Mirage Flooring | 2022 Pros, Cons, Costs

Wood floors are one of the most appreciated and sought-after flooring options on the market today.

With solid hardwood you can actually increase your home’s resale value.

However, engineered hardwood and other hard flooring options don’t come with that benefit.

Mirage Flooring is one of the many brands that manufactures and produces hard flooring options for your home.

This flooring report will look at the flooring company and all of their options, collections and styles.

Mirage Floors Collections

Mirage offers a total of 8 collections. Of those series of flooring solutions, the five most popular options are listed here.

• Flair Collection. A matte surface finish over Earth tones on a durable plank surface.
• Natural Collection. Real wood, real tones, grains, and patterns of natural wood flooring.
• Admiration Collection. Natural woods with modern and stylish coloring options from bright whites to dark tones.
• Herringbone Collection. A mix and match possible flooring with sharp angles and intriguing patterns.
• DreamVille Collection. Oak flooring that comes in several region-specific tones for a home-town feel.

Who is Mirage?

Mirage is a North American based company that manufactures and produces their flooring in the US and Canada.

The award winning brand is recognized in the industry and by dealers and installers around the country.

Along with the standard warranty and responsible sourcing of the hardwood from managed forests, the company also builds quality goods. The green company also uses hypoallergenic finishes on all of their flooring options, which come in a range of woods, colors and styles.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Right Mirage Flooring Options

Advice from Expert: From my experience, it’s always a good idea to ask for a sample of the flooring material you’re interested in before making any final decisions. This allows you to get a true feel for the look, texture, and finish in your own home, which is especially useful for something as significant as flooring. Mirage does offer samples so do take advantage of it.

Coverage Area

You always want to know how big the project area is. As with most flooring, Mirage is sold by the square foot. You can guess or you can be exact in your measurements, but either way you need to add about 10% to your measurements.

When taking the length times the width of your room or space, adding the 10% to the total will ensure you purchase enough material to cover the area without needing to stop and return to the store for another purchase.

Style & Color

Everyone wants a floor that looks great and matches the style of their home. However, just because you made the decision doesn’t mean you are going to find that particular style in stock. It is always a great idea to go through the brand’s website or visit the showroom for samples.

Durability

One thing about hardwood flooring is that they are not all made the same. Solid hardwood is currently the only option that increases the home’s resale value. However, it is more expensive, harder to install and can be easily damaged.

Engineered hardwood is easier to install, lighter and looks just like solid hardwood when fully installed. Mirage offers both options for you and has a fairly durable construction. Their multi-layer approach to engineered hardwood creates a durable, thick board, but as with all wood, there are scratch and dent issues to be aware of (covered further below).

Advice from the Expert: In my experience, homeowners often overlook the importance of foot traffic when selecting flooring. I’ve seen people choose the most delicate finishes for high-traffic areas, such as hallways and kitchens, only to realize their mistake months or even weeks later. So, always take into account the expected wear and tear when choosing your Mirage flooring.

Installation Method

Professional installers will cost you quite a bit (up to double the materials cost, per square foot) but the job will be done faster, the finished floor will look perfect and you generally get a labor warranty on top of the product warranty.

For DIY installation, you save a lot of money, but the hard work and time to install the floor the right way is all on you. You also can’t warranty your own work, so any issues down the line will come directly out of your pocket.

Additional Materials

Aside from the flooring itself, you also need to consider the other needed materials. You may not need much, depending on the brand, style and construction of your chosen boards. However, underlayment, moisture barriers, adhesive and even sealants or stains need to be identified and budgeted before you head to the shop.

Cost & Warranty

Finally the cost and warranty of the flooring itself is the main concern here. Once you decide on a brand and style, you will want to get started as soon as possible. If you are installing the flooring yourself you can gather the materials as needed. However you need to make sure you buy the amounts needed and all additional materials, tools and equipment to get the job done.

You also need to take the time and read through the warranty before you buy. Knowing what is required on your part to start the warranty (usually a registration) as well as what is covered or not will be highly important. You also need to factor in coverage terms, duration and claim processes before you make that final purchase.

Advice from the Expert: One valuable insight I’d like to share from my years of experience is regarding warranties. Many people assume that a lifetime warranty means they’re completely protected, but they often only cover certain types of damages. Remember, Mirage’s 35-year wear and tear warranty might not cover dents and scratches. So, make sure to read the fine print or ask a company representative for clarity.

Mirage Flooring Report

If you are looking for hardwood flooring for your home, Mirage has your answer. Their collections contain solid hardwood and engineered hardwood options. With solid hardwood you will pay more, but it has its own benefits as we mentioned earlier.

