Choosing Hardwood Flooring

Hi all,

This is the sequel to my last post about moisture and hardwood flooring, Moisture Issues in Wood Flooring.

A lot of customers contact me asking wether a vapor retarder is really necessary when glueing down an engineered floor to a concrete subfloor. In my opinion, absolutely.

In general, manufacture warranties require a vapor retarder only if the calcium chloride reading is greater than 3lbs. However, only a tiny percentage of homes in North America feedback calcium chloride readings within these requirements. Moreover, concrete emits moisture throughout its life as it adjusts to the changing climate that surrounds it. As such, a reading taken one season may be significantly different the following season. For these reasons, it is strongly recommended that a vapor retarder is applied.

To further this point, in February of this year I attended a NWFA course titled Introduction to Wood Flooring lead by Steve Marley, Techinical Director at Johnson Premium Hardwood Flooring. The course was geared towards beginners but was attended by installers ranging in experience of 1-15 years.  Steve himself has been involved with hardwood flooring in one capacity or another for over two decades. Even though the NWFA does not require a vapor retarder for concrete with a calcium chloride reading greater than 3lbs, he won’t install over concrete without one and stongly advised to all in attendence to do the same. Good enough for me.
Cheers,

Tom

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Hi all,

The world of wood grading can be a very confusing one. Systems and rules change from continent to continent and from species to species. In this global economy, it’s difficult to keep it straight. Here I’ve developed a bit of a cheat sheet to give you an idea as to what you can expect as grades go from high to low. Please keep in mind that this is by no means exact and does not correspond with any one grading system.

Cheers,

Tom

American Walnut:

A Grade:

1. Color ranges from a deep, rich dark brown to a purplish black. 2. Sapwood is not allowed. Wood knots can not be over 5mm.

3. Slight Mineral Streaks allowed (less than ¼” wide and 3″ long).

4. 92% clear & better.

AB Grade:

1. Color ranges from a deep, rich dark brown to a purplish black.

2. Sapwood is allowed. Wood knots can not be over ½” in diameter.

3. Mineral streaks allowed.

4. Minor imperfections in machining permitted.

5. 75% clear & better.

ABC Grade:

1. Color variation and natural characteristics of the wood are apparent.

2. Sapwood is allowed. Wood knots can not be over 2/3″ diameter.

3. Knot Holes, Bird Pecks, Worm Holes and the like are allowed.

4. 50% clear & better.

ABCD Grade:

1. Color variation and natural characteristics give a ” rustic ” appearance.

2. Sapwood is allowed.

3. Wood Knots or any open characters which will readily fill are admitted.

4. 35% clear & better.

Jatoba:

A Grade:

1. Color ranges from Salmon red to orange-brown when fresh.

2. Slight Sapwood and Mineral Streaks are allowed.

3. Moderate color variation.

4. 92% clear & better.

AB Grade:

1. Color ranges from Salmon red to orange-brown when fresh.

2. Sapwood (gray-White) is allowed. Wood knots can not be over 5mm.

3. Slight Mineral Streaks are allowed.

4. Moderate to high color variation.

5. 80% clear & better.

ABC Grade:

1 Moderate to high color variation from honey brown to Salmon red.

2. Sapwood and wood knots allowed, wood knots can not be over ½” in diameter.

3. Mineral Streaks are allowed.

4. 60% clear & better.

Santos Mahogany:

A Grade:

1. Color ranges from red to dark red, moderate color variation.

2. Slight Sapwood, Mineral Streaks and Wood knots are allowed.

3. 92% clear & better.

AB Grade:

1. Color ranges from red to dark reddish brown, moderate to high color variation.

2. Sapwood is allowed. Wood knots can not be over 5mm.

3. Slight Mineral Streaks are allowed.

4. 80% clear & better.

ABC Grade:

1. Moderate to high color variation, natural characteristics apparent.

2. Sapwood is allowed. Wood knots can not be over ½” in diameter.

3. Mineral Streaks are allowed.

4. 60% clear & better.

White Oak:

A Grade:

1. Color: Heartwood is light brown; some boards may have a pinkish tint or a slight Grayish cast. Overall a uniform appearance.

2. Minimal number of character marks and discoloration allowed.

3. 92% clear & better.

AB Grade:

1. Color: Heartwood is light brown; some boards may have a pinkish tint or a slight

Grayish cast. Sapwood is white to cream.

2. Slight imperfections in face work, some machine burn, mineral streaks and brown streaks are

allowed. Wood knots can not be over 5mm.

3. 70% clear & better.

ABC Grade:

1. Color: Prominent variations with varying characters.

2. Sapwood and Mineral Streaks are allowed.

3. Wood knots under ½” in diameter.

4. 50% clear & better.

ABCD Grade:

1. Natural wood grain and slight manufacturing imperfections allowed.

2. Large broken knots or unsound defects allowed.

3. 35% clear & better.

Oak Grain: Open, with longer rays than red oak Occasional crotches, swirls and burls. Plain sawn boards have a plumed or flared grain appearance; rift sawn has a tighter grain pattern, low figuring; quarter-sawn has a flake pattern, sometime called tiger rays or butterflies.

Red Oak:

A Grade:

1. Color: Most pieces have a reddish (pinkish) tone. Slightly redder than white oak.

2. Minimal number of character marks and discoloration allowed.

3. 92% clear & better.

AB Grade:

1. Color: Heartwood and sapwood are similar, with sapwood lighter in color.

2. Slight imperfections in face work allowed.

3. Some machine burn, mineral streaks and brown streaks are allowed.

4. Wood knots can not be over 5mm.

5. 70% clear & better.

ABC Grade:

1. Color: Prominent variations with varying characters.

2. Sapwood is allowed.

3. Mineral streaks are allowed.

4. Wood knots under ½” in diameter.

5. 50% clear & better.

ABCD Grade:

1. Natural wood grain and slight manufacturing imperfections allowed.

2. Large broken knots or unsound defects allowed.

3. 35% clear & better.

Variations within species and grades: More than 200 subspecies in North America; great variation in color and grain, depending on the origin of the wood and corresponding differences in growing seasons. Northern, Southern and Appalachian red oak can all be divided into upland and lowland species. Because they grow more slowly, upland species generally have a more uniform grain pattern than lowland species, with more growth rings per inch.

Hard Maple:

A Grade:

1. Color: Most pieces are creamy white to light reddish brown.

2. Practically free of defect, slight pin knots and streaks allowed.

3. 92% clear & better.

AB Grade:

1. Color: Most pieces are creamy white to light reddish brown. Sapwood is pale to creamy white.

2. Numerous Dark Green, Black Spots or Streaks are allowed.

3. Small rough spots are allowed.

4. 80% clear & better.

ABC Grade:

1. Maple characteristics and color variations.

2. May contain all defects common to Maple.

3. Knot holes under 1/2″ in diameter allowed.

4. 50% clear & better.

ABCD Grade:

1. Color variation and natural characteristics of the wood are apparent.

2. Wood Knots or any open characters which will readily fill are admitted.

3. 35% clear & better.

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Hey Good People - Rob here.

Here’s a link to an article about how to build green, mostly aimed at the single home builder looking to incorporate green building practices when embarking on a residential project.

If this article proves anything, it is that building green doesn’t rest in a single choice; it’s dependent on a number of choices that affect the outcome of whether or not a building project is truly green. This can be a tricky business, since it’s all about finding a balance between the various factors that play into this outcome. And of course, it sometimes depends on how you utilize your resources based on limitations such as budget.

One things the article does mention in terms of sustainable building materials is cork flooring as a great choice to help you strike that balance. This is true due to a number of key advantages that cork flooring offers:

• sustainability; cork flooring is harvested with the health of the cork oak tree as a major priority - no tree is harmed
• reduction of waste products;the production process includes nearly zero wastage
• incorporating the principles of re-use; cork flooring tiles and planks are actually bi-products of the wine industry production of corks for bottles
• energy efficiency; cork flooring retains warmth because of its cellular struture which holds it in naturally

No single purchase of cork flooring or any other building material equals a green building project, of course. But, for a hardwood flooring product, this one adds to the positive column if you’re looking to build up LEED® points for a project.

