We realize it's been a while since we've updated this website or this blog, but it's because we've been SO busy installing floors.  Actually, we've expanded our business into general construction.  We built a three car garage last year!  We dug the spot, placed the footings, poured the concrete, built the walls, set the trusses, brought in roofing and electrical contractors and we installed the drywall and siding and we handled the city permitting.  We now have a fleet of equipment including a bobcat, backhoe and dump truck as well as a range of construction tools.  We still do all types of floors too though.  Give us a call at (618)550-0510 for a quote on your project.  No job is too big or too small.  

Maintaining a "Top Pro" status on Thumbtack requires us to continuously have new five star, verified customer reviews.  I'm super proud to announce that we have earned that title two years in a row now.  Thumbtack reports that less than 3% of their vendors meet the Top Pro qualifications.  But Thumbtack has been an instrumental partner in Floors by Matt's success.  Thumbtack helps us fill in the gaps in our schedule and keeps us working continuously.  We have a limited advertising budget and word of mouth has been fantastic, but it is Thumbtack, with their ability to grab your attention on the first page of a Google search, that saves the day.  So while getting reviews on Thumbtack is super important to us, we also think Thumbtack should get it's own rave review for supporting local business growth.  

Over 50% of our business during the Summer of 2016 has been through referrals from clients to their friends and/or family.  Happy clients have truly turned out to be our best form of marketing yet!  If you're happy and you know it, tell your friends!

Admittedly, I've been slack about keeping up with blog posts and adding new pictures of our work to the website, but it's because we've been so busy!  I looked up and we're halfway through the year already.  They say time flies when your having fun and it's true that we have fun.  We work hard, enjoy the grind and feel good about our accomplishments at the end of the day.  It's rewarding to work with your hands and have your customers enjoy your work for years to come.  We're busy, but we take the time to make  sure your project is perfect.  Call or text for a free consultation in St. Louis, Springfield, IL or southern IL areas.  618-550-0510

2015 has been a really exciting year here at Floors by Matt.  We've managed to carve out a digital footprint for the business.  The website has blossomed this year.  We now have a presence on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Houzz, LinkedIn, Google, Bing, YP, Yelp, Thumbtack, Home Advisor and Pinterest.  Some of our social media highlights this year included being retweeted by the offical @cardsredoctober account and being followed by prominent local businesses, such as Johnnie Brock's Dungeon and Vinson Mortgage.  We were hired for contract work in our local Kohls and Old Navy stores, and we are working in a local daycare over the holiday break to ensure no disruption to their business.  We're super thankful to all of our clients for allowing us into their homes and businesses and sharing our information with friends.  Happy clients have truly proven to be the best bet for securing future business!  We can't wait to see what 2016 brings!

Grout.  It's not a pretty word, as far as words go, but it makes all the difference when we're talking about ceramic tile.  The right contrast between tile and grout can make a tile "pop" beautifully.  On the other hand, the wrong color grout can look disastrous.  Of course, we're here to help you choose the right color.  
The magic of grouting lies is in the moments when the grout is applied and then the excess is washed away.  It looks all sloppy and messy when it's applied, but as you take the sponge to it and wipe the excess away gently, the mess clears away, leaving perfectly applied grout.  It's in those moments when you get to see exactly how beautiful your new floor, backsplash or shower are really going to be.  

This picture is a little harsh on the eyes.  It's reminiscent of big hair and country kitchens, just look at that shade of mauve.  Our client is a first time home owner and this is the actual picture from the Zillow listing.  It's hard to see from this picture, but that tub is ginormous.  No kidding, I think they'll need dual water heaters to fill it up.  It is every inch of 3' deep and wide enough to comfortably seat two.  The flooring was white carpet.  Yes, carpet in the bathroom.  Our client's goal was to tone down the pink tub and install a durable floor, wall and back splash, so that's exactly what we did.  The tile we installed was from Home Depot's Marazzi line.  12" x 12" white/gray ceramic tile with just a hint of pinkish hues and was used through out the bathroom, as well as 6" x 6" squares and complementing accent tiles.  The entire bathroom was epoxy grouted with the color "Delorean Grey", which really sealed the tiles together nicely.  We even fixed them up with a custom door for the access panel, which we tiled and grouted to blend with the rest of the bathroom.  The final product was an updated look, built to last.  When you want your project perfect down to the last detail, call on Floors by Matt.

Wood-look porcelain tiles are all the rage these days.  We've installed them in three houses in the last three months.  They are durable, long-lasting, nearly waterproof and absolutely stunning.  The tiles can be laid in a number of patterns and grout color can be used to offset or highlight tones in the faux wood finish.  The faux wood finishes come in a variety of patterns from knotty wood to almost no variegation.  Every time we install wood-look porcelain tile, we are just in love all over again.  Fall in love with your floor too.  618-550-0510

Not all of us were born to be interior designers.  It can be daunting to look at a box of tile and envision how it will transform your bathroom.  It's helpful to see the process, so we've taken a recent project and profiled a stunning change from a mediocre bathroom to a bathroom that will increase the resale value of your house.

It helps that the bathtub is already large and inviting.  

The shower definitely went from bland to beautiful.  And look at the custom shelf, that wasn't there before.

You can never go wrong investing in your own property.  You get to enjoy the benefit in the meantime and you will get more cash in your pocket when you go to sell.  It's a win-win.

Big thanks to Andrew Crossno at Crossno's General Construction for assistance with this project.

Occasionally it happens; we remove our client's old flooring and uncover structural damage that no one predicted.  In situations such as these, many times homeowners ask us what we recommend.  We're experts in floors, not carpentry, so when we need structural repairs, we call on Crossno's General Construction for assistance.  Andrew and his crew have helped us on a couple of projects over the last few months and with stellar results.  See for yourself: