FROM GREY TO BLONDE
MOULDING: DESIGN IS IN THE DETAILS
PORTALS TO POSSIBILITIES
Sept / Oct 2020
Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. is a Canadian member-owned, Lumber, Building Materials and Hardware buying group representing over 300 member locations across Canada.
Contractor Advantage Magazine is the exclusive publication of Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. featuring quality Castle vendor brands available at Castle Building Centres locations. Visit castle.ca to find a Castle location in your area.
Editorial Director Castle Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. Jennifer Mercieca Publisher - Espress Labs Inc. Dan Alexander Managing Editor Teresa Christine Art Director Katrina De Faveri Contributors Lawrence Cummer Lisa Gordon
Advertising Inquiries Jennifer Mercieca Director of Communications Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. 905-564-3307 jmercieca@castle.ca Material Contact Maryam Bashir Marketing Coordinator Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. 905-564-3307 mbashir@castle.ca Published and designed exclusively for Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. by Espress Labs Inc. On the cover: Metrie
ABOUT CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE
SEPT / OCT 2020 Volume 25 Issue 5
CONTRIBUTORS
LAWRENCE CUMMER Lawrence (“Law”) Cummer is a freelance writer and editor and has been a frequent contributor to Contractor Advantage, Ideas and Rough Construction for nearly a decade. Over his more than 20-year career, Law has written about contracting and construction, general business, information technology, health and safety, personal finance and almost every topic in between. He has a passion for storytelling and sharing how people can work better, easier — and “smarter” — from contractors to technologists to business executives.
LISA GORDON Lisa Gordon is a freelance writer and editor based in St. George, Ont. She operates Mustang Media Writing & Editorial Services, delivering informative and engaging articles for trade and association magazines in a variety of industries. Contact her at www.mustangmediaservices.ca.
ANGELA DEFINIS Angela DeFinis is President of DeFinis Communications. The company offers executive speech coaching, presentation skills training, and virtual video conferencing training. Through corporate sponsored and open-enrollment programs, the firm’s unique skill building approach helps business professionals become poised, polished, and powerful communicators capable of leading effective meetings and delivering compelling presentations. To sign up for an online session please go to www.definiscommunications.com.
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CONTENTS
TABLE OF OF TABLE
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FROM GREY TO BLONDE
16 20
NEWS & NOTES
26 32
WHAT’S TRENDING
Today’s hard surface flooring trends include warmer wood tones, smoother finishes and planks of varying sizes
Working Together, Stronger than Ever
MOULDING: DESIGN IS IN THE DETAILS Modern moulding trends can easily accentuate a renovation or bring an existing room to the next level of aesthetic excellence
SOS: 5 Tips for Working from Home
PORTALS TO POSSIBILITIES Improvements to interior doors and closets can bring affordable but dramatic change to rooms // SEPT - OCT 2020
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FROM GREY TO BLONDE
Today’s hard surface flooring trends include warmer wood tones, smoother finishes and planks of varying sizes. Written by Lisa Gordon
Photo courtesy of Taiga Building Products 6
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Consumers are stepping away from cool greys and moving towards natural warmth, according to this season’s flooring trends. While greys have been underfoot for the last few years, suppliers are now reporting a demand for more natural tones, including oak, maple and blonde wood with hints of grey-brown. In addition to driving colour, buyers have catapulted luxury vinyl into the best-selling flooring category, with an emphasis on wider planks and a variety of textures and finishes. Laminates, as well as real and engineered hardwoods, remain popular in some markets and there are regional trend variations across Canada. Across all product lines, there is no doubt that flooring is a big business in Canada, representing an estimated $4 billion in annual revenues, according to market and consumer data provider Statista. That number is expected to grow as consumers – housebound thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic – are electing to spend vacation dollars on home improvement projects instead. “Floor covering is a growing category and we are experiencing healthy growth,”
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FEATURE STORY // FROM GREY TO BLONDE reported Sven Johnson, director of Flooring at Taiga Building Products. The company has 15 distribution centres and sells product across all regions of Canada. When it comes to flooring, Taiga carries luxury vinyl planks and tiles, laminates and flooring installation systems. “Luxury vinyl has exploded,” he continued. “It’s definitely a product category of choice because it’s waterproof, which is the No. 1 thing right now. That’s a given when it comes to vinyl products because they are waterproof. “As far as colour, we’re not seeing as much contrast; it’s moving towards softer tones, more monolithic. We’re seeing grey fade into the background as an undertone and more warm natural colours coming to the forefront.” Johnson said consumers now prefer wider, longer planks, so Taiga carries five, seven and nine-inch wide boards. Vinyl tiles are also becoming popular, with 12x24-inch being the most sought-after.
