Mill Creek Carpet & Tile Builds Out Stunning New Design Studio…From the Floor Up
Mill Creek Carpet & Tile seized the opportunity to consolidate its Oklahoma City showroom and warehouse into a single upgraded location. The transformation of a fast-track warehouse building into their high-end design studio and functional warehouse stayed within the Mill Creek family. Josh and Thomas Owens with the Mill Creek Commercial flooring division worked together with some of their lead installation crews to expedite the installation of the 25,000 square foot retail showroom floor. Guided by the same professional expertise they offer their customers, the team ensured every step of the process was completed with precision and care.
Mill Creek Carpet & Tile Commercial Market Manager Roy Reece worked with the Owens’ team to manage the studio’s flooring installation and selected TEC® flooring installation materials for the entire job. This choice allowed TEC to provide a TEC System Warranty, ensuring long-term durability and performance for the complete Mill Creek Design Studio flooring installation.
Overcoming Moisture Challenges
Owens Bros. Concrete prepared the slab for the new showroom and office space. As they removed the existing VCT, they found heavy shadowing on the slab. After thoroughly cleaning and grinding the surface, the shadowing was still evident. Reece needed to test the slab for moisture and pH. Since the slab was discovered to be reinforced with heavy steel cables throughout, a moisture test without drilling was required. So, Reece employed calcium chloride moisture testing. After 27 calcium chloride tests and pH testing in spots across the slab, the results were inconsistent and concerning, prompting Reece to reach out to TEC® Technical Support for assistance.
EC Area Technical Manager Josh Sesvold, member of ICRI and well-versed in concrete testing and repair, traveled to Oklahoma to evaluate the slab conditions. He determined that applying TEC® LiquiDam™ Moisture Vapor Barrier would effectively mitigate the moisture and pH issues. TEC LiquiDam has been long-trusted for its ease-of-use, cost-effectiveness, and proven performance in managing the MVER. It requires just one coat and its distinctive blue color assures visual assurance of coverage. Curing in as few as 4-5 hours, LiquiDam allows for same-day flooring installation.
By the time LiquiDam was being applied, Mill Creek’s current locations’ leases were ending and the quick cure helped them fast-track the new space. To ensure efficient and proper application, Sesvold had Mill Creek grid the space and apply one LiquiDam bucket per 10x15 foot area, following TEC’s recommended guidelines. With the compressed timetable, Mill Creek’s team transitioned to 24-hour shifts to complete the Design Studio on time.
Leveling the Floor with Efficiency and Precision
With moisture protection in-place, the next challenge was leveling the substrate. Most of the slab was leveled with TEC® Feather Edge Skim Coat, a premium cement-based compound designed to smooth and level irregularities up to ½ inch. In some areas, only 1/16-inch leveling was needed—below the recommended minimum of 1/8-inch in LiquiDam instructions. After consulting Sesvold, Reece received approval for this specialized application, ensuring a seamless and level surface. Feather Edge set rapidly in just 15 minutes, allowing the team to move efficiently through the process.
For deeper leveling challenges, Mill Creek used TEC® Level Set® 400 HF Self-Leveling Underlayment. The deeper elevations occurred where the slab’s internal steel cables came together. Level Set 400 HF is a high-performance, self-healing leveler offering exceptional flow distance applied via pump or pour. Ready for flooring in just 2-3 hours, Level Set 400 HF helped Mill Creek maintain its aggressive timeline. Before installing the flooring, Reece’s installation team primed the entire substrate with TEC® Multipurpose Primer, ensuring superior floor adhesion.
Leveraging Adhesive Innovation for Easy Flooring Installation
Mill Creek chose Cali Bamboo Engineered hardwood flooring for the entire Design Center showroom space. To install across this expansive surface, the team used TEC® Wood Secure Premium Wood Adhesive, a cutting-edge solution that delivers 7-10x better moisture vapor control than reactive adhesives. Its easy application, robust adhesion, quick cleanup and lack of noxious fumes made it an ideal choice for the showroom.
Unlike traditional urethane adhesives, Wood Secure allows for non-destructive repairs, meaning hollow spots can be fixed or boards replaced without damaging the surrounding floor. This will be a significant advantage for Mill Creek’s high-traffic retail space. Though the Mill Creek studio site’s unique moisture issues necessitated testing and application of a moisture membrane, Wood Secure adhesive’s unique advanced formulation usually allows users to skip both moisture testing and application of a moisture control membrane when flooring is installed with the moisture control method—saving significant time and resources.
Mill Creek’s Reece noted, “Our installers talked about how easy it is to trowel Wood Secure and clean it up. I like that it does not have toxic odors like urethane adhesives. Also, Wood Secure will allow us to fix a hollow spot or replace a board if we need to, without destroying our busy showroom floor.”
Building in Performance and Longevity
Mill Creek Carpet & Tile’s new Oklahoma City Design Studio is a testament to expertise, quality craftsmanship, and top-tier installation and flooring materials. By choosing TEC® products, Mill Creek ensured a durable, moisture-resistant, and flawlessly leveled flooring system. From overcoming complex substrate challenges to selecting an innovative, environmentally-friendly wood adhesive, every aspect of the project was executed with precision. The collaboration between the Mill Creek family of companies and TEC technical support resulted in a state-of-the-art retail and design space that will serve customers for years to come. The space accurately reflects Mill Creek Carpet & Tile’s ultimate commitment to customer satisfaction.
