I grew up in Silverdale, a rural area on the west side of Mission. My dad was a machinist and my mom was an administrator at the hospital. At home, my family had a hobby farm with goats and emus, along with a cow at one point. It was just for fun but it meant no shortage of chores and fun things to do. Without me knowing it at the time it instilled a good work ethic and a desire to work with my hands.​

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My journey in the world of flooring began after I had left home, I was laid off from a rubber mat making factory in Abbotsford in a major downsizing move. I went to my lacrosse practice a few days later and one of the older guys on the team was a flooring contractor. He said he could use some help, I was happy to find work at job where I would learn a skill, so I gave it a try. Luckily he was a very skill Craftsman, shout out to Janzen Hardwood floors. He taught me well and I learned how to install hardwood with nails, glue and how to float it. I also learned how to sand and finish floors. Along with hardwood he also taught me how to install laminate as it was getting really popular around that time. After about 1 year I was running jobs by myself, including an apartment building with 2 helpers that I was training. Things were going very well until the financial crisis hit and work got really slow. 

 

That was a hard time but I learned about the flooring union and through them learned about the companies in Vancouver that were still busy and the type of luxury projects they were involved with. I was eager to scale up some of my skills and to test myself against the best installers around, so I decided to become a commuter. 

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It was different and I loved it. The contractors and designer were on another level. They weren't just about getting it done, They were making art in the form of a house. My install skills were good enough to be there, but I had to learn a lot about layout, design and board selection. After about 1 year they had me working independently installing my own works of art. I took great pride and wanted to make every job perfect. It was very satisfying when the homeowners came and saw the final product. 

 

It took 5 years of installing and training apprentices when my supervisor skills were really noticed. I got a chance to move into the office and do the dispatching and scheduling for all 30 technicians. This was also very different and I loved it as well. I got to put to together game plans for each job and make sure the right guys were on the right projects. It also developed my problem solving skills. Every time there was a problem I got the call and it was my job to find the solution. 

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After 2.5 years of running the schedule, there was another opportunity to run the whole department and become the Production Manager and I took it. I was a the biggest change and I was a little scared. I got a chance to learn the business from head to tail. I had meetings with the Chief estimator daily about new projects that they were bidding on. I had to make sure we had a good plan and enough skilled labour to execute all the jobs the came down through the system. This also allowed me to meet all the product and manufacturer representatives in our area on a personal basis. 

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I was the production manager for 6 years when the next opportunity came around. The salesman in charge of our top contractors and designers was moving on and someone needed to run those accounts. So, I went for it and got the position. I had already worked with the clients from the side of the production manager so it was a natural move. I already knew most of what I needed to but was happy to learn about writing contracts and customer service from a different perspective. 

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I was doing sales for about 2 years and even though I liked my job and loved where I worked, It completely removed me from the production side and working with my hands. Also my family was growing and needed more time. I needed to stop the commute and find a new challenge that would get my blood pumping again. Plank & Grain was born!

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My Commitment to You

 

As a customer of mine, I commit to you that I only use tested quality products from quality manufacturers that have local representation. I back my professional installation with a 1 year full warranty on all work and a lifetime grantee that if you have an issue with your floor big or small, for the entire life of the floor I will be there. I will never leave a client unsatisfied. 

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- Jordan Halonen

  Owner