In Jason Cantinโs two decades working in the flooring industry, heโs seen a lot of things go wrong.
In fact, for the past six years, he has worked as a flooring inspector. When someone says their floor is bad and wants the manufacturer or installer to fix it, they call Jason, as a first step toward filing a claim in court.
He says bad flooring installation is so prevalent in the industry that 85 percent of all floors being installed today are being installed incorrectly. He says that nearly every retailer out there is trying to sell more floors, and install them quickly, and move on to the next job, with little concern for whether or not your floor will last.
โNot every floor that is installed incorrectly fails,โ he says, โbut if you have carpet pulls in the doorway, or wrinkles in your carpet, or your floating floor creaks or makes noise, you have a bad install.โ
So, he decided to do something about it.
He opened Done Right Flooring & Cabinets, selling the highest-quality flooring brands, installed in your home, to give people an alternative to the options available in the flooring market in Tampa.
Done Right sells hardwood, tile and laminate floors, as well as carpet, and also offers custom wood floors, in which every piece is hand cut, hand laid, sanded and finished in place.
In addition to selling flooring, Jason has a partner in the store who can help homeowners find the perfect cabinets, following the same philosophy of excellent products and installation that is the trademark of Done Right Flooring & Cabinets.
While Jason and his family live in New Tampa, he wanted to open his store in a location that was more central to all areas of Tampa. Done Right is located at 6028 W. Linebaugh Ave., 25-30 minutes south and west of New Tampa.
โI started Done Right because Iโve spent the last six years watching floors fail, and itโs taught me the process to do it right,โ Jason says. โYou canโt do it right and do it cheaply. Most subcontractors get paid by the foot, so they lay as much floor as possible, as quickly as possible, to get a bigger paycheck.โ
Jason calls himself an idealist, and says he wants to elevate the entire flooring industry in Tampa, focusing on doing things the right way, so the consumer gets the best possible floor installation and floors they will be happy with for a long time.
โMost retailers give a one-year warranty, and then theyโre off the hook,โ Jason says. โI give a 5-year warranty, in writing, for all of my work.โ
He says a well-installed, good-quality floor can be expected to last much longer.
His wife, Ashley, helps him with the business. โOur focus is on the customer,โ she says. โAre they as happy with their floors one year, five years, even 20 years later, as they were when they got them?โ
She says they also want to ensure that if you are selling your home, your floor will bring top value and the new owners will be happy with the floor, too.
Quality Installations
Jason says they do this by hiring the best installers, who are certified by taking hands-on and written certification tests and are required to do ongoing continuing education. He adds, however, that this approach is not typical in the industry.
โThere is no license needed to install wood floors in Hillsborough County,โ explains Jason. โThere is no recognized body to verify that the work done is correctly.โ
In the absence of recognized standards and holding flooring companies accountable for installing floors correctly, Jason says he is doing all he can to change the industry, one consumer at a time.
Done Right recently replaced the floors for Scott Miller in his Bayshore Blvd. condo in South Tampa. Scott had just renovated his condo and was already having problems with his brand new floors, so he hired Jason for a consultation. โThere were gaps, I could hear glue squishing and boards creaking,โ Scott says. Because the floors were beyond repair, Scott then hired Done Right to do the floors again โ this time, the right way.
โI was blown away every step of the way with his service,โ says Scott of Jason. โAfter going through the first experience, thereโs really no comparison. (He) took the time to do every step of the process correctly. (He) didnโt rush it.โ
Scott says Jasonโs knowledge was impressive, and that he took the time to educate him. โHe knew about the trees the boards came from,โ says Scott, โand explained the importance of prepping the floor and more.โ
And, Scott notes that his new floor, purchased from and installed by Done Right, has none of theย problems the first floor did.
โOur focus is on educating the consumer, so they pick the best product for them,โ Jason says. โIโm not a salesperson, but more of a teacher.โ
The Value Of Proper Training
Jason adds that he places a high value on education and keeping up-to-date on all of the latest information and trends in his industry. While prefinished floors are still popular, he says, custom finishing onsite is picking up, with wide flooring, grays and French oak some of the hotter trends.
โThereโs no one else in town whoโs gone to more school about flooring than me,โ says Jason. โI go a minimum of twice a year.โ He says he originally went to inspector school, not to become an inspector, but to become a better installer.
He is currently on the bamboo committee for the National Wood Flooring Association, writing the standards and regulations that will be put in place for bamboo floors. He says that right now, there are none.
While the industry doesnโt have to adhere to standards, Jason is doing everything he can to help his customers have expertly-installed products that utilize the best practices in the flooring industry.
โWe have high expectations and high standards, and we ensure our installers continue to meet those expectations and standards,โ he says. โIโm not a rush guy. The process is meticulous and takes time.โ
While installation is important, the products are important, too.
โI know which products tend to fail, so I hand select the items we sell in the store,โ says Jason. โIf I donโt believe in the product, I wonโt sell it, and I donโt install anything thatโs not sold in the store.โ
Jasonโs standards are so high, Done Right was chosen as one of only seven retailers in the country that are authorized to sell Carlisle Wide Plank floors. He says that Carlisle is an American-made, premium cut of wood. โThey trust me that Iโll do their product justice,โ he says.
Done Right Flooring carries other brands as well, like Kahrs, Boen and Preverco, to name a few, and also has Mohawk, Glazzio and Akua tile flooring and Mohawk and Quickstep laminate flooring.
Ashley says that Jasonโs many years of experience can really help consumers get exactly the right product for them and their home. At the store, Jason asks a lot of questions to get to know his clients and their lifestyle.
โIn our Pinterest world, people see pictures of gorgeous floors, but they donโt know what theyโre looking at,โ says Ashley. โFlooring isnโt just about the color.โ
โI want to improve the industry,โ adds Jason. โI want consumers to get the right information. I may be idealistic, but Iโve learned so much about the industry, and I want to make it better for both consumers and installers.โ
Done Right Flooring & Cabinets is located at 6028 W. Linebaugh Ave. It is open Tues.โFri., 11 a.m.โ6 p.m., 10 a.m.โ 4 p.m. on Sat., and by appointment on Mon. For more information, call (813) 548-4484 or visit DoneRightFC.com.