Taiga is now freshening up its product lines for the fall, taking inspiration from the fashion apparel industry as it moves to stay on the cutting edge of demand. Johnson predicted that cork flooring will soon begin to make inroads in the market. “The innovation the two major manufacturers are showing is amazing. They are producing cork that looks like hardwood; the entire core of the product is made from real cork. I see it as a product of the future.” APPEARANCE AND AFFORDABILITY Goodfellow Inc., a Canada-wide manufacturer and distributor of wood building materials, including solid and engineered hardwood flooring, also sells laminate and vinyl floor coverings. Vice President Jeff Morrison said the company has also noted the trend towards lighter hard surface flooring. Goodfellow, too, is seeing a demand for wider planks, which he believes is being driven by open concept floor plans.
Photo courtesy of Goodfellow Inc.
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Photo courtesy of Goodfellow Inc.
Photo courtesy of Taiga Building Products
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FEATURE STORY // FROM GREY TO BLONDE Photo courtesy of AFA Forest Products Inc.
“They can have one floor covering throughout the main living area of the house, and that has driven the overall look the consumer wants. Instead of the older homes where it was cut up into different rooms, open concept really influences what the consumer wants. They are often sold on the liveability and durability of vinyl.” Morrison said the biggest factor influencing floor selection is appearance, but affordability is second. While empty nesters or older homeowners trend towards hardwood, the younger generation is more conscious of maintenance and durability, so they look at vinyl and laminate options. “There’s not much demand for hand-scraped flooring anymore,” he continued. “A lot of people are looking for a wire-brushed surface. That trend follows in laminate and vinyl, with embossed products that are selling better.”
Goodfellow has seen a surge in laminate flooring orders since the pandemic began. “The only thing we can put our finger on is it’s a bit more affordable; tried, tested and true.” FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY One very popular category is SPC (stone polymer composite) vinyl plank flooring. Durable and resistant to temperature extremes, it features a stable limestone plastic core that expands and contracts at a much lower rate than that of regular LVP/LVT (luxury vinyl plank/luxury vinyl tile) flooring. “The big trend we’ve seen is that everyone has pretty much moved to SPC and away from luxury vinyl,” said Calgary-based Geoff Keats, vice president, Allied Products at AFA Forest Products Inc. “We decided to be different and called ours LSP, or Luxury Stone Plank. That’s how we refer to it.” // SEPT - OCT 2020
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Photo courtesy of AFA Forest Products Inc.
While he said trends are always shifting, AFA has also seen consumers move away from grey and towards a more natural look with less colour variation and real wood patterns. Smooth textures are in, as are wider and longer planks. With 13 distribution centres across the country, AFA knows that what sells in B.C. doesn’t necessarily sell in Newfoundland. “For instance, Quebec still sells narrow plank flooring, but we don’t sell it anywhere else in the country,” said Keats. “So rather than following and focusing on what everyone else can change along with us, such as colour or plank size, we focus on the newest technology instead. We were one of the first to introduce SPC in the marketplace and have since come out with an engineered SPC in our Volcano line, which consists of two layers of vinyl and stone for enhanced performance.
