Here’s a list of the 10 industry leaders within the Canadian resilient flooring, terrazzo tile and marble contracting community.
This specialized field requires skill in both the trade and in business management and operations. This special feature also recognize significant suppliers and distributors. Leadership goes beyond the basics, to encompass relevant association and community contributions.
The list here is primarily alphabetical, not hierarchical – so you shouldn’t rank the companies as they all qualify for recognition. However, we recognize Lab Flooring Industries first because of its advertising sponsorship.
Lab Flooring Industries
More than 25 years ago Dino Papadopoulos and his brother, Steve (who has died), started Lab Flooring Industries with the goal of bringing quality products and top-notch customer service in installing all types of flooring. The company still adheres to those standards. Lab Flooring Industries does installation work in residences and businesses, but most of the company’s projects are institutional such as at hospitals, arenas, schools and pools.
The business is a member of the Terrazzo, Tile and Marble Association of Canada (TTMAC) and the Local 27 Resilient Union. The company has about 85 employees who are well-trained in the installation process. Dino says, moving forward, the company has hired younger people who have innovative ideas in the marketing and engineering fields.
Ames Tile & Stone
Ames Tile & Stone is one of the chief distributors of tile, stone and accessory products in western Canada with branch offices in Vancouver, Burnaby, Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg. Not only has the company set itself apart as a source for leading edge, mainstream tile and stone products, but it prides itself in product knowledge, top-notch relationships with both clients and suppliers and prides itself on exemplary customer care. Ames Tile & Stone maintains a team of talented, dedicated employees who share that passion for customer care. In fact, Ames has received the Best Workplace in Canada award every year since 2008.
Ardex Canada
Family owned and operated Ardex Canada is a subsidiary of The Ardex Americas group which has been the quality leader in offering building chemicals for four decades. The company delivers industry leading innovation and time-tested consistent solutions to the most complex installation problems for concrete repair and resurfacing, substrate preparation, flooring installation and for setting natural stone, ceramic tile and any other type of flooring materials. Ardex Canada is a system solution provider operating in a spirit of fairness, transparency and responsible business practices. Recently, Ardex has introduced more than 100 new products to its roster proving the company is not only providing innovative, high-performing products, but also providing solutions.
Bellavita Tile
Bellavita is the Italian term for “good life” and that is exactly what this company tries to create for its customers, its employees and the world. Bellavita strives to bring ambience, comfort and style into the homes and businesses where their tiles are installed. Staff help clients to select the right tile for their individual needs, but also ensure proper installation and assist clients to care and maintain their tile so it looks just as good in a decade as it does on the first day of installation.
The company offers a wide selection from which to choose: Commercial floor tile, glass mosaics, glass tile, glazed porcelain, wall tile, stone mosaics and cement tile. Bellavita strives for creativity, energy and commitment to improve the lives of everyone with whom they come into contact.
Carrelages de Montreal Ltée
Carrelages de Montreal Ltée was founded in 2001 and now boasts of a management team and employee workforce who are experts in floor finishing and building cladding. The company is also a tour de force in laying tiles, ceramics, marble, granite and terrazzo. Most of the company’s projects are in the commercial, institutional and residential sectors in Montreal, but it also has a footprint in many regions of Quebec, Ontario and the Maritimes.
Carrelages de Montreal Ltée has been a forerunner in the construction and renovation of semi-Olympic and Olympic ceramic pool liners and has also been instrumental in repair work in subway stations and airports. Large-scale, complex projects are a company strength, with services in technical project analysis, development and/or refinement of plans and specifications, budget and scheduling development and others. The company also takes on relevant general contracting projects.
Flesher Marble and Tile
Flesher Marble and Tile was established in Calgary in 1910 by family patriarch Nick Flesher. Back then, the company focused on supplying and installing terrazzo chips and marble popular during that era. The company is part of Calgary’s history and its handiwork can be seen in such places as the courthouse and the Burns Building. The company now brings the same craftsmanship to residential clients with renovations and builds.
Flesher Marble and Tile has a vast showroom filled with a range of different tiles available for clients’ projects. They include limestone, marble, porcelain, slate, luxury vinyl, travertine, among others. The knowledgeable team will help clients choose the right tile options for their needs.
Floors Plus
When Larry and Pat Gibson were told the company for which they had been working would be closing, the couple had to make a decision. That was in the mid-1980s and instead of staying in the working-for-someone-else realm, the decided to become entrepreneurs and opened Floor Plus. Since then, the company has grown by leaps and bounds.
With its head office in Burnside, Nova Scotia, it also has locations in Dartmouth, Halifax, Truro, Cambridge and Moncton/Dieppe. The staff listens to its clients and draw on their vast experience to bring flooring projects to life. However, the company isn’t just about floors. They can also help with window treatments, countertops, furniture and lighting, among others. They are there for planning, installation and flooring emergencies.
Huard Group of Companies
Huard Marble & Tile was founded in 1992 by Owen Huard. The company continues to provide its clients with the greatest level of professional workmanship the industry has to offer. Through the years, Huard has forged ahead with a team of skillful tile and stone experts who keep up with modern innovations ensuring customer satisfaction. When it comes to services, the company not only does tile and stone installations, but also waterproofing, substrate reinforcement, crack isolation, and the supply and fabrication of natural and engineered stone, among others.
Employees also aid clients in maintenance and repairs doing jobs such as mending chipped countertops, replacing loose tiling, replacing grout, floor refinishing, cleaning and sealing, and the like.
Schluter Systems
Schluter Systems says it prides itself on the innovative installation systems for tile and stone. Company founder Werner Schlüter has consistently met the needs of a rapidly evolving industry by developing practical solutions to tile installation challenges. The company has three locations in North America, including Montreal. More than 900 people employed by the company worldwide are dedicated to creating innovative solutions for the tile industry and work alongside distributors, dealers, tile contractors, architects, specifiers and others in the building and construction industries.
The company offers practical solutions for common tile installation challenges and is committed to providing reliable ceramic and stone tile installation systems that not only solve problems but benefit the entire tile industry.
Stone Tile International Inc.
Sylvia Benchimol founded Stone Tile International Inc. in 1992. She has been hands on in the business from the beginning and has been involved in sourcing, sales and service. Today, the company has more than 160 employees with showrooms across Canada. Stone Tile has a reputation for quality products and customer service as well as a stellar reputation of keeping one step ahead of the industry in terms of fashion trends and innovation.
Stone Tile offers a number of products including natural stone, manufactured tile, engineered wood, laminam, setting materials and exterior cladding. The company also takes environmental responsibility very seriously. It has developed an environmental policy addressing the environmental concerns of the hard surfaces and construction industries.