The expansive 340m² space required an upgrade from the existing tired ceramic tiles so the options for timbers, laminates and glue down products were proving expensive.

Director, Jon Renton agreed a composite floating flooring would deliver great value, be cost effective as well as robust for his commercial furniture displays.

High-end furniture deserves a high-end look and timber look flooring was an obvious choice. The realistic timber grain and matt finish of the Strata planks provided the realism needed. “It looks like a timber floor but has the durability of a composite”, said Jon.

There were major inconsistencies with the current flooring exhibiting several humps and hollows. Competitor products were suggested requiring large amounts of glue and filling to level the floor resulting in more and more expense. The 220 x 1500mm Strata planks offered a more affordable solution as the interlocking floating planks laid over underlay, evened out the levels and was more forgiving underfoot.

Any concerns regarding clicking or knocking sounds with an uneven surface were quickly allayed. The flooring is comfortable and quiet to walk on, according to Jon.

Displays of furniture are always changing and Crestline Furniture needed flooring to withstand heavy items being dragged and shifted around. Strata once again has outperformed with minimal impact from heavy duty commercial use. It has four times the strength of traditional vinyl planking.

A huge advantage for Crestline was the 100% waterproof guarantee. It has already been put to the test when holding tanks at the bottom of a green feature wall flooded. ‘We turned on the taps and the tanks weren’t connected properly. A flood was easily mopped up and any swelling or damage was avoided due to the 100% waterproof construction, he said. “You wouldn’t know we’d had a flood in that area”.

The stability of the Strata planks has also allowed for continuous planking without expansion joins visible throughout the entire ‘L’ shaped space. This enhances the good looks and flow of flooring throughout commercial interiors. Expansion gaps at the perimeter allow for any minimal expansion and contraction post installation and between seasons.

Efficiencies around installation were also a bonus as the entire job took two men only three to four days. Rolls of underlay were easily laid and secured and the simple patented 3L Triplelock system of the interlocking planks added to a swift transformation.

Interior Designer, Matisse Whittfield from Studio Muse was impressed with the new colourway ‘Turin Oak Slacked Oyster’ which offered a neutral grey backdrop to the ever-changing displays and bold colours. It was a good choice, adding warmth but a level of neutrality that will work as a backdrop, she said.

She was also keen on the matching mouldings and accessories allowing professional finishing and edging to plinths created for furniture settings and displays. “These are not always available in other ranges,” said Whittfield.

Critical for this interior showroom was the flexibility and functionality of a space utilised for many events. Strata offered “peace of mind” in relation to the “thrills and spills” that can occur with functions, she said.

Crestline Furniture, a family-owned business which originated in the Waikato 34 years ago, is now enjoying a fresh new look after a satisfying move to its stunning new location in St Georges Bay Road.