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AFA has recently released its Titan HD LSP line, featuring an ultra-resistant wear layer that has been proven to resist damage, even from a hand-held grinder. Keats said the Titan HD line currently comes in four colours, with two more in development. “The trends we focus on are what is the consumer looking for? At the end of the day, the customer’s decision is based on colour. From there, they’ll look at the different attributes of each particular product. They want the ultimate scratch resistant product that is also easy to install and water resistant.” WORTH THE INVESTMENT Susceptibility to moisture is an important consideration in Newfoundland and Labrador, where too much humidity in the summer can prove challenging for solid hardwood floors, while too
FEATURE STORY // FROM GREY TO BLONDE little in the winter heating season can affect both solid and engineered hardwood flooring.
even back to some brown tones. We’re starting to see natural oak, maples and blonde wood.”
Steers Distribution Ltd. in Mount Pearl, N.L., sells hard and soft surface flooring across the province. General Manager Chris Martin agreed that luxury vinyl planking has experienced the biggest boom. He thinks this is because it’s billed as waterproof, although he said thicker water resistant laminate products are good options that offer sturdy locking systems.
Steers is a wholesale distributor that sells to retail stores and commercial contractors. While price is definitely a factor, “I think pattern and design still trumps price in most cases,” said Martin.
“The biggest thing for us would be to do moisture readings in the home before you install, and make sure the floor is acclimatized to the home,” he advised. “Any complaints that arise are usually moisture-related.” Martin reported that consumers in Canada’s easternmost province are also moving away from grey flooring and more towards grey-brown mixes. “I think that’s starting to go into grey-beige and
“My argument to people is, ‘You’re going to put down a floor which will be at least a medium-term investment. When you put it in perspective, if you like the colour and pattern and it’s a bit more, it’s worth the investment.’ I do think the days of people just buying something cheaper are gone.” READ THE BOX Regardless of price, colour, plank size or flooring material, experts say contractors and DIY warriors can do one thing that will astronomically increase the success of their installation: read the directions.
Photo courtesy of Steers Distribution Ltd.
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FEATURE STORY // FROM GREY TO BLONDE Photo courtesy of Goodfellow Inc.
“You hear the old story: That was installed by an installer who has been putting down floors for years,” said Steers’ Chris Martin. “Yes, but things change. It’s not the same as just banging down hardwood with a nail. The instructions are there for a purpose. If you want to have the best results, follow the directions.”
products do not have a locking system that meets a proven patent,” he said. “We pride ourselves on aligning with the right manufacturers who incorporate patented, proven locking systems. We’re also aligned with top quality installation systems, such as Uzin Utz, so we can be certain the product will stay fastened properly.”
Goodfellow trains its retailers to educate consumers about best practices, such as glue assist installation on engineered flooring. “As floor covering changes and new products are launched, it’s incumbent upon the contractor to update their skills in installation,” said Jeff Morrison. “One of the things we talk about is training, training, training. The more training we can do, the more we can mitigate claims coming up. Contractors, ask the seller or manufacturer for advice so you can have a flawless installation.”
Like many projects, preparation is critical to end success. “It always starts with the substrate,” said AFA’s Geoff Keats. “If you’re not putting product down on a proper level surface without defects, you’ll run into problems. Start with a nice smooth sub-floor. Your floor is only as good as what’s underneath it.”