And besides that, cork looks good. I’ve got cork flooring in my living room!

Cheers,

Rob.

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Hey Good People - Rob here.

Being the sentimental fellow that I am, I came across this story of childhood innocence, school days gone by, and reclaimed American walnut hardwood.

The article specifically talks about a tree on the grounds of a public school which was to be removed to make way for a construction of a new driveway. When Rick Paid, a former student of the school, discovered it was to be removed, he knew that he could immortalize the tree not only in his memories, but for use as flooring, cabinetry, and furniture, his line of business.

Part of what motivated Rick was the quality of the American walnut wood and the reliability of the species for use in flooring and other applications. But another motivation proved to be his own memories. Once again, the point is proven that building materials, wood flooring and others, aren’t just commodities. They have the ability to make history in people’s lives. In the case of this story about reclaiming the wood, it’s also a story about reclaiming a part of someone’s childhood.

And this of course is not to mention the great practice of making sure that natural resources continue to have a life, where in times gone by, they would have been discarded. Once again, there is a direct link between green building practices and old fashioned initiative.

Unrelated to all of this I have a tree story of my own, folks. There was an oak tree that still remains standing on the grounds of my old school, Sunningdale Public School back in Oakville Ontario. One day near the end of the school year in second grade, we put on a play under that tree for our class. It was just something we dreamed up that caught our teacher’s attention (mostly because it didn’t include superheroes, which was our main source of inspiration when putting on plays up until then…). Our play was about a prince, whose father had been killed by the prince’s brother, and the father’s spirit comes to warn him of treachery.

Our second grade teacher was astounded, and we didn’t really know why, as pleased as we were. How were we to know that we’d just performed Hamlet (or pretty close to it) under that old oak tree?

Cheers!

Rob.

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Hey Good People - Rob Here

I just came across an article about a green building contractor and retail outlet on the Richmond.com site. The firm is based in Richmond Virginia called EcoLogic. The business is owned and operated by Stephanie and Fred Ackerman, concentrating on a turn-key solution for clients who need services ranging from design to renovation, to construction.

One of the things mentioned in the article is the need for homeowners to find alternative materials to use in renovations to their homes. More to the point, people are looking for materials which will reduce carbon footrprints, yet will also still be affordable options. Cork flooring gets a big mention, and so does reclaimed wood flooring. And bamboo flooring is a pretty big player too, of course. But, what the Ackermans found was that it’s often very hard to source these kinds of materials locally. I wonder if they’ve heard of BuildDirect? Hmmm; note to self…

In any case, this void in the local market ignited their imaginations for green building in their area. And they had a pretty practical hurdle to jump in refurbishing their premises in line with their green building philosophy. I’d encourage you to check out the EcoLogic blog, authored by co-owner Stephanie which traces the construction. It’s informative in terms of what the company is up to, but it’s also a pretty entertaining read too!

Cheers,

Rob

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Hey Good People - Rob here.

We focus a lot on homeowners on this blog, and on our main site too. But, what about properties in the commercial sector that strive to look as “homey” as any DIYers abode? I’m talking about flooring in hotel chains, people. And like the movement that buy-it-yourself consumers are making toward green building, many new hotel locations are making similar choices, based on what their customers expect.

One example is this article about green building at Starwood hotels and resorts-owned 1-2-3 suite Element, an extended-stay brand hotel as described in USA Today as offering an eco-chic experience for guests. The balance which is struck is building with sustainable materials, like cork for instance, while still maintaining a modern, comfortable feel. In regards to green building practices across the entire chain, the article states:

The U.S. Green Building Council says Element is the first U.S. hotel chain that has committed to certifying every property via the council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program.

LEED is a set of standards by which building projects are judged for green building practices ). Incorporating green flooring like cork floors adds to the point value of each project, which improves the rating of that project as a whole (more about the LEED program can be found on our green building products page).

Another example of this same trend in the hospitality industry is the NU hotel chain which has recently opened a hotel location in downtown Brooklyn. In addition to cork flooring which is incorporated in every room, the hotel also uses FSC certified teak for all of its furniture.

