By Megan Salzano
While accessories such as trim and molding may not always get their due, these products are essential to the successful completion of any flooring installation. Creating a professionally finished install is key to sales growth through repeated business and positive online reviews—two aspects of flooring retail sales that many take for granted.
While keeping the tried-and-true trim and molding options ready to complete the sale, it’s important for RSAs and flooring dealers to remain up to date on the new offerings entering the market. The new year is already seeing an expansion of product lines, entrances into new categories and the growth of vinyl options.
Following is a curated assortment of the latest trim and molding product lines hitting the market this year.
Pennwood
In 2020, Pennwood will provide transitions for both the hardwood and vinyl categories. Pennwood will also provide wrapped molding and print decorative decals on hardwood to provide unique visuals.
“To continue our growth, we must be in the position to provide moldings not only for hardwood, but in luxury vinyl,” said Kraig Coxon, executive vice president. “The demand for these floors has been phenomenal. It only makes sense to expand our portfolio to make Pennwood a ‘one stop shop’ for hardwood molding, vinyl wrapped molding and more, all customized to coordinate with each manufacturer’s floor.”
Artistic Finishes
Artistic Finishes’ modernly designed Enduracor Square Edge Stairnose completes its profile offering for floor thicknesses ranging from 2mm-6mm, and with added shims can accommodate up to 15mm. Like the rest of the Enduracor line, the Square Edge Stairnose is durable, water resistant and versatile. The product features a 3.5-inch-wide profile that assures proper function and long-lasting durability in addition to the company’s exclusive four-layer design.
“We’ve been in the wood business for over 35 years—and it still is the lion share of what we do—but there’s no doubt the multi-layer section of the industry has grown by leaps and bounds,” said Bill Treiber, technical sales and education manager. “You can’t ignore that. Our Enduracor profile offering had to accommodate the needs of the industry. We are custom blending to over 300 different manufacturers, and we’re adding more all the time. There is hardly a day that we don’t have somebody ask us to blend to their products.”
Seneca
In addition to its extensive lines of hardwood transitions and flexible molding products, Seneca has introduced hardwood floor vents in prefinished and unfinished options. Surface, flush mount, toe kick, base and one directional wall vents will be offered with the new launch. All vents are made in the USA.
“These durable, high-quality vents are color blended to Seneca’s existing transitions in a variety of species, sizes and finishes,” said Jay Weinfuss, western regional sales manager. “Prefinished vents that blend with the floor and transitions are the final touch that makes a floor installation complete.
Perfect Vents
Perfect Vents’ patented Vent System brings flush mount vents to floating floors. The company produces the matching vents out of the actual flooring, so color, texture and thickness are an exact match. Each vent has a powder coated steel support plate to handle heavy traffic areas, which can be slid out of the way for easy access to the duct.
“Luxury vinyl is not just a ‘budget alternative’ to hardwood anymore, it’s direct competition,” said Joe Kennedy, president. “That means customers are looking for the same accessories that are available for hardwoods. That’s where we come in. We stock most major brands, which allows us to have extremely fast turnaround, typically two to three business days. Our vents are only sold through our dealers, which gives our dealers an advantage.”
Flexco
Flexco has unveiled inside and outside corner products to fit its Base Sculptures line in an effort to ease installation and promote aesthetically pleasing designs. The corner designs, like Base Sculptures, are made from thermoplastic rubber, are flexible and easy to install. They are made with the same color formula as Base Sculptures for easy color matching and come in multiple heights to fit the different Base Sculptures profiles.
“The new corners make it much easier to install and make the end result look like an architectural wood wall base without the cost,” said Haley Plank, marketing manager. “It’s also a step-up product. So, it’s benefiting the consumer, the installer and the retailer.”
