Butler Floor constructing new building
CENTER TWP — The hulking steel skeleton of a building on North Main Street Extension represents an expansion for a three-generation Butler business.
Tim Croft, who co-owns Butler Floor & Carpet with his sister, Julie Czifra, said the 100-by-150-foot building will house the company's growing commercial flooring business and the offices of those who will work there.
While the gleaming steel trusses may turn the heads of motorists traveling on Route 8 just north of the intersection with Mercer Road, it's unique construction is for a very practical reason.
“It's steel. It'll last forever,” Croft said.
The building at Butler Floor & Carpet's location of 32 years, which is also on North Main Street Extension just a mile or so south of the new location, is also steel, Croft said.
He said when he and Czifra took over the business from their parents eight years ago, the company sold 50 percent residential flooring and 50 percent commercial.
Today, 80 percent of the business is in the commercial flooring line, which Croft credits to the economy, more businesses in the county and other factors.
“It's a lot easier to grow the commercial business,” he said. “We were fortunate enough to have a lot of growth in the last eight years and we needed to expand.”
The decision to put up a separate building for commercial flooring was an easy one that coincides with the company's goals.
“We did it so we can be more efficient and better serve our customers,” Croft said.
But don't ask him what type of flooring the new steel building will have.
“It's a surprise,” he said.
Croft expects construction to be complete in October.
