When clients choose Slotegraaf Construction, there are an array of vendors we work with depending on their home’s needs. We’re continuing our Vendor Spotlight features by introducing you to another high-quality business we can count on to assist us in transforming our clients home into one they’ll love for years to come. With these articles, we hope to educate, prepare, and guide our current clients through the selections process once they have chosen their preferred vendor to work with.

Get Acquainted with Grand Valley Tile & Flooring

Opening in 1959, Grand Valley Tile & Flooring was founded by Bruce Goetz and Harold Hunt in Kitchener, Ontario. As a premier flooring and tile business in the Waterloo Region, they have decades of experience in the industry along with the largest selection of expertly curated products.

Being a longtime partner of Slotegraaf Construction's projects, we gave the floor (pun intended) to their Vice President, Zach Goetz, to provide us with insight on their client process and trending selections, along with a tour of their showroom.

Giving Back

From selling to installing, they have worked on thousands of homes in order to help homeowners achieve a more modern and comfortable lifestyle, including the many homes Slotegraaf Construction builds and renovates. Their 60-year portfolio also includes schools and businesses. However, serving the community doesn't end there—each year Grand Valley Tile donates product to Habitat for Humanity to help build homes for those in need in the community. Zach explained they take great pride in helping to build the community they live in by donating an abundance of leftover flooring material, including tile and hardwood for low-income housing.

Product & Styles to Fit Every Budget & Taste

Their showroom is bright and inviting with plenty of products to marvel and consider.

Hardwood:

The showroom has a new, gallery-like display of hardwood for clients to browse, from different shades to different variations of plank size. Zach noted wider planks and larger floorboards are being frequently used in clients' homes.

Carpet:

Gone are the days of wall-to-wall carpet. Zach explained, it's all about what compliments and acts as an accent to the space now; area rugs and stair runners have been in favour.

Cork:

He suggested cork has become more appealing due to its soft touch and warm aesthetic, but most notably because it's eco-friendly.

Tile:

With kitchen and bathrooms being the popular areas for tile, from backsplash to flooring, Zach suggested most clients opt for it to be heated flooring. He continued on by saying heated flooring used to be viewed as more of a luxury feature to have in one's home or unobtainable, but it has become more of a common feature to incorporate recently.

Water-Proofing Solutions:

Grand Valley Tile specializes in water-proofing bathrooms using one of the three different systems—Schluter, Wedi, or Mapei. Their in-person display showcases a comparison of Wedi and Schluter systems, including drain orientation, product line, and accessories.

Trend Alert:

When asked about materials on-trend right now and what has changed in terms of selections due to the pandemic, Zach pointed out clients are searching for more quality, Canadian-made products, specifically in hardwood flooring and carpets. Sports flooring and quartz countertops have also been standouts.

With basement renovations and home gyms increasing in popularity, especially in the midst of closures due to the pandemic, it's understandable how sports flooring has peaked in interest. Grand Valley Tile offers rubber tiles and rolls in different colour and design variations for those looking to create a fitness area.

Quartz countertops have been on the rise due to their antimicrobial material and cleanability, a must-have for most right now with the emphasis on hygiene over the last year.

In addition to these selections, their offerings also include vinyl, laminate, bamboo, and cleaning products you can browse.

Making Home Your Favourite Place

From high-level service to pristine installation, their knowledgeable staff will work with you to:

• Stay within your budget

• Achieve desired results

"For a great customer experience and final result, it's best to get a complete understanding of what the client wants. This includes the functionality of the home or space, grout colour and layout, and then ensuring this is all captured in detail on the quote." -Zach Goetz.

Check out our helpful guide to learn about the design and consultation process and what to expect when moving ahead with Slotegraaf and Grand Valley Tile for your custom home or renovation project.

Resources

While digital lookbooks and suppliers of their various products can be found online, taking samples home is encouraged. Zach noted lighting can differentiate between the showroom and the clients' homes. It also gives the customer a chance to compare the way the samples look in the morning versus night, and when matched up with paint colours and fabrics already inside the home.

Many of the projects Grand Valley Tile has worked on are award-winning, alongside Slotegraaf. Take a look below at some of the homes we've had the opportunity to incorporate their tile and flooring in: