviates Allergens: Family members who suffer from allergies are better off in a home with hardwood floors. Carpeting traps dust mites and other harmful allergens that can aggravate the immune system.
- Protection from Pet Accidents: Even the best-trained family pets have occasional accidents. These problems are more easily handled on hardwood floors, but they ruin carpets.
“We make the entire installation process both affordable and hassle-free, and our customers trust our guidance and knowledge,” said Matt. “We’re able to provide the right type of flooring for each homeowner because we’ve taken the time to explore all options and understand how they will be using the space first.”
Step One: Evaluate the Existing Floors and Flow of the Rooms
Together with the homeowners, Matt and his team discuss continuity of flow versus contrast. “In other words, should we make more of a dramatic impact with the new rooms or weave the new flooring into the existing flooring to make them look as if they were always there together?”
Though every home is unique, in general, family rooms, studies and the living / dining room areas can have a look of grandeur, according to Matt. Examples include designer inlays, borders or exotic wood species to simply make those rooms stand out as being special.
Step Two: Determine the Wood Species and Pattern
Apex Wood Floors introduces customers to new species that they may have never thought of or been exposed to in the past. We assess the right level of natural hardness in each species, and if that species would complement their existing floors and interior architecture.
We then decide on the cut: wide-plank, rift-and-quartered, character, standard or anything else the clients want to explore, and we outline the benefits of each.
Step 3: Select the Right Color
With Apex Wood Floors, there are no “rules” to follow with color selection – we can do virtually anything.
“In the beginning, people sometimes will get frustrated because they want to see blocks or swatches and they don’t realize that we create original colors for each home,” continued Matt. “They have this idea – like they’re shopping for paint – where they want to select one that will hold up against their cabinets and other features. What we do instead is make swatches on their actual floor (for either refinishing or new installations) to provide true, accurate portrayals that they can live with before deciding on a final color.”
In case you are curious, red or white oak is the most controllable species of wood when it comes to color. According to Matt, some companies feel more comfortable with using oak because they don’t have the knowledge and experience Apex does. Our team is skilled at staining other types of species as well, including maple, which has its own idiosyncrasies. Our clients are the ultimate beneficiaries of this particular skill set because they aren’t boxed in to a set number of color options or wood species.
Step 4: Choose the Best Finish
Once the color is determined, the finish and sheen level need to be chosen. The majority of homeowners opt for a commercial-grade, water-based finish in either a matte or satin finish. Semi-gloss or high-gloss finishes could be the appropriate choice in certain homes, too.
“We look at each family’s lifestyle and then present the pros and cons of each of the finish levels. Ultimately it’s the clients’ decision, but we always educate them about each option,” said Matt.
If you’re considering installing new hardwood floors within your home, please give Matt a call at your convenience.
Sincerely,
John Lessick
President
Apex Wood Floors |