Taiga’s Sven Johnson recommended that installers familiarize themselves with modern locking systems on vinyl products. “Many of the 14
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With more hard surface flooring choices on the market than ever before, consumers are sure to find a product they love at a price they can afford. And, while flooring selection is always driven by personal preference, a successful installation proves the old adage that what’s underneath really does count. —
WORKING TOGETHER, STRONGER THAN EVER
Written by: James Jones, Vice President, National Marketing
Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. is a Canadian company with membership spanning across the country. Our members sell retail products that are Canadian-made and specifically designed for this climate and that are suited to their local markets. Canada is so expansive and the population so widespread that it is critical to have superior distribution partners who are Canadian or have Canadian distribution centres. Transporting full truckloads of products into Canada from the U.S. becomes cost prohibitive to get to some of the locations where our members are. There is a distinct cost advantage with building material products manufactured here 16
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in Canada by either Canadian manufacturers or by multi-nationals with respect to manufacturing and freight costs. The COVID-19 pandemic has pointed out to us critical failures in the supply of product and that we can’t be at the mercy of manufacturers that are not in Canada, especially when it comes to the supply of products that protect and help our frontline and essential workers. Canadian manufacturers have stepped up to the plate by switching over production to personal protection equipment (PPE) so we have a local supply available to our members.
// NEWS AND NOTES The pandemic has also highlighted the importance of local businesses within the markets they serve. People are not driving the extra distance to get products they need. If they know their local Castle has the products, they’re going into the local Castle store. I would say they’re actually proud to support local businesses knowing they are owned by an independent entrepreneur from their community. GUARANTEED SUPPLY There are state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Canada that can easily compete for size and quality on a global scale. With Canadian manufacturers, we are guaranteed supply and this gives our members the peace of mind knowing they can supply their customers and contractors for the future.
We strive for strong relationships and comprehensive buying agreements with those manufacturers who are unique in each respective marketplace – whether it’s a window manufacturer or a more unique offering such as seasonal products. This flexibility gives Castle a competitive advantage versus the national companies that don’t want to do that because they don’t want to break up their product categories. Castle continues to support its members throughout the pandemic and as we start to emerge from lockdowns. We provide regular communications with facts and recommendations so members can make well-informed decisions. Castle has implemented a ‘COVID-19 Priority News’ page on its member website to keep
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members informed of governmental changes in regulation. The page also offers a ‘best practices’ section so members get ideas on how to handle specific situations. Canada is now in a recession, but no-one knows how long it will last because we are in an unprecedented situation. We do know that employed Canadians may have disposable income and that they are spending more time at home, which may bode well for our industry.
JAMES JONES
Vice President, National Marketing James has over 32 years experience in the home improvement industry, working in retail, commercial and industrial and has been buying and merchandising with some of Canada’s largest regional and national retailers including Lansing Buildall, Aikenheads, Réno-Dépôt, Home Depot Canada and Rona. James is ideally suited to negotiate the best buys in Castle’s core business - lumber and plywood, gypsum, insulation, roofing and siding as well as millwork (moulding, doors and windows). Plus the hardlines to help you complete the sale. In addition, James continues to head a variety of Castle’s valued-added programs such as central invoicing, buying, weekly updates, retail price comparisons, comparative store benchmarking and Castlecare health, financial and marketing programs.
Castle is a Canadian member-owned lumber and materials buying group and our mission is to deliver the highest quality products made in Canada at the best price. We are fortunate to have strong vendor partnerships with Canadian manufacturers who produce some of the highest quality products in the world. By working closely with these Canadian vendor partners, we reduce risk and guarantee that our members can make a profit. We have been supporting Canadian manufacturers since Castle’s inception in 1963 and will continue to advocate for them to our membership and the industry. —
MOULDING: DESIGN IS IN THE DETAILS
Modern moulding trends can easily accentuate a renovation or bring an existing room to the next level of aesthetic excellence. Written by Lawrence Cummer
Creativity is key for contractors looking to up their moulding and trims game. And fortunately, there are inspiration and options abound. Unlike other aspects of home décor, moulding styles tend to change more slowly. Today’s trends continue to lean towards the contemporary sleek profiles and clean lines of recent years, such as the everpopular Shaker style. Also, with life in 2020 being a bit on the chaotic side, this aesthetic choice helps to create a sense of order to rooms, says Denise Tripamer, director of marketing communications at Metrie. “When you come into your home and those sanctuary spaces, you want a sense of structure, and I think that lends itself well to very crisp lines,” she says. AFFORDABLE ELEGANCE AND LUXURY Perhaps the beauty of moulding is that it doesn’t need to break the customer’s bank to stand out and make a dramatic difference. In fact, the right moulding profile can be the cherry on top of an existing project, taking it to another level of highly professional finish. “You can do a lot of creative things with moulding that are really cost effective,” says Courtney MacKay, accounting manager and social media marketing coordinator at Moulding Warehouse in Hammonds Plains, N.S. “For example, you could take a very thin panel mould and do a wonderful detail in a bedroom, and that may cost (the homeowner) under $100 but will make the room look completely different. Whereas it was cookie-cutter before, it will become a rich luxurious space that someone wants to spend a lot of time in.”
