Leap of Faith

By Randall Turk

The Norman Transcript

Mark Smith had tired of being on his knees for nearly three decades, so he decided to make the big leap.

Last year Smith and his wife, Donna, opened Home Sweet Home, a tile and wood-flooring store in downtown Norman. Their only financing was from the sale of their home in parsons, Kan.

Smith, 50, suffers from severe arthritis. "I had been a hard surface flooring installer for 29 years," he said. "It was the only thing I knew."

The Smiths settled in Norman after eight months of research and the assurance from friends of the need for a comprehensive flooring store in Norman. Smith said he needed a niche to distinguish the business from eight other tile and flooring stores in Norman and 49 of them in Oklahoma City.

The Smiths leased an 8,000-square-foot building at 121 East Main St. and filled the first floor with 1,600 full-size samples of tile made in the United States and around the world.

"We've probably got the biggest selection of tile in the state," Smith said.

But Smith has more than tile and wood floors to offer customers. He is a walking compendium of flooring facts that often conflict with popular notions.

Do-it-yourselfers learn from Smith the proper way to lay out and install tile and wood floors. Often he visits customers' homes to help them measure floors and estimate what is needed.

"There's a time limit to setting tile," he said. "And grouting has to be wiped off in a certain amount of time, or you're in for a lot more work. We supply mortar and grout, and help people correct their mistakes.

The store also relies on eight subcontractors to install flooring for customers. "We also know others in the area who do stained concrete and granite countertops. We like to suggest the work of local craftsmen.

"With wood floors, the first few rows must be solid and straight or the entire project can be out of kilter, Smith said. He prefers to work with wood floors, but acknowledges wood will never be as durable as tile.

The idea that ceramic and porcelain tile are radically different is a common misperception, Smith said. "They're both made of clay. Porcelain tile is just fired to a higher temperature. It can have a heavier texture because it's harder.

"The most sought after tile? "I'd say 90 percent of our customers are looking for color," Smith said. "They want tile to match or complement their woodwork or wallpaper."

Over the past year Smith has come to work with builders, architects, contractors and decorators. "It's hard to get builders and contractors in," he said. "They're usually set with other suppliers. But customers building houses direct them here."

The Smiths avoid warehousing products, preferring to order flooring from larger wholesale suppliers. "I can get anything in two days to a week," Smith said. "Order from me and I will pick it up in Oklahoma City and deliver it."

They also have been particular about where they planted their store. "Strip malls just don't appeal to us," Smith said. "The newly redone downtown area caught our eye. It's just perfect for us."

Ahead, the Smiths want to devote the entire second floor of their building to wood flooring and perhaps add custom-made furniture and cabinets to their showroom.

"It will mean a lot more work," Smith said. "This has been the busiest year of our life."

Randall Turk 366-3547 rturk@normantranscript.com