After Thirty Years of Business, Metropolitan Still Has the Floor

Canadian flooring company celebrates 30^th anniversary and 25 years of leading the way with its Clean Floors policy

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Metropolitan Hardwood Floors Ltd. (Metropolitan Floors) is celebrating 30 years as a leading manufacturer and distributor of premium quality flooring. The company, with headquarters in Vancouver, British Columbia, and showrooms across North America, has achieved unparalleled success in North America by manufacturing floors that are “crafted with conscience”.

Metropolitan has long been a leader in environmental compliance and appointed Elizabeth Baldwin as its full-time Environmental Compliance Officer (ECO) in 2008, one of the first full-time Environmental Compliance Officers in the wood industry—domestic or import based. Baldwin oversees quality control programs and environmental testing procedures, promotes industry best practices, and provides ongoing compliance training for Metropolitan staff, suppliers, and customers.

“I have spent over 30 years in the international wood industry, traveling to facilities and forests in over 60 countries. For 25 of those years at Metropolitan, I have been ensuring regulatory compliance for all manufacturing activities under Metropolitan’s Clean Floors program,” explained Baldwin. “Clean Floors encompasses every facet of Metropolitan’s manufacturing processes—from forest to floor—and guides every decision made. Today, over 30% of Metropolitan’s staff are directly involved in compliance activity and supply chain oversight.”

Metropolitan Floors made its triumphant retail debut that caught the eye of homeowners and builders as part of the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) Prize Home in the early 1990s. Years after its debut, Metropolitan Floors moved away from retail to focus on manufacturing and distributing and launched its first private label Kentwood, authentic hardwood flooring that offers stunning styles, superior quality, and excellent value. Kentwood was eventually followed by Evoke, Metropolitan’s line of luxury vinyl, laminate, rigid core, and Surge (wood composite core) floors.

Since then, Metropolitan's floors have been installed at notable landmarks, including The Broadview Hotel in Toronto, Ontario; Vancouver House in Vancouver, British Columbia and the Omni Viking Lakes Hotel in Eagan, Minnesota. Metropolitan floors have also appeared in some unexpected places, such as the ceiling at Toronto's trendy Gladstone House!

The level of detail that goes into the design and production of every floor Metropolitan creates includes, Destructive Testing to exceed industry standards, extensive coatings testing, quality control throughout production, moisture control, emissions standards, and environmental factors based on technical knowledge and experience. The company walks the walk, teaching the mills it partners with about expectations of environmental compliance and encouraging them to develop their own policies. This sets Metropolitan Floors apart from competitors, giving it the floor within the premium quality flooring industry.

Metropolitan Floors: A House of Brands

Metropolitan Floors manufactures two core flooring brands: Kentwood, and Evoke. With a design-forward approach to flooring, the company offers a wide selection of floor collections to suit different needs, tastes, and budgets.

Kentwood is known for the exceptional quality of its engineered hardwood floors built to last. The floors embrace the distinctive character and natural beauty of genuine hardwood while making responsible use of a sustainable resource and producing products that perform.

Evoke is Metropolitan’s brand of laminate, luxury vinyl, rigid core, and Surge (wood composite core) floors. The floors are durable and versatile, making them a suitable flooring solution for a variety of applications.

Abode by Kentwood is a quality engineered hardwood flooring that’s stylish and surprisingly affordable.

For high-end projects, Couture by Kentwood is a contemporary, modern luxury line that offers carefully chosen colors in dramatic plank widths and lengths.

Staying true to its design-forward approach, Metropolitan Floors will release over twenty-seven new products later this year that feature generous, wide planks, warmer taupe and mid-brown tones, and new finishes.

To learn more about Metropolitan Floors, the flooring brand, and their commitment to environmental compliance, please visit www.metrofloors.com.

About Metropolitan Hardwood Floors Inc.

Metropolitan Hardwood Floors Inc. manufactures and distributes quality hardwood, luxury vinyl, composite and laminate floors. Founded as a hardwood flooring retailer in 1992, the company has become a leading manufacturer and distributor of end-to-end flooring solutions, including Kentwood and Evoke floors, installation products, finishing accessories, and floor care and maintenance products. The company operates sales and distribution centers throughout North America. Visit metrofloors.com for more information about Metropolitan's products, services, and locations.