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Photo courtesy of Metrie // SEPT - OCT 2020
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Photo courtesy of Alexandria Moulding
WALL TREATMENTS ARE IN The use of moulding to decorate and create accent walls continues to be a growing trend in home décor and design. As more householders spend their days in the home in 2020, as well as creating home offices, they are looking for affordable ways to improve the look and comfort of their abodes. Shiplap treatments continue to see increased popularity, moulding experts say. “We’re still seeing a lot of shiplap being used,” Tripamer says. “It’s mostly on focal walls, or even to dress up a smaller space like an entryway or even a mudroom.” 22
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“And we’re seeing the use of panel mould to create boxes on the walls or to highlight entryways and just add an extra layer to the wall.” Wainscoting too continues to see growing popularity. “Typically, when we see wainscot applied it’s not your typical wainscot, it has a flat stock application that creates a boxed look in the lower part of the wall. Although it might be capped off with a more decorative panel mould on the top or even on the inside; vertical panels just to give a little more curvature to it.”
FEATURE STORY // MOULDING: DESIGN IS IN THE DETAILS Also, the placement of Wainscoting is changing for more creative treatment, says Donna Gerrits, vice president of sales and marketing for Alexandria Moulding. “Back in the old days, Wainscoting was very popular. It would be about 3’ off the floor, whereas now they are bringing wainscoting and wall paneling up to almost 5’ or 6’ off the ground depending on ceiling height,” she notes “They are just really having a lot of fun with wall application using mouldings.” Gerrits says shiplap is “exploding” in interest, and not just for wall treatments. “It’s unbelievable. People are putting it everywhere. They are putting it on their ceilings, they are putting it on their walls, they are putting it on their porches… as a feature wall… around the side of their
kitchen islands. I’ve seen it as the centerpiece in a coffered ceiling.” She adds that in cottage country, shiplap is being placed throughout cottages and lake houses. “It keeps it bright and airy and yet warm and cozy.” PAINTED AND PRE-PAINTED While white is still the predominant colour choice for moulding, there are a few changing trends. With wall applications, Gerrits says it’s not uncommon to have them painted the same colour as the wall, accentuating and giving the wall focus, but at the same time blending into the décor. One of the reasons for this trend, she suggests, is to complement increased use of printed floor tiles. “People are starting to get into a little bit of a busier floor tile, a printed floor tile, and so the colours and accent and pattern on the
Photo courtesy of Moulding Warehouse // SEPT - OCT 2020
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tile are there, so they’d like the (moulding) to blend into the wall.” Tripamer says her company has been seeing an uptick in sales of its pre-painted mouldings, especially for remodeling. “People who want to finish spaces or do a bigger renovation is where we’ve really seen more traction with our pre-painted product line,” she says. She adds that contractors and homeowners are primarily buying pre-painted baseboards and casings and, of course, shiplap. “So, when you’re looking to finish a basement or remodel a playroom, we’ve found some great success with the pre-painted line for both homeowners and contractors. It saves quite a bit of time and you are able to create that remodeled space very quickly without that extra time.” Typically, colours remain neutral, Tripamer says, whites with an increasing interest in light
