Q1:  Floating wooden flooring has become the answer to everyone’s decorating do-over, what can you tell us about how to buy this?

This product took off with condo development where they needed a floor that could be laid over cement and still be viable with our huge climate variations considering humidity, electrical heating and air conditioning factored in. For these solutions, some need no glueing and others can be snapped together like lego.

Q2: What different kinds are there?

Wood laminated floating floors (photos of wood), wood engineered floating floors (for condos, basements) and real wood planks. Even good old wooden strips have been upgraded in that the wood is pre-finished and no longer need to be sanded and varnished after being installed. Remember when you used to have to move out for days?

Floating fiber floor which could have on its surface ( instead of a photo of wood), a digital photo of anything. Your floor could look like metal, cork, or have wild colorful 70’s designs. The finish withstands wear and tear. It needs no glue to install, so its great for apartments and is waterproof for kitchens and basements. Fiberglas gives it its stability.

Q3: What qualities affect the price of the wood floors?

– what kind of wood is it – maple, Brazilian redwood, etc.
– what grade of wood is it – select, rustic, etc.
– what is the thickness of top layer of wood – could be 1/4″ or ½”
– how long are the pieces of the planked flooring – 18″ are called shorts
– what is the core made of –  can be wood dust laminate or plywood
– has it been dried properly for our climate – those made in other countries may not hold up properly

don’t forget:  Provincial and Federal government grants are available until February

Q4: This is pretty confusing so where can we go to get good advice, good service and pricing?

The stores selected today are all family owned business which have been operating for 30 to 60 years, where service is number one (that’s what has kept them around all these years) and prices are always competitive. Feel free to ask questions and you too will become part of the generations that shop here.

Tapis Lanctot 148 Boyer, St-Isidore (Chateauguay) St-Regis, Hours: Regular plus Sun 11-5. Phone: 514-875-1954.
Other location: Longueuil, 2025 ch. Chambly (450-647-1571). www.lanctot.qc.ca

Don’t be put off by the location – it’s only 15 minutes across the Mercier bridge, and the sheer volume (100,000 sq. ft.) of merchandise is worth the ride. The Lanctots have been around for 125 years selling floating and hardwood floors (look for the bargain bins starting at $.89) including condo solutions, ceramic tiles (starting at $1.25), about 500 area rugs, carpeting, vinyl flooring (lots of  remnants too). They’re known for choice and service, and their prices are low all year round.
Other vendors are inside their building selling wallpaper, paint, bedding, blinds, furniture, kitchen cabinets, plumbing, windows and doors.

Million Tapis et Tuiles, 15 Bernard Ave. E. at St. Laurent Blvd. Phone: 514-273-9983. Hours:  Monday and Tuesday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday to Friday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
For shop at home call 514-273-9983.
Other locations: Laval, 175 de la Concorde e. (450-663-9870); Ville St-Pierre, 170 St-Jacques (514-365-1652).   www.millioncarpets.com

Since 1937, this 3rd generation company has been selling flooring. An unbelievable 21 family members are working in the business, which now offers  wood floors, floating fiber floors (great for apartments), carpeting (in any width), rugs (width to 4 metres) and tiles.
Grandpa Skoda Joseph started out working in the coal room of Congoleum, and convinced them to sell him their seconds. He then installed Stephen Skoda at the tender age of 14 in a store on Bleury, and without knowing English or French, Stephen managed to make a go of it.
Besides making your selection from sample catalogues from every major mill in N. America, there are ends of rolls and ends-of-lines. The prices are usually discounted. They’ve been in business a long time, so there are many satisfied customers.

Normandy Carpets,  950  boul. St-Jean, Pointe Claire at boul. Brunswick. Phone: 514-426-7847  Hours: Mon-Wed 10-6, Thurs & Fri 10-8, Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5 (seasonal)

For designer products, this boutique-like carpet showroom is known by word of mouth – and that’s a good sign. For 40 years, this family-run business has been selling quality carpeting from major Canadian, American and European mills. They also carry wood floors, wood laminates, runners, area rugs and exclusive designer lines, and can do custom bordering and create designer rugs.
Since they buy in volume for their commercial sales, they can meet and beat the prices of their competitors. Once you’ve entered, expect the friendly staff to give you an education on flooring.

Does it matter where in the city you go to look at the sales?

When thinking of attending garage sales, you should keep in mind what it is you are looking for, and that might determine what part of the city you should be shopping in. If you need to stock up on children’s strollers, bikes, toys, etc., then you should be looking at younger neighborhoods like Kirkland or Dollard des Ormeaux in the West Island. If it’s collectibles, accent pieces of furniture, silverplate, etc., then you should look toward the older neighborhoods like Westmount, Baie D’Urfe or Notre Dame de Grace, where older families will be cleaning out attics and basements full of years of accumulated goods. If you look in the Saturday classifieds of the Gazette, there is a garage sale column. Take out a map and plan it all out ahead of time so you won’t be doubling back and forth during the day.

How should you prepare yourself to go?

Since you’re going to be negotiating prices, dress down to fit the part. If you look too prosperous, the price will just go up.
As you’ll probably be out all day, pack a  lunch to eat during your travels. This way you won’t get hungry and go looking for fast food. If you sit down, your get up and go may get up and go.

The big embarrassment – do we have to bargain?

Bring your cash in small bills and coins, as it is easier to bargain with. The people running the sales may not have change of a twenty-dollar bill. If you just hand them exactly what you want to spend, it’s an easier way of bargaining.
To start the negotiating process, don’t ask for each price as you find things. After you are done gathering all the stuff together that you want to buy, present it to them. Offer anywhere from 30% to 50% less than what it all adds up to. Don’t be surprised if some people do not want to bargain. It is usually the sport at garage sales and is expected, but some people are uncomfortable. A usual pattern is to offer half of the total and settle on three-quarters.

Is it a good idea to take the whole family, the kids too?

Garage sales are good family outings. You can take kids along and give them a few quarters or loonies, and they can shop for little toys at each place, which will keep them very busy and leave you alone to do your perusing. It will not cost very much, and they will keep busy playing with their new things.

These sales are a good place for Dad to stock up on tools for his workshop. So many men collect tools that they rarely get to use, so when they finally decide to clear them out, you can get great prices on them. However, please make sure to try out everything that is electric to make sure it works. Ask for a place to plug the item in and try it out – there are no returns at garage sales.

What do you do if you find a big item like a sofa?

If you buy any big items – sofas, washing machines, kitchen tables, bureaus, cribs, etc., make sure you have negotiated into the price who will be moving these large pieces to your house.

Best time for selection and price?

Since garage sales are usually held on Saturdays and Sundays, it is important to go early on Saturday morning to get the best selection of items. However, for the best prices, wait for Sunday afternoon. At this point most sellers are dreading lugging it all back into the house, and will be more willing to give it away for a lot less.

Hydro Quebec has some money it would like to give you. In their recyc-Frigo initiative, they will not only hand you $60 bucks for an old fridge or freezer but they will haul them away for free. Surely someone you know has an old fridge in a garage or basement that is plugged in and chugging away chilling only a couple of beers for their next party. Here’s the deal: the fridge or freezer has to be over 10 years old, must be at least 10-25 cubic feet in volume and most importantly, it must be still working and plugged in. The reason they are doing this is that old fridges use up about 3 times the amount of electricity of a new one. And… only two appliances per household.

Tel: 877-493-7446
www.recyc-frigo.com