Virginia Couch and Brian Blind had originally hired another hardwood flooring company to tackle the floors as part of the complete remodel to update their mid-1990s Lenoir City lake house. About 10 years ago, they had successfully worked with this company on their previous home and were very happy with the outcome. Unfortunately (and unbeknownst to them), this company had fallen on hard times, ultimately resulting in a total loss of their deposit when the owner abruptly started blocking their calls and texts – with no work or materials ever making an appearance.
Virginia and Brian’s vision for their new floors was very specific: site-finished white oak flooring utilizing a water-based finish. A little wary after their recent experience, they began the search for a replacement flooring company. “Some of the companies we talked to had little to no experience with water-based finishes and were insisting on oil-based, which we did not want,” Virginia remembered. Thankfully, the president of the business where Virginia worked had used European Fine Hardwood Floors and told her they “were extremely happy with their project’s outcome.” She and Brian also found some amazingly complimentary reviews online, reinforcing the low to no dust sanding. But was the company able to meet their precise flooring request?
Valera and Svetlana Tomescu, owners of European Fine Hardwood Floors, were easily able to set up a meeting that fit within the couple’s schedule. The Tomescus were also very familiar with water-based finishes, as Bona was among the first floor-care companies to remove toxic and hazardous chemicals from their finishing products – making their products safer for both installers and homeowners without sacrificing reliability or durability.
The prior company had told Brian and Virginia that white oak flooring was on an 8+ week delivery timeline. European Fine Hardwood Floors walked them through the material purchase (which arrived in one week), and explained the importance of acclimation, thorough preparation of the subfloor, and the process of installation, sanding, and finishing. “We have long flooring runs that required a lot of planning to make sure the hardwood lined up visually from area to area,” explained Brian. “Valera also suggested modifications to the in-floor vents so they would all line up also.”
Even with the limits imposed by other concurrent renovation jobs in the house, the floors were completed in a couple of weeks. And with NO DUST from all the sanding. “If only we could say the same about all the drywall work!” remarked Virginia. “Valera, Svetlana, and their boys were a bright spot in an otherwise very difficult and complicated remodel. We are absolutely thrilled with the end result as well as the overall process. Everyone who sees our new flooring is amazed at how beautiful it is. They also notice all the extra details it took to do it right.”
European Fine Hardwood Floors
865.640.3680
KnoxvilleHardwoodRefinishing.com
Certified Craftsman by Bona