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grays. Still, some applications, a bolder more dramatic paint colour may be in order, but not for core moulding profiles like baseboards, casings or crown moulding. “You’re going to want to make sure those are a colour you can live with for a long time.” SHOW YOUR CREATIVE CHOPS Contractors wanting to stand out from the crowd should use moulding as an opportunity to show both their technical skills but also creativity. Thanks to social media, this doesn’t always need to be done through a show room. When you’ve completed an amazing job, make certain to capture and share it, MacKay suggests. “You don’t want to be known for putting plain casing around the door. Anyone can do that. You want to be recognized as someone who can turn a house into a home,” she says. “You want to be known for your creativity and your inspiration.” —
FEATURE STORY // MOULDING: DESIGN IS IN THE DETAILS Photo courtesy of Metrie // SEPT - OCT 2020
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SOS: 5 TIPS FOR WORKING FROM HOME
Written by Angela DeFinis
As more and more parents are working from home and engaging in online presentations and virtual meetings daily (all while dealing with kids and pets underfoot), it’s clear that the current set up is designed to fail. Unfortunately, there are few rules of engagement to apply when your kitchen table is suddenly your office (and your child’s classroom). And we’re all seeing the results of this every day: crying toddlers in the background of important meetings, the dog barking at the delivery driver just as the speaker is making a key point, the offscreen audible whisper of “can I have a snack?” … and this is on a good day!
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With so few guidelines, many have taken a “let the chips fall where they may” strategy. But going with the flow only goes so far in helping you manage the situation and can lead to deeper frustration. So rather than feel annoyed or anxious about your online meetings and what others will think about your professionalism, take the reins and give yourself permission to set new rules of engagement that work for you and your household so you can restore a level of control, personal wellbeing and yes, even peace.
// WHAT’S TRENDING
When your next Zoom disaster threatens to strike, take these steps to help recover from the interruption and regain your composure. PLAN FOR THE WORST: First, accept that things will go wrong and no matter how much you plan, interruptions are going to happen. But that’s no reason to avoid putting a plan in place. Disasters are more prone to happen when you “wing it,” so at the very least outline your meeting topic with a reliable beginning, middle, and end structure. Make sure to include transition points, so if you are interrupted by a family matter you will have a natural place to pause. Double down on what you can control: Your appearance (wear solid colors), lighting (make sure the light is in front of your face and not behind you), your computer set up (make sure your stand is stable and your computer raised to eye level), and timing (be ready in advance).
DISTINGUISH BETWEEN DISTRACTION VS. DISASTER: The dog barking at the delivery driver is a distraction, not a crisis. However, hearing a loud crash followed by a piercing shriek from your toddler is a crisis and needs to be handled immediately. Identify what family incidents fall into each category so you can prioritize when and how to take action. Ask your older children to help you create this list and agree to adhere to it. Keep it in front of you for every online meeting and don’t let simple distractions pull away your attention. Forewarned is forearmed. AVOID BLEEDING INTO THE MEETING: Your state of mind when entering a virtual meeting can be a set up for success or disaster. If you just had an argument with your teenager and are already angry and stressed it is hard to remain calm and focused. Do what actors do—leave your // SEPT - OCT 2020
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// WHAT’S TRENDING emotions backstage and clear your mind with this actor’s trick: Think of a famous person you admire and imagine this person sitting next to you in the meeting. How would you behave if a notable individual like Oprah, for example, were actually in the room? This tried and true technique will help you turn potential disaster into success. USE HUMOR TO CALM DISCOMFORT: In more casual online meetings where there is some level of familiarity with those you are speaking with, humor goes a long way to help defuse awkward and uncomfortable situations.
