QUESTIONS?

Where do our Reclaimed Antique Floors come from?

Reclaimed Antique floors don’t start their life as flooring, they are usually structural timber from old structures such as a factory, a farm, a bridge or a pier, sometimes even an exotic Chinese Temple!

The wood is re-milled on modern sawmills, kiln-dried & moulded. So you can see where the terms recycled & reclaimed come from. The floors are usually random widths and lengths as were the originals. These wide plank floors are not only beautiful but are very stable and age with grace.

How long will your floors last?

3/4” tongue & grooved or straight edge plank can last generations. Many colonial homes that stand today have the original floors. Today’s manufactured floors use their 10, 15, or 20 year life-span as a selling point.

How can A floor last for generations?

Many of the beautiful floors we see in Colonial Era homes were installed and not sanded. Finish your floor with a coating that can be recoated without being sanded. Sanding will destroy your floors wear layer.

How important are the craftsmen that will install our floors or trim work to the success of the project?

They are CRITICAL. How much experience do they have with Antique Reclaimed Floors? Do they have Photos? References? Multiple jobs?

Do they photograph Moisture Meter and Hygrometer Readings of your floor and subfloor, as well as the jobsite. Remember today’s cell phones record date and time!

Experience installing strip mill flooring does not count.

Do they drum sand the top surface of your floor? Thus destroying the Antique Patina you paid for. The Craftsmen I worked with could and would use a hand scraper for that Right Look!

They should Never Nail Down a Floor Board they are not satisfied with!

The Craftsmen I have worked with could all adjust a floor board with a hand plane to achieve a perfect fit. They did not solely rely on power tools.

The Sanding and Finishing of your floor should not be rushed! They should not use filler to hide poor workmanship. They should be well versed in the application of oils and varnish.

Do not allow the use of a finish on your floor that does not allow for an ease of recoating. No Resanding !

Do Reclaimed Antique Wood Floors work over radiant heat?

Yes. We have many successful installations. The main reason this works is because of the age and quality of the wood itself. Remember any wood floor is only as Good As Its Subfloor! Dry and Flat! This is True for Concrete and Wood! The success or failure of Antique Reclaimed Wood Floors on Radiant heat depends on your contractors and installers skill.

What's the quality of your new Traditional Plank Floors?

Much of the same criteria we use for the reclaimed flooring is applied to our new plank floors. Wide boards, old growth timber, long lengths, stability and beauty for that antique look. Often we’ll use antique cut nails and hand scraped edges and surfaces to further enhance that look of time-worn elegance.

Do you ship your floors to our home or building site?

Yes. The freight company will require that you have a crew of willing helpers or a forklift to unload your floor

Remember the freight company’s responsibility ends at the back of the trailer.

What is the difference between Reclaimed Antique Floors and the new Traditional Plank Floors you sell and the strip mill flooring that is commonly available.

Strip mill flooring as sold in the big box lumber stores and general floor store is generally shorter lengths and narrower widths. The wood is harvested from young trees.Their engineered flooring has thin face veneer and poor quality plywood inner layers.

Reclaimed lumber can be a 2×4 taken from a dumpster- We strive to use Antique Reclaimed Woods to build your floor. They have the stability and patina that only age can give.

The Traditional Plank floors we sell feature wide widths and long lengths just like our Antique Reclaimed floors,even though they are made from new lumber, that is harvested from mature trees.

What about prefinished floors?

We offer various finish options depending on your personal taste. We offer an oil that is a classic finish that penetrates the fibers of the wood & protects finishes against scratches, stains & dirt. These finishes do require occasional maintenance with an oil refresher coat. These are spot repairable. They are the finish we recommend for restaurants.

Another finish we use often is the high tech super hard commercial water-based variety. With proper care, both of these finishes need only be recoated, never re-sanded.

Now for the question about scratches. Truthfully, all floors and finishes scratch. Part of the beauty of an antique floor or traditional plank floor is they already have natural dents, nail holes, and cracks. Your scratches will only add to the overall look of time-worn beauty.

Can I Afford An Antique Floor?

Can I afford an Antique Floor?

I feel either reclaimed antique flooring or new wide plank represents a very good value. Because I represent a variety of mills and have built a business relationship of mutual trust and respect, we can truly offer a floor for every budget. When you consider price longevity, plank floors look pretty impressive compared to carpet, vinyl and strip mill flooring all of which have a relatively short life span.

You've spoken most about floors - what about yoru trim packages and period reproduction furniture?

Floors are the biggest part of our business and are much like an artist’s palette in that the rest of the interior of your home can be built off the look of your floor. Trim materials that we can provide will harmonize and add to that overall “special look”. You will not achieve this look with what I describe as cookie cutter trim seen in most homes.

If you desire that special piece of period furniture, or Shaker I would be honored to build it for you in a manner befitting the originals. What this means is true hand joining, hand scraped surfaces and hand rubbed finishes. If true hand craftsmanship,when authentic period design and the finest wood is combined, the end result will be a treasured family keepsake that will last for generations. Please visit, Ron Holstrom Furniture Maker .

Can a 'Do-It-Yourself-er' handle the installation?

Yes. you need to take an honest look at your abilities or lack of.

Are you physically able to do the work?
Do you have experience with wide plank floors?
Do you have the correct tools?
Do you have a Hygrometer and Moisture meter? They are as important as your saw and hammer!
You will need a dry, climate controlled environment to store your flooring.
Do you realize that a home under construction—Drywall, Tile work, painting, wet construction lumber,is not safe for your flooring! You need to know how to use your Hygrometer and moisture meter. Photograph the meter readings at different locations and times at your jobsite
When you are installing your floor, Start Straight, Do not repeat patterns, Never nail a board down till you are satisfied with the look and fit.
Can you handle the Floor Sanders? I have installed over 200,000 sf of wide plank flooring. I have never used a drum sander.

Do you offer architectural accents?

Definitely! We offer:

Staircase Materials
Cabinet Lumber
Mouldings & Millwork
Floor Vents
Beams & Mantles
Counters & Table Tops