For more than 100 years, Missouri Floor Company has been covering the ground we walk on. The family-owned business has seen changes in trends, methods and materials since installing its first floor in the early 1900s, but the customers pretty much stayed the same—until recently. “We’ve noticed a big shift in our residential clients with the increasing popularity of home-improvement shows on TV,” says sales and project manager Alex Verseman. “People are more sophisticated and informed these days. They want their floors to have a custom look, something you won’t find in the house next door. They know that investing in hardwood floors adds to the value of their home—and it’s an investment they can enjoy.”
The traditional strip plank in oak, 2 ¼ inches wide, is still the core of the company’s business, Verseman notes. “But lately, there’s a surge of interest in wide-plank flooring, 5 inches or more in width,” he says. Customers are open to different milling techniques, as well. “For example, they might request a rift-and-quarter-sawn cut, instead of the typical plain-sawn type. It gives the wood a different grain pattern and texture.”
Darker, exotic hardwoods are becoming more popular, too. “We’re seeing an increased demand for Brazilian walnut, cherry, stained maple and cumaru, which runs from dark amber to red in tone,” Verseman explains. Because of the climate in which they’re grown, exotics tend to be denser, more durable and more uniform in color than American woods, with a tighter grain pattern. “And the rich, deep shades add incredible warmth and luxury to a room,” he says. Most Brazilian producers make every effort to ensure the trees are grown and managed sustainably, he adds.
Verseman is the third generation to join the family business. He’s worked at Missouri Floor 15 years, including summers when he was still in school. “We’ve installed new floors, or sanded and finished existing ones, in every possible environment: small contemporary condos, huge turn-of-the-century mansions—even outdoors, at The Muny,” he says. The floor immediately sets the tone and serves as the focus of the space, he contends. “It’s important to get it right—and the right floor not only works with the house’s size and style, but meets the family’s needs.” No one knows a home as well as the owners. “So the first thing we do is find out how and when they plan to use the space, how many kids they have, and what kind of pets they have. Then we take it from there.”
A business that lasts more than 100 years is no accident, Verseman says. “We establish enduring relationships with our clients by providing the very best quality, service and value. We strive to exceed their expectations and gain their trust through incomparable performance by every member of our team. There’s nothing more rewarding than hearing them say, This is exactly what I wanted! We enjoy contributing to the beauty and value of their home.”
Photo by Bill Barrett
Pictured: Alex Verseman
[Missouri Floor Company, located at 2438 Northline Industrial Dr. in Maryland Heights, specializes in residential, commercial and sports flooring. For more information, call 314.432.2260 or visit missourifloor.com.]
