Here are answers to frequently-asked questions.
Cleaning hardwood floors
Can i use a spray mop like a swiffer® wetjet® or something similar to clean my preverco wood floor?
Our recommendation: spray the cleaner on a microfibre cloth rather than directly on the floor. The best results are obtained with Preverco cleaner.
My local dealer does not distribute your cleaner; where can i find it?
You can ask your dealer to look at the Preverco price list and order it for you.
Can i use a mop and a bucket to clean my preverco wood floor?
We recommend that you do not clean your hardwood floor with a mop and bucket. Water can infiltrate the cracks in the flooring and cause its expansion and various problems such as deforming the pieces of wood in width (cupping) or peeling the layer of varnish. Instead, use our mop (you will find it in our cleaning kit) or a similar microfibre product.
Can i clean my floors with the wave and brushed textures the same way as those with the regular finish?
Textured floors are as easy to clean as our standard products. The same type of finish is applied to all our products. More vigorous brushing may be required to thoroughly cleanse it.
Can i use a steam mop on my preverco wood floor?
We do not recommend it. This type of system applies steam against the surface of the floor and collects the dirt with a rag broom. As hardwood reacts to its environment, it absorbs moisture and can expand. This cleaning process can therefore cause cracks, warping and other irreversible damage to your wood. Instead, use the mop and cleaner from our cleaning kit.
Reactive and Raw colours
Why do some colour names end with “FX”?
The suffix “FX” means that the colour in question is obtained by using so-called reactive stains. Reactive Stain is a colouring product used to achieve rich and unique tone variations on prefinished hardwood flooring.
How do reactive stains work and what results can be expected?
Reactive stains don’t just colour the wood. Although they may contain pigments of a predominant colour like traditional stains, they also contain components that react with certain natural wood elements such as tannins and sapwood. This reaction creates darker areas, or conversely lighter. In fact, they accelerate the wood’s natural aging by giving an antique patina to a new floor.
How do i get the best result with an FX colour floor?
Understand the extent of the colour variation: The first step to achieving a perfect result with a floor using a reactive colour is to understand the variations that this colour provides. This will enable you to validate if this colour choice is suitable for the rest of the house or room. You must choose the floor according to its predominant colour but also according to the possible extremes of variation, and establish if this range of variation suits your decor.
Open as many boxes of flooring as possible before installing: Once the colour is selected, the most important part for the success of your dream floor is done just before the product is installed. The full range of colour variation is not necessarily evenly-distributed throughout each of the boxes. Consequently, it is very important to open as many boxes of flooring as possible in order to be able to mix the boards with variation well in the room when installing the product.
Keep the boards with extreme variation: Your order may include a small amount of boards that are completely at one end or the other in the range of colour variation. For example, a floorboard made entirely of sapwood (wood naturally paler and richer in tannins than heartwood) could be very difficult to arrange in the room without creating too large an anomaly in the visual effect. We suggest keeping these boards and installing them in closets, under the location of stationary furniture or other less-visible places.
Preselect the boards that will be adjacent to the mouldings: The mouldings are stained to match the predominant colour of the floor. Therefore, we suggest choosing the boards in advance that will be adjacent to the mouldings, based on the best colour match.
What is the difference between RAW floors and natural floors?
So-called traditional natural floors are produced by applying several coats of clear, UV-drying varnish. They are most often available in a satin finish. Despite the fact that the varnishes used are transparent, the successive application of layers on natural wood tends to yellow it slightly and to increase the contrasts in the grain compared to the wood before application.
The new RAW colours are presently the actual European trend to produce hardwood floors who are varnished, but they have an appearance near a natural floor without finition. These floors have levels of finish really matte and a minimum of colour alteration and contrasts in comparison with the first material before the varnishing.
Do FX or raw floors require different maintenance and have the same durability?
