Alva Flooring Inc.

Ezequiel Alvarez: Pushing Forward

By Matt Solis, Editor

Ezequiel Alvarez may have entered the hardwood floor refinishing industry as a novice, but through hard work and dedication, he was quickly able to master the craft. “The way I got involved in this industry was kind of by accident,” he remembers. “In 2004, I told my friend I was interested in working construction and he referred me to a flooring contractor. I started as a helper, but over time, I learned enough to master the trade.”

After spending a decade in the industry and gaining valuable insight from events like the annual National Wood Flooring Association Expo, Ezequiel decided it was time to strike out on his own and established Alva Flooring Inc. in 2015. Today, he says his favorite part of his job is helping customers improve their homes. “I love going to a client’s house, seeing their beat-up floor, and knowing I can turn it around and bring it back to life,” he says. “When I see how happy people are with the finished product, it makes me want to keep going.”

Originally from Mexico, Ezequiel moved to the Bay Area in 2002 and today resides in Oakland with his wife, Isbet (who is also Alva Flooring’s office manager), and their three children. He says his favorite aspects of life in the East Bay are the weather and the proximity to exciting locales. “There’s a lot to do around here as a family, like hiking, visiting regional parks and going to the beach. Whether we’re taking our dogs for a walk in the park or heading to Lake Tahoe for the weekend, we have a lot of fun living here.”

In terms of a personal or professional philosophy, Ezequiel believes in the power of perseverance. “No matter how things are going, I always try to put on a happy face and keep pushing forward,” he says. “Every day is a new day when you wake up, so no matter what happened yesterday, things can always get better.”

When asked what his life might look like if he could retire tomorrow, Ezequiel says he would likely split his time between the Bay Area and his beloved birth country. “I’ve always wanted to return to Mexico, so if I retired tomorrow, we would probably live part-time there and part-time in Oakland. After all, you can’t find California weather anywhere else!”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What are your favorite types of movies?

A: Our family loves Christmas movies, but my personal favorite genres are action and Western.

Q: Are you a dog person or a cat person?
A: A dog person. We have two German Shepherd/pit bull mixes named Canelo and Gia, and one full German Shepherd named Bella.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

A: Spain. I’m curious to try the food and speak a different type of Spanish than I’m used to.

Q: What's your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?

A: Watch movies, eat popcorn and play board games.

Q: What’s your favorite holiday?

A: Christmas.