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If you can be gracious, laugh, and make a joke of the situation during the inevitable interruptions (“It sounds like the dog has something important to add to this conversation”) you will be better able to take control and show grace under pressure. PLAN A BACK-UP PRESENTER: For more formal virtual presentations where the stakes are high, plan a back-up presenter. Think of it like an understudy—someone in the meeting who knows the information as well as you do and who can step in at a moment’s notice. This way when your child runs up to you crying or the
smoke alarm goes off from your teen’s cooking experiment, you simply say, “Everyone, Jana is going to cover the remainder of this point. Please excuse me for a moment.”
like: “What key points have stood out for you?” or “What questions do you have at this point?” Coach your colleague to gather information and brief you when you return.
But what if you don’t have anyone on the call who knows as much about the topic as you do? Empower a junior colleague with 2-3 questions that you plan in advance so he or she can lead a discussion during your absence. Plan questions
CREATE YOUR OWN RULES: No one knows when in-person meetings will be 100% safe, but we do know that virtual meetings and online presentations from home will continue to be challenging. So whatever you do, don’t give
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// WHAT’S TRENDING up! Try new strategies, be kind and forgiving to yourself and others, and continue to change your approach until you reach a level of comfort and control that works for you and your family. Remember that even the most skilled virtual presenters struggle with this medium at times.
And as a working mother, you have more on your plate and more at stake. But by implementing these strategies, you can quickly recover from a Zoom disaster and know that in this one small area of your work life, you’ve got this! —
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PORTALS TO POSSIBILITIES
Improvements to interior doors and closets can bring affordable but dramatic change to rooms. Written by Lawrence Cummer
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Photo courtesy of Alliance Doors
Homeowners forced to stay home more in 2020 are finding ways to spruce up their abodes that won’t break the proverbial bank, and interior doors and new closets are one of the easiest. Compared with bigger ticket items like a new kitchen or bathroom, replacing even every door in the house is a nominal investment, but one door and moulding experts say pays dividends when it comes to altering the home’s aesthetic.
It’s not just social distancing and self-isolation that’s causing homeowners, in urban areas like Toronto or Vancouver where the square footage of new homes is seeing some shrinking, interior doors are taking a larger share of the wall space. “Interior doors are becoming more important to overall design,” says Hardy Rahn, Canadian director of sales for Alliance Doors. “If you have a focus on smaller spaces, the door is taking up
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FEATURE STORY // PORTALS TO POSSIBILITIES (more) space on the wall. You want to make sure it’s featured. You don’t want it to just be the same old six-panel door.” “Even if you’ve got 15 doors in the home, the price of upgrading them is very minor and can make a significant design change,” he added. SLEEK, SIMPLE STYLES A trend that’s been happening for several years in the interior door space is the move to a more modern, clean look — one that is also perpetuated through moulding and cabinetry. To that effect, Rahn says he’s been seeing more interest in flat-panel interior doors (versus moulded raised door panels), and more interest in pre-finished skins that follow the appearance of cabinets to bring rooms together.
Malcom Bruce, vice president of sales at Masonite agrees that the smooth, clean-lined contemporary style of heritage or Craftsman doors continues to be popular, particularly in areas like Toronto and Vancouver. Masonite recently released a new its Livingston interior moulded doors, which boasts a transitional style that can blend with either more contemporary or traditional room décor. He stresses the impact of interior doors on a room’s overall look and feel. “In an average house you have, say, 800 square feet of design space. If you’re putting in plain doors, you really aren’t making much use of it. For home designers, you’re putting in a door anyways, why not think about it as part of your design rather than an add on?” THE ‘BIG’ DEAL OF INTERIOR DOORS Although the size of homes may in some cases be
Photos courtesy of Metrie // SEPT - OCT 2020
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FEATURE STORY // PORTALS TO POSSIBILITIES Photo courtesy of Moulding Warehouse
shrinking, the size of doors (and windows) are not. For several years the trend of taller interior doors has followed that of the entrance system, but now wider is also in vogue, according to Doruk Seden, associate product line manager at Jeld-Wen. “Standard size for an interior door is 6’8”, but we’re now seeing 7’, 8’ and even taller. And wider. A standard (interior) door was 34” or 36” wide, but now we’re seeing 38”, 40” or even wider than that,” he notes. Although building codes don’t require it, with ceilings gaining height, many builders are moving to these larger fenestrations, because consumers are looking for them. They want, Seden suggests, better space to travel through and greater light (from exterior door lites or windows).
