Thank you so much for your reply.

I didn’t know that we could finish the floor on site. That’s AMAZING! Yes, both quotes came at about CAD $15 per sq. ft. plus tax.

Just so that I have a good understanding on how this works, would you be able to clarify the following: would we be able to pick a “maple” unfinished solid hardwood, choose any plank width we want and then have a custom colour, and select a custom/tough finish? You just opened a door that didn’t know existed LOL

I have been reading reviews left and right for months and we need to make a decision soon. The kitchen and bathroom design is done. All other finishes (quartz, cabinets, stone floor, paint, etc) have been selected. We just need to make a decision on the floor :-)

Glad I could help with options. To be clear, Maple does NOT like to take a stain (site staining maple is fraught with concerns). It can be done, but it is easier if you go SUPER DARK with maple.

You are welcome to find a wood that has the tight grain that is easier to work a stain (hickory is known for the tight grain, so too birch). As for plank width, narrow is your friend. If you want wide, then engineered is your friend. If you want maple in a mid-tone stain, then factory finished is your best option.

Wow. This is VERY helpful. Thank you so much :-)

Is there a reason you want factory finished?

Yes, there is. Prefinished flooring is done to a really high quality level and consistency, using precise manufacturing processes and finish materials that can't be duplicated in an onsite situation, especially by the two manufacturers you mention.

Getting an onsite finish for engineered flooring to the same level as a factory finish means you'll need a flooring installer with a lot of skills, know how and experience. There's an old saying, how'd you get that beautiful re-finish on the hardwood floors? Answer: a little bit of sanding, a little bit of varnish, and a whole lot of know how. (This is for regular HW floors, for engineered add a lot more to the know how aspect.)

For engineered, at least in the area where I live, installing unfinished and then finishing on site is rarely if ever done, and I suspect no installer would want to do this, they'd say 'why do that when the factory finishes on engineered are to such a high level...'

There are a lot of generalities and variables in this.

If I read your question correctly, I'll suggest you go beyond reading online reviews and contact multiple installers for the two brands you mention, go through the usual process to discuss options, look at finishes, etc. and hear what they have to say.

Hope this helps, report back what you decide to do.

Thank you for taking the time to respond :-)

You are right, I should talk to the actual installers as well. I’m sure they should be able to know which brands are good quality and provide me with a good recommendation. i tend to read a lot online and sometimes that’s not good because the people that had a bad experience will actually take the time to write a bad review. Mirage had 34 reviews (about 3 out of 5 stars; which is not bad), but I’m sure mirage has been installed in thousands of homes across North America and I don’t see the good reviews. I’m sure with Mercier is probably the same.

I’ll report back once we make a decision. Thank you again.

@Nora Smith Did you end up with Mirage? I'm also considering Mirage Engineering Wood. How did you like it so far? Any issues?

Following

How did things turn out. Did you go with Mercier?

@Ivan Obad : Did you end up going with Mercier - how do you like it?

Unique Wood Floors loves both brands as being their dealers for more than a decade in Minnesota. We went to visit their world-class factories in Quebec Canada. You would not find better North American Made prefinished wood floors than those two. Do they have complaints? I am sure they do as others, but in smaller percentage. Were bad reviews all due to product issues? Mostly not IMO. Wood floor complaints come often from wrong expectation from flooring salesperson and installation.

DO NOT USE HARDWOOD FLOORING!!. The moisture and temperature changes in Calgary will quickly create defects that Mercier and Mirage will not warranty. Read their warranty very carefully to see what they won't cover - almost everything. I had Mercier installed in Winnipeg in June and by September, without the furnace being turned on, EVERY PIECE was cupping, and two pieces in the middle of the living room showed warping to the point that the surface has a crease that sticks up. FYI, my flooring is solid ash, 3 1/2" wide x 3/4" thick.

Nora - what did you end up using (Mercier or Mirage)? I live in Ontario and have gone through the same process. We ended using Craft but curious how your floors turned out after 2+ years as we were close to getting Mercier as well.. Liked the feel of Mirage but no wide planks that were appealing to me!

I am trying to decide between those two brands also. anyone who has intalled one or the other have comments/reviews to give me an idea how their floors have held up?

Has anyone installed one or the other. I, also, am trying to decide between Mercier and Mirage? Comments on how the floors have held up?

I have Mercier, the floors are now 7+ tears old and they are doing great. I regularly get compliments from visitors and neighbors how nice the floors look.

One important thing I have done consistently for the entire time is follow Mercier’s cleaning and maintenance instructions, pretty much exactly, which you find in a PDF file on their website. I’ve even sought out and use Mercier brand cleaning solution, which is for their no VOC finishes.

Tip: get one spray bottle then get the 1 gallon refill jugs. I also got a vacuum brush head attachment this is soft and intended to not scratch hardwood finishes. Tip #2, I’d follow the manufacturers written/documented/published cleaning instructions before and no matter what an installer tells you to do.

The species is American Cherry, which I don’t see as an option with Mercier any more, nor with other peer brands. I have both hardwood and engineered, the engineered was specifically needed in one section that had concrete substrate. I wanted both the engineered and hardwood to look the same and that is what, 7 years ago, set Mercier apart. They were able to supply the grade and finish in one species in both hardwood and engineered. I was skeptical at first but there’s no difference to this day, including in the cherry maturation.

Hey! in the original creator of this post we eneded up getting Mirage and wr are iinin lovein love with them! we have gotten so many compliments and peoole have said yo is that our floors are the nu est floors tbey have ever since weather in calgaty is cold and dry ans we have never had one issue zero maintenance sometimes i dont even clean them for weeks and they look brand new no footprints quiet 100000% recommended

These are the only 2 photis i have but i have over 2500 sq ft of Mjrage floors

Sorry my keyboard is going crazy ha

zero scratches

I felt in love this floor color too in your decor. What is the name of your maple floor by Mirage?

Did you get solid or engineered Mirage flooring?

@Chori Queso Thank you so much for responding. I have been researching for months and the reviews keep me from making a decision. Is it natural or stained maple, solid or engineered, and what width of plank?

@Chori Queso We live in Calgary too and love the color of your floor. Can you tell us more details of the floor? Is it natural or stained maple or white oak, solid or engineered, and what width of plank? Thank you.

Which maple finish in mirage did you end up with? Natural or white mist? Solid hard wood or engineered?

@Chori Queso - are you still happy with your Mirage floor? Can you please provide some more details about your floor?