Advantages of Prefinished Flooring
There are many advantages associated with prefinished flooring. The biggest advantage is that the customer can choose from among a wide selection of colours, species of wood and finishes. This is why PG Hardwood Flooring, under the aegis of the trademark Model, has developed the most extensive choice of wood stains, finishes, grades and widths in the industry, resulting in more than 5 000 possibilities to suit every customer need. In addition to our classic line of products, we also offer stains in our Unique Collection, making the possibilities almost infinite.

Another advantage of prefinished flooring is its availability. PG can produce short runs as well as larger quantities. Customers can order the quantity needed and the product is delivered as ordered. Moreover, PG maintains a large inventory of prefinished products for rapid service and delivery.

PG Hardwood Flooring and Model products offer the smallest micro-V in the industry, resulting in smoother surfaces overall and guaranteeing the high end quality of our products. Likewise, our products are unequalled for the consistency of their thickness and grade. The sanding process, unique in North America, produces a furniture quality finish that eliminates any accumulation of dust on boards and enhances their appearance. PG Hardwood Flooring and the Model trademark offer unparalleled choice for every decor sure to please each and every customer.
2012.01.10
PG-Model and Exotic Wood
PG-Model produces flooring from species of wood originating from mixed forests indigenous to Quebec in addition to flooring made from exotic species such as Jatoba and Tigerwood. Following is information on these two exotic species that grace any decor with a modern, vibrant look.

Jatoba, often referred to “Brazilian Cherry, is a huge canopy tree, growing to 30 m in height. It is indigenous to the Amazon rainforest and parts of tropical Central America, but is also found in the West Indies and South America. The trunk is cylindrical. The tree produces bright green leaves in matched pairs and clusters of white, fragrant flowers. Flowering occurs in April and May. The 9 to 14-cm long pod-like fruit is very hard, oblong-shaped, of a dark coffee colour and contains one to eight seeds encased in a yellowish, flour-like pulp. The colour of the heartwood ranges from brown to purplish red or orange to purplish brown, almost black, with or without streaks. The wood is very hard and the grain is straight; streaking is very pronounced.

Tigerwood, better known as “Muiracatiara,” grows in tropical forests both wet and dry. It is a fine wood originating from South America, primarily Brazil. Tigerwood has been compared to the coat of a zebra or tiger, owing to its very prominent veins. The heartwood is generally dark, from deep reddish brown to dark red or orange-tinged brown with very irregularly spaced brown black veins. Veins range from very fine to quite large, offering superb contrast with the dominant base colour, which varies from blond to light golden brown. Tigerwood flooring will add originality to any setting, offering a decor without equal!

2011.11.25
PG-Model receives special mention in the September edition of the magazine Surface
Following is an excerpt from the article by Mr. Alain Fortier in the magazine Surface published September last.

“Today, the entrepreneurship shown by Julien Paré and Richard Garneau allows PG-Model to offer innovative and durable floor covering. Founded in 1979, PG-Model currently obtains more than 80% of its raw material within a radius of less than 200 km.

The company, located in Saint-Édouard-de-Lotbinière, Quebec, uses its waste wood to heat its buildings and drying kilns. Wood shavings are sold to melamine wood manufacturers and farmers, further ensuring the conversion of this by-product of flooring production. The guarantee offered by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) also applies to the company’s engineered products made of red oak, maple and yellow birch.

Designers and architects garner additional benefits through the selection of flooring that complies with LEED standards. These two examples of local business showcase responsible development to better meet consumer and investor needs and expectations” [1] (translation).

PG-Model is proud to contribute in its own way to environmental protection and the preservation of a healthy planet for future generations.
[1] Fortier, Alain. 2011. « Le salut passerait-il par le bois ? », magazine Surface. Online. http://www.slideshare.net/alainfor/magazine-surface-alain-fortier-9511466. Consulted October 24, 2011.
2011.10.31
Different Grades of Hardwood Flooring Boards

Many among you are unfamiliar with the different grades of wood offered by flooring manufacturers. By definition, the grade refers to the natural colour variations of the wood.

Before a flooring board actually becomes a board, it is important to understand the grading to which raw materials are subjected during processing. The tree is first felled and sawed into logs. Boards produced at the sawmill are then graded according to their potential for use as defect-free wood. Boards are graded on the basis of their least perfect side.

The three grades offered by PG are: Natural, Pacific and Select & Better.  By eliminating colour variations, PG produces the Select & Better grade, thereby generating the Natural grade, with its greater colour variations, from which defects are eliminated in order to meet PG standards.   All natural variations in the colour of wood are allowed, from the darkest to the lightest. The Pacific grade is a mixture of the Select & Better and Natural grades.  

Grades define the appearance of wood in terms of colour. Each company has its own classification. Although PG follows industry classification standards, the company imposes higher in-house standards on its grades.

To view the difference in grades of hardwood flooring, refer to this link. To view grades of engineered wood, refer to this link.

2011.10.19
At PG Hardwood Flooring Inc., leadership makes the difference

June 1st last, a delegation from Manufacturers and Exporters of Québec (MEQ) toured the PG Hardwood Flooring plant under the aegis of an unlimited innovation visit program (Programme de visites Innovation illimitée). Comments during the visit were very favourable and showed that leadership makes the difference at PG Hardwood Flooring.

As indicated by Simon Prévost, MEQ President: “The participants truly appreciated their tour because they found it enriching and were able to learn more about best manufacturing practices.”

The delegation had to judge the company on criteria such as project management, corporate progress, presentation and tour of facilities and innovation and technology constituents. Participants’ comments were very encouraging and most indicated that PG Hardwood Flooring’s strong points included project management, accountability, health and safety resources and a positive work environment in which the company continues to grow.    

An article published in the 20/20 journal following the visit revealed that “the PG Group banks on four key ingredients: a strategic vision and clear organizational objectives communicated throughout the organization, recognition of opportunities for improvement, the systematic prioritization of these opportunities and the establishment of a project development process based on involvement and accountability” (translation). For a complete copy of the article, click this link.

2011.10.06