When Tongue & Groove first began, engineered floating timber floors were merely considered an affordable alternative to timber flooring. Founder Richard Karsay endeavoured to change that, developing a unique three-layered construction that resulted in the same aesthetic appeal of a solid timber floor and yet featured unmatched size, strength and stability. Evolution has always been a central element of the Tongue & Groove identity, from the brand’s early efforts to revolutionise the engineered flooring industry to its current technological redesign.
“When you want to be the best, you have to evolve,” Karsay explains, in reference to the rebrand. “It was time to take the brand to the next level with an elevated identity that celebrates our unique selling point—the European oak that is the source of all our products.”
Timber is only a renewable resource if it is treated as precious, with a selective harvesting approach that respects the ecological balance of the forest. Sustainability is a core consideration for Tongue & Groove, who only source timber and wood products from suppliers that have been endorsed by the Forest Stewardship Council; an entity which ensures that biodiversity, habitats, waterways and mixed age tree communities are protected during the harvesting process.
The focal point of the new Tongue & Groove identity is its breathtaking European oak, ethically sourced from FSC-certified forestry operations with full Chain of Custody documentation available on request. As a company, Tongue & Groove let very little go to waste, using up to 70 per cent repurposed materials – material which would normally end up as offcuts, shavings and sawdust. The three resulting layers of solid, sustainable European oak provide gorgeous, robust and environmentally conscious flooring.
At the heart of Tongue & Groove’s most recent revolution is a commitment to empowering homeowners, renovators and designers across Australia. From detailed product sheets, drawings and information on the brand’s impressive credentials to an extensive range of flooring patterns which can be downloaded for architectural drawings and renderings, Tongue & Groove has created an intuitive system which can guide customers through every aspect of the design process.
The Tongue & Groove visualiser takes centre stage here, where different designs, patterns and finishes can be explored; for example width, grade, colour and finish, all within a virtual, flexible interior space. The virtual environment can be switched from a dark to light colour scheme, offering a real world understanding of how flooring and colour decisions will interact within the space.
“What we’ve created with our rebrand will enable customers to take their design vision to the next level,” says Karsay.
Try the new visualiser for yourself or visit the Tongue & Groove website for more information.