These floors are maintained the same way as any other prefinished hardwood floor and are just as durable. Their very matte finish makes scratches and dust accumulation less noticeable in general than with higher gloss floors. However, keep in mind that any wood flooring must be treated in the same way as wood furniture to preserve its appearance. Frequent sweeping and drying immediately after any spillage of liquid or coloured substances (mustard, red wine, food, etc.) are essential. See the Preverco instructions for a complete list of precautions and recommended maintenance methods.
About Preverco
Is Preverco a Canadian brand?
Yes. Preverco is a family-owned Canadian hardwood flooring manufacturer founded in 1988 and headquartered in Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Quebec. The company operates a sawmill in Daveluyville and manufacturing plants in Boisbriand and Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures. All products are 100% made in Canada from North American wood — the only Canadian manufacturer to do so.
Where is Preverco hardwood flooring manufactured?
All Preverco flooring is manufactured in Canada. The company operates facilities in Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures and Boisbriand, Quebec, with a sawmill in Daveluyville, Quebec. No components are sourced from overseas — including no Baltic Birch or imported veneers.
Is Preverco available in the United States?
Yes. Preverco products are distributed through a network of over 500 retail outlets across Canada and the United States, with additional export to Mexico and other countries.
What types of hardwood flooring does Preverco offer?
Preverco offers the straightest prefinished solid hardwood flooring available in Canada and 100% locally sourced engineered hardwood flooring in different core platforms.
Warranty
What warranty does Preverco offer?
Preverco’s satin and matte finishes are covered by a 35-year residential warranty. Full warranty terms for solid and engineered floors are set out in the SolidClassic warranty and the Engineered warranty documents.
Platforms
What is the difference between Preverco’s Flex and Max engineered platforms?
Flex is a two-layer engineered platform optimized for acoustic performance and versatile installation — it is compatible with concrete and all installation methods, and holds the highest FIIC acoustic rating in its category. Max is a three-layer engineered platform designed for maximum dimensional stability with wide and very wide planks, also compatible with concrete and radiant heat.
Which Preverco platform is best for a basement or below-grade installation?
Both the Flex and Max platforms can be installed directly on concrete and are suitable for below-grade applications. Flex is the preferred choice for condos and multi-family construction due to its superior acoustic properties.
Which Preverco platform is compatible with radiant floor heating?
The Flex and Max engineered platforms are both compatible with radiant floor heating (except in Hickory). The SolidClassic solid hardwood platform is not recommended for radiant heat applications.
Finish
What finish does Preverco use on its hardwood floors?
Preverco floors are prefinished at the factory with an aluminum oxide finish that benefits from a proprietary process that enhances its durability. The finish is offered in satin, which gives the floor a shiny look without being overly glossy, and in matte, which enhances the wood’s natural look. Both are covered by a 35-year residential warranty.
Is Preverco flooring suitable for high-traffic areas?
Yes. Preverco’s aluminum oxide finish is made to protect the wood for years and is covered by a 35-year residential warranty. For busy households, harder species such as Hickory and Maple and a brushed texture, which hides some marks and scratches, are the most forgiving choices.
Acoustic performance
What is the quietest hardwood flooring on the market?
Preverco’s Flex platform holds the highest FIIC acoustic rating among Canadian engineered hardwood floors. When professionally installed with the appropriate membrane, it is the quietest hardwood floor on the market according to the FIIC index, making it the top choice for condos and multi-family buildings where sound transmission is a concern.
What does FIIC mean and why does it matter for hardwood flooring?
FIIC stands for Field Impact Insulation Class — a standardized measure of how well a floor absorbs and reduces impact noise (footsteps, dropped objects) between floors. A higher FIIC score means less impact sound travels to the unit below. The Preverco Flex platform achieves the highest FIIC rating available in prefinished engineered hardwood flooring, with a rating of FIIC 66.
Sustainability and certifications
Is Preverco hardwood flooring GREENGUARD Gold certified?
Yes. All Preverco products carry GREENGUARD Gold certification — the most stringent independent standard for VOC and formaldehyde emissions in indoor environments. GREENGUARD Gold certification is required for many healthcare and school projects and is recognized by LEED. See our full sustainability commitments.
Does Preverco flooring qualify for LEED projects?
