In August of this year, we were introduced to a new (to us) product from Mohawk Flooring. We were shown Puretech and jumped at the chance to carry such unique and exciting flooring. PureTech is a Renewable Polymer Core product (RPC) meaning that its core is made of 70% recycled content and is 80% renewable, making it one of our most eco-friendly flooring options. It has all the waterproof qualities of vinyl plank, but the warmth and durability of Mohawk’s laminate. Let’s find out what’s so special about PureTech, shall we?

It’s Ecofriendly

One of the first things you’ll see written on the PureTech webpage is “Planet Friendly, PVC Free Flooring”. Planet friendliness is such an important part of this product that it’s one of the slogans! Let’s break down these claims. PureTech is an RPC (Renewable Polymer Core) product, meaning that the core is made from renewable and organic materials, making it 100% PVC-free. The boards are made of 70% recycled materials, the core is made of 80% renewable materials, and the wear layer is made with naturally occurring minerals. This product is also made in the USA, keeping the product in North America, and decreasing possible pollution. Another amazing fact about PureTech is that Mohawk has partnered with Plastic Bank. For every PureTech purchase, mohawk works toward stopping plastic from harming our planet.

It’s Tough

PureTech carries the fantastic AllPet warranty; a 15-year pet scratch warranty for PureTech Select, and a lifetime pet scratch warranty for PureTech Plus. If your pet scratches or stains your floors within those timeframes, they will replace it. The surface scratch protection is something that we have personally tested as well. When we get a new product in, we put it through our own tests. This includes walking over in with different types of shoes, playing fetch on it with our (not so little) office puppy, dropping tools and other heavy objects on it, and even driving the forklift over it again and again. The only way that we were able to damage it was by pressing down hard on it with a utility knife blade and slicing. So in our experience, unless you are deliberately trying to slice it up, you are NOT going to wreck this flooring. But it’s not just the surface that’s tough, the locking system is also the strongest on the market. The Uniclic locking system is strong, versatile and long-lasting. It is technically an angle-locking system, but you can also install boards horizontally by snapping the joints together, like when tapping the ends together. When companies use this locking system, their products are quieter, because the boards are so secure, they don’t leave room for squeaking. Because this locking system is also the same along all four sides of the boards, you don’t have to worry about end joints separating while the lengths stay secure like with many other floating floors. Your PureTech floors will stay beautiful, and stay together.

It’s Waterproof

PureTech offers a lifetime surface AND subfloor waterproof warranty, so it can be installed safely in any room in your house. If you are installing it in a bathroom or in another wet area, they even have a water-tight 1/4 round to maintain that warranty. The boards are waterproof all the way through, so you don’t have to worry about the finish bubbling off or swelling horribly in case of an accident. The joints are also watertight, so there is no chance of spills seeping through the cracks. You can have peace of mind knowing that your floors will be safe and dry.

It Looks Good, And It Feels Good

This is one of PureTech’s best attributes in my opinion. The real wood visuals are powerful, and it doesn’t have that shiny plastic look that gives it away as a “fake” wood product. PureTech also uses GenuEdge technology which wraps the pattern over the plank’s edge to drive home the realism. You don’t have the painted bevel that is so common with laminate and vinyl plank flooring. Another benefit of this flooring is the warmth it creates. PureTech feels as warm as hardwood or laminate when you walk on it. It’s also not as shiny or slippery as a vinyl plank or cheap laminate. With 3 style lines and over 15 colours, (and available matching transitions), you shouldn’t be able to tell that it’s a “fake” wood when you look at it or feel it.

It’s DIY Friendly

Lastly, PureTech is a product that you can install yourself. The locking system, while difficult to take apart, is simple to get together. It’s a familiar concept if you’ve installed floating flooring before, and if not, YouTube is full of instructional videos. Because it’s floating with an attached pad, you don’t have to fiddle around with adhesives or underlayment. As long as you have a hammer (rubber or not), a tapping block or scrap piece of plank, a square, and a pencil, the only additional tools you’ll need are either a laminate chopper or a saw. Because the planks are so dense, you won’t be able to “score and snap” like with some vinyl planks. And while this doesn’t make it any more DIY friendly, the boards are super lightweight, so carrying the boxes will be a breeze. Basically, if you’re willing to be patient and put in the time, you’ll be able to get your project done using PureTech.

So what do you think of PureTech, are you as impressed as we are? It is waterproof, cozy, and it looks realistic! What more could you want? If you want to learn more, or take a look at a sample in person, visit us here in Stirling, and we can help you decide if you should make PureTech what’s under your feet.