Prepare
to be
Floored
Katie & Robert Sihler bring innovative floor coverings to the Hill Country
Robert and Katie Sihler moved to the Hill Country, ready to get their flooring business off the ground. After 27 years in Virginia, the couple transitioned from backgrounds in the corporate world and education to launch Floor Coverings International of the Texas Hill Country. Embracing the challenges and learning curves of their new venture, the couple brings a customer-first approach to traditional flooring.
“We're a little bit different, because we're kind of more concierge-level service,” Katie Sihler, co-owner, said. “We bring all the samples to the customer's home or commercial office space, and do the full consultation there.”
One of the things the Sihlers learned about flooring installation is that often, customers struggle with option paralysis when they enter a standard showroom. The sheer number of options can feel daunting for a large-scale renovation, especially given the importance of flooring in the grand scheme of the entire project.
“A part of our process is really understanding your likes, your needs, and really narrowing it down to just showing you three to five samples within the range of what you’re looking for,” Sihler said. “Our goal is to present options that align with our customers’ desires and budgets without overwhelming them.”
A key factor to their success is their unique mobile showroom containing over 3,000 flooring samples. This enables the Sihlers to travel to a customer’s home or office with samples on hand, giving them an idea of how the samples will actually look within the installation space.
Floor Coverings International of the Texas Hill Country covers a lot of ground, serving customers throughout Lockhart, Martindale, Maxwell, San Marcos, Driftwood, Canyon Lake, New Braunfels, Wimberley, Woodcreek, Fischer, Bulverde, Spring Branch, Blanco and Kendalia.
In this area, the Sihlers have noticed trends that lean toward replacing carpet and old laminate with more durable and sustainable surfaces.
“The other thing that’s really popular right now is wide-width planks, which you can get in engineered hardwood,” Sihler said, “which is actually more sustainable and can last longer than hardwood for resisting a little bit more moisture. It’s actually really good for this region, too, because you can put it on concrete.”
Sihler also said that there are some surprising new innovations in floor coverings that have emerged within the last ten years.
“Carpets are making a comeback,” Sihler said, though not the type we were used to seeing on the floors of our grandparents. One of the sustainable fabrics gaining traction in flooring is wool-based carpets and rugs.
“Wool is incredibly durable,” Sihler said. “And it's a protein, like your hair. It actually won't stain.”
In addition to carpet options, something popular in this area due to a high number of apartment dwellers, is having carpet cut into a custom-sized rug. “Having a carpet made into a rug means you get all these stain protection features that most rugs don’t come with. So your carpet-rug is going to last a lot longer than just buying a rug from Wayfair or something.”
The Sihlers also created unique solutions for home repairs. Having encountered a number of requests for repairs during consultation, they discovered opportunities for creative solutions.
“While direct repairs are often not feasible, we’ve developed creative strategies, such as repurposing flooring from less visible areas to repair damaged sections,” Sihler said. “This approach ensures customer satisfaction while maintaining cost-effectiveness.”
Due to changes in the homeowner market, many homeowners have opted to stay in their current homes and remodel rather than relocate to somewhere else. Flooring is often the first choice for home improvement because it adds value to a home while giving the house a new, updated feel.
The business also allows Robert and Katie Sihler the opportunity to work together on a daily basis, while extending connections in and around the Hill Country.
“It’s a learning experience every day, and it’s rewarding to build connections within our community,” Sihler said.
Their story is not just about business success; it’s about the power of partnership and the importance of adapting to meet customer needs.
Here are some of the flooring trends with which the Sihlers have experience.
• Sustainable Materials: Homeowners are turning to laminate flooring crafted from eco-friendly materials such as recycled wood fibers.
• Authentic Wood Look: The demand for realistic- looking wood floors continues to soar.
• Waterproof Performance: Given recent erratic weather conditions, waterproof laminate floors are hot!
• Vinyl Flooring: As technology advances, vinyl flooring gets close to natural wood and stone looks that are easily cleaned with a damp mop.
• Carpet: There are still die-hard carpet lovers because of warm and cozy feeling and look. Not so much shag. More flat piles, textures and patterned looks are available.
• Engineered Hardwood Flooring: This is the best luxury flooring offering real wood veneers with remarkably high quality and detail.
Visit Floor Coverings International of the Texas Hill Country at hillcountry. floorcoveringsinternational. com to learn more.