Yes. Preverco’s GREENGUARD Gold certification, Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), 100% North American wood sourcing, and zero overseas component shipping all contribute toward LEED credits. Designers specifying for LEED projects should request the EPD documentation from their Preverco dealer.
Is Preverco flooring low VOC and formaldehyde-free?
Yes. Preverco products meet the most stringent standards for Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) and formaldehyde emissions, as independently verified through the GREENGUARD Gold certification program. All products also comply with the U.S. Lacey Act for responsible forest sourcing.
Does Preverco have an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)?
Yes. Preverco has published an independently verified Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) that documents the full environmental impact of its products from raw materials to end-of-life. The EPD is available for download on the Environment page and can be provided to architects and designers for green building project specifications.
Flex platform: what flooring professionals say
Is Preverco’s Flex platform reliable?
Yes. Flooring distributors who have supplied the Flex platform for years report that it performs reliably in real-world conditions. Eastside Floor Supplies, a Preverco partner for over 20 years, has supplied millions of square feet of the Flex platform across the New York City market since early 2016.
“After supplying millions of square feet of this product across single family homes, multifamily projects, high rise developments, and hospitality environments for more than 10 years, and even choosing it for my own home, we know firsthand how well it performs and will continue to promote it to our clients with confidence for years to come.”
— Mike Flynn, Owner, Eastside Floor Supplies (New York City)
“Overall, Flex stands out for being both high-quality and practical. It’s a reliable solution we feel confident recommending on a regular basis.”
— Gregory Lombardo, Branch Manager, Long Island Paneling
How stable is the Flex platform compared to Baltic birch plywood?
According to Eastside Floor Supplies, the vertical picket core construction of the Flex platform delivers greater balance and dimensional stability than Baltic birch plywood, with components sourced entirely from North America.
“What stands out most is the stability of the platform. In the engineered flooring world, Baltic birch plywood has long been a respected benchmark for stability. In our experience, the vertical picket core construction used in the Preverco Flex platform consistently delivers an even greater level of balance and dimensional stability, particularly across wider boards and varying site conditions. That stability is especially important in the New York City market, where significant seasonal swings in humidity and temperature can be particularly demanding on hardwood flooring.”
— Mike Flynn, Owner, Eastside Floor Supplies (New York City)
Does the Flex platform perform well over radiant heat?
Yes. Flooring professionals report that the Flex platform performs well over radiant heat as well as on concrete and plywood subfloors.
“I selected Preverco flooring with the Flex platform for my own home over a radiant heat system. Before making that decision, I spent months evaluating and testing the various construction types we offer over a mock up radiant heat floor platform I built specifically for that purpose. The Flex construction consistently outperformed the others in terms of stability and overall performance, which ultimately made it the clear choice for my own project. Seven years later, I am still very happy with that decision.”
— Mike Flynn, Owner, Eastside Floor Supplies (New York City)
“It performs well even when site conditions vary including radiant heat, concrete and plywood subfloors.”
— Gregory Lombardo, Branch Manager, Long Island Paneling
Is the Flex platform easy to install?
Yes. Distributors and installers describe the Flex platform as easy to work with, and it can be glued, nailed, stapled or floated.
“From an installer’s perspective, the platform is also very easy to work with. It installs smoothly, adapts well to minor subfloor variations, and performs reliably whether it is stapled, glued, or floated. Those qualities make a real difference on the job site and help installers deliver consistent results.”
— Mike Flynn, Owner, Eastside Floor Supplies (New York City)
“The ability to install it using multiple methods—glue, nail, staple, or float—means we can adapt to any project, whether it’s a renovation, remodel, or new construction.”
— Gregory Lombardo, Branch Manager, Long Island Paneling
Comparing Preverco
How does Preverco compare to other hardwood manufacturers?
Preverco is a premium Canadian hardwood flooring manufacturer with a strong reputation. Preverco differentiates on acoustic performance (Flex FIIC rating), dimensional stability technology (Flex19 and Flex13), full GREENGUARD Gold certification across all products, and a published EPD.