Everyday I have customers calling me trying to locate discontinued products.
They have damaged floor to be replaced. They had a flood, or someone dragged some furniture across the floor. Or, they just want to continue existing floor to another room. But, because the manufacturer discontinued the product, they can’t find what they need.
Manufacturers discontinue products that don’t sell well. After a product has been discontinued over 2 years, it is unlikely to be found. Manufacturers discontinue items all the time, so I always suggest to my customers that they buy 1 or 2 boxes of extra flooring. It has always been my experience that damage will occur, and product will have to be replaced.
When you can no longer find the product you have several options. For Laminate, Tile or Stone, you can call the manufacturer and ask for a cross over. Many time manufacturers will make a small change to an existing product. They will either change the locking system, the wear layer, or the finish. Otherwise the product looks the same. But, manufacturers are required to change the product sku number if they make any changes to the product at all. You can also ask the manufacturer if the product was created in a cabin grade or second quality. It won’t be a perfect match to the original, but extremely close.
If there is no cross over, you can try to replace damaged areas from closets, under appliances, etc. If this is not an option, you can pick the closest matching product to fix the repair, or reinstall the room with new flooring.
In regard to Hardwood products you have more options. If you can’t find close matches or other product in your home you can use, you can get the product custom made. There are two ways to do this. One, you can send a sample to a specialty manufacturer; they can make it for you. Or, you can buy an unfinished hardwood, and take an old piece of the product to a local hardware store and have them match the stain color. You can then stain and finish it yourself. Or, you can hire a local handyman or flooring contractor to do the job for you.
So, you can find the closest matching product, search for a cross over via the manufacturer, get a custom made hardwood, or get unfinished hardwood you stain yourself.
We offer all these services at our store. Designer’s Touch Flooring in Vero Beach, FL. If you are in our local installation area, we can do the job for you. If not, you can buy either the custom made product or unfinished wood.