The engineered hardwoods are more popular because of a lower price and an easier installation process. This choice is based on your needs, expectations and individual situations. Regardless of which type you go with, though, Mirage has a collection for you.

There are currently 8 collections in the Mirage line up for you to choose from. Each line up will give you several color and style options. What you need to pay most attention to, though, is the board dimensions.

One of the most common disappointments homeowners have is finding out their boards aren’t the size they thought they would be. Mirage sells multiple widths from under 3 inches wide to over 7 inches wide. However, it is the lengths you need to worry most about.

Mirage Floors produces natural wood boards, but they are shorter than most other brands. With the exception of the Herringbone collection, short boards may not be what you are after. It creates a nice look, but can mean more difficult installations and more product as a result.

What People Are Saying

The reviews for Mirage are mixed, as is common with statements found on the internet for any product. However, Flooring.net ranks Mirage #6 (out of 27) for the hardwood category and for good reason.

Almost every complaint and negative opinion you will find (with some exception, of course) is about denting, scratching or discoloration. These complaint types come from the end user, or homeowner. In almost every case, however, this is due to the floor type, activity and foot traffic or lack of proper care knowledge.

Hardwood is difficult to care for when you don’t know what to expect. A medium sized dog with claws will scratch almost all wood floors, for example. 

Virtually all contractors and installers rave about the durability and ease of installation of Mirage and recommend it highly to their clients. As we have stated many times here, knowing what you are buying and how to care for it are essential to a happy home.

At A Glance

With all of the collections, colors, styles and costs, it can be a bit confusing. The chart below compares all of the collections on a variety of features to help you narrow down your selection.

Where to Buy Mirage Floors

One of the biggest drawbacks to Mirage Floors is their retail locations. You won’t find this high-quality flooring in a home improvement shop or your local all-purpose retailer. However, specialty floor shops, showrooms and dealers will have stock and order rights.

The hard part is finding them. Mirage isn’t found in all areas (especially in the south) except around larger metropolitan areas (Dallas, Houston, Charleston, etc.).You can search your local area with a zip code on the company’s Where To Buy page. However, if you don’t see any results, you can call their customer service line to get help finding the nearest sales location.

Installation Help

Installation is a big cost factor for the entire project. With hardwood and engineered hardwood, you can expect to pay a professional installer between $2 and $8 per square foot. This is a wide range for pricing and you want to ensure that you get the lowest cost for the best service.

We can help with that. We have partnered with Networx to bring you an easy to use tool that will help you find the ideal contractor. Best of all it is 100% free to use!

Simply fill out the form, making your selections and entering your information (along with an optional project description). Once you click the Get Free Quotes button  your location and project info will be scanned and matched with real, local professionals.

Each pro has been fully vetted, with background and license checks. Your emailed or phone results will include only the best in your area. All that is left is to contact each of them to set up quotes and estimates. Easy!

Frequently Asked Questions

In this section we will answer questions that are commonly asked about hardwood floors and Mirage Floors as a brand. If you have other questions not covered here, please feel free to ask us in the comment section below the article.

Q. Is Mirage Floors a good brand?

1. Mirage Floors is a high-quality brand. Their marketing and sales come from the eco-friendly and green manufacturing practices, plus being based in North America. Their current issue is reach. Currently, Mirage is only available locally in about 70% of the US. This is growing, but the flooring and the brand are worth the extra drive or time it takes to find a reputable dealer.

Q. How do I clean Mirage hardwood flooring?

1. Mirage suggests that cleaning be done by a broom and dustpan, or a vacuum. If you do use a vacuum, make sure it is one designed for hard flooring. These will have powered brush rollers or suction-only models so the rollers won’t cause damage. Dust and dry mops are also permitted but with any hardwood, you should stay away from water whenever possible and only spot mop when absolutely needed.

Q. Will my pets ruin engineered or hardwood flooring?

1. Pets in general won’t ruin any floor. Claws, bathroom accidents and playing, though, can cause stains, scratches or even denting. This is true of any floor type, though. With Mirage, the denting and scratching is more evident on the softer and lighter colored woods. However with proper care of the floors and training of the pets, you can avoid a lot of the frustrations.

Conclusion

Mirage is a top-end manufacturer of hardwood and engineered hardwood flooring solutions. There are a few notable issues with the durability of their boards, as some consumers complain of denting or scratching. However, this is common with some types of wood and may not apply to your final buying decision.

You may also find that Mirage Floors are difficult to locate depending on where you live. However, the customer service reps are happy to help you locate a dealer and find you the best options around your local area.

All in all, Mirage is near the top of the ratings list with a green company proudly operated in North America. Their floors are beautiful, install well and have a great warranty. As long as you can find a collection style and color that matches your décor (and with so many options, you can), you won’t have any problems or regrets with Mirage Floors.