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THE RUSTIC CHARM OF BARN DOORS Combining the move to larger doors with the modern rustic aesthetic, sliding barn doors continue to become a popular choice for homeowners. Seden suggests that growth in his company’s barn door product is about twice what it is seeing in traditional interior doors. And styles are expanding in the space with rustic slabs combining with European designs, growing options for tracks and hardware, and more slab choices to meet any homeowner’s tastes. “It gives more versatility and choice when it comes to what direction you want to go in with the style and look of your home,” says Courtney MacKay, accounting manager and social media marketing coordinator at Moulding Warehouse in Hammonds Plains, N.S. “There’s more rustic
Photos courtesy of Alexandria Moulding
traditional look or new stainless-steel modern hardware on which instead of putting a wooden barn door a lot of people chose to put a (frosted) glass door or a flat-panel flush door.” “It gives that illusion of the choice of privacy while also having a more open concept home.” Similarly, while many of the sliding doors offered by Terrebonne, Que.-based interior and closet door manufacturer Concept SGA boast a more European look, its doors made from natural knotty pine compliment hardwood décors well. It’s all about the homeowner’s personal style. WARDROBES TO ANOTHER WORLD Closet space in most homes is at a premium, so it’s natural to want to preserve it and make the most of it. Closets are becoming “a bigger thing” says Donna Gerrits, vice president of sales and marketing for Alexandria Moulding. “People are lining their closets and doing a great job of their walk-in closets,” she says. “As far as a door, what I’ve seen that is very nice is a five-panel door, but with frosted glass, allowing light into the closet, but not allowing you to look into it. I’ve seen the same effect used well on pantries.” In keeping with the bigger deal that closets are becoming, Concept SGA recently developed a new online virtual designer tool (found on its website at sga. ca) that homeowners can use to build closet doors to the number, style, material and colour of panels they chose in steel, aluminum or wood frames. “Aluminum is definitely the Cadillac of closet doors right now. It’s a lot lighter, and that light weight makes it move more smoothly on the rollers. You can push one of these panels with one finger. The difference is like night and day,” says Tracy Cummings, Concept SGA’s national sales manager. She says her company’s wood closet door frames are also popular since they don’t require a bottom track, making vacuuming easier, and some people “just love the look and feel of wood.” // SEPT - OCT 2020
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Photo courtesy of Jeld-Wen Windows & Doors
THE GREAT INDOORS //
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FEATURE STORY // PORTALS TO POSSIBILITIES WEIGHTY ISSUES Beyond aesthetics, one of the ‘heavier’ decisions a homeowner needs to make around their interior doors is whether to use less-expensive hollow core doors, or solid core ones. It’s a difference that has become even more important in 2020. The heft of a solid core door gives some homeowners more of the tactile experience of quality they are looking for, suggests Tyler Murrell, national sales manager at Madero. He says that while around 80% of people are visually stimulated, the remainder are more driven by the kinesthetic quality of a door such as how it feels when opening and closing. The auditory experience is also an important one, especially this year with more and more home
offices emerging. A solid core door has more sound blocking ability, making it ideal for rooms where greater privacy is in order — and for offices that need to block out the goings on around in the rest of the house. It hasn’t always been top-of-mind, but, with the possibility of work-from-home conditions continuing for an unknown amount of time, it bears increased consideration. “Consider the doors in your home and their purpose,” stresses Denise Tripamer, director of marketing communications at Metrie. “Many people are setting up permanent home offices. When you need a quiet space, a solid core door will better give you that.” —
Photo courtesy of Madero // SEPT - OCT 2020
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