It may be that some of these trends are simply about giving customers what they want, not really about the importance of sustainability issues on corporate agendas. In this, use of green wood flooring like cork floors in hotel suites isn’t a radical move at all. But, I’m encouraged by the fact that customers are expecting green building practices even when they’re staying away from home. The response by industry is being shaped by those expectations. It seems to me that this trend represents a sea change in the way that consumers are choosing green more and more in their daily lives - even when they’re on holiday.

I like this other quote from the USA today article from global brand manager of the Element hotel chain, Brian McGuiness:

“We’re not certain what it means to be eco-friendly in the hospitality industry. We need to figure out the balance between being sensitive to the environment and delivering a great guest experience. Frankly, we’re still learning.”

I think he speaks for all industries here; every business has to put new information like green building standards into some kind of context.  The process tends to take time if its to be done right.  It’s nice that he’s being upfront about this movement being a learning process instead of trying to play the eco-warrior, too.  This level of candor is what our President and CEO Jeff Booth is currently talking about in his Transparency series.  And the fact is,  incorporating green building practices in business is a learning experience.  But, it looks like we’re making progress!

Cheers

Rob.

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Hi all,

This one’s a draw with both sides coming up short.

Jeff Booth has started up a good series about the importance of transparency in business. Here, I’ll speak specifically to product transparency.

To me, product transparency essentially means providing the customer with all the information they need to make an informed decision. It’s tricky as an online retailer. You want to provide your customer with all pertinent info but don’t want to complicate (read “clutter”) your site. It’s tricky because you want to avoid the temptation of assuming what’s important to your customer- difficult to do when you may never have direct contact. Though difficult, it’s not only possible, it’s necessary. Customers need to have access to the information that’s important to them- it’s only fair that sellers provide it. I find that in this area many online sellers are guilty of the sin of omission.

Here’s a short list of often omitted features:

1) Price: websites and store fronts alike often don’t prominently display their product price.

2) Top wear layer thickness (Engineered): This is a key structural feature that is often omitted, particularly online.

3) Hand scraped: hand scraped has become a generic term in the industry for distressed flooring. Most don’t differenciate between machine scraped and genuinely hand scraped flooring. For example, you can now find “hand scraped” laminate flooring. Please see an old post here for more info.

4) Species origin: With many floors these days manufactured abroad, many suppliers do not differentiate between an Asian and a North American grown species, maple or oak for example.

These are just a few of the details that may or may not matter to a particular customer, but I think it’s easy to see why they may matter. It’s for this reason that both online and store front retailers should be forthright with this information.

Don’t get me wrong; transparency is not a switch you can just turn on and leave on. It’s a work in progress built up by daily decisions. I’m finding new areas to light up in our business on a daily basis.

In the end the customer wins and in turn, so do we.

Cheers,

Tom

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Hey Good People - Rob here.

I came across this blog entry about flooring inspection tips from a home inspector based in Seattle. Apart from some basics about floor care and what to look for when hunting for properties, there are some pretty brutal pictures of flooring on its last legs.

One of the things which is mentioned in the article is the effect of pets on flooring over the long term. And this is not just about the usual house-training/nail-trimming issues which are important when integrating a pet in a property. Since pets are usually pretty habitual creatures, areas of the flooring they tend to favor for play and for sleep tend to take the most abuse over a shorter period of time relative to other areas of a property. These areas tend not to be the usual suspects in terms of traffic. And because of this, they tend to degrade at a pretty quick rate before the damage is noticed by homeowners.

Another issue when it comes to wood flooring inspection, and the inspection of other flooring too, is staining. Sometimes, stains are the result of surface absorption and flooring is easily replaced or otherwise treated. Other times, the damage lurks below the surface, which can really add to the cost of maintaining a property once it’s been purchased. In this case, sometimes subfloors have to be replaced in addition to surface flooring. The good advice given in the article is to always assume the worst when looking at wood floors, or at surfaces which cover wood flooring. Inspection of this nature can save a lot of time, energy, expense, and help you to avoid overall disappointment too.

What about you? Are there any warning signs you can recommend which property hunters should be aware of? What about horror stories (we love those don’t we, as long as they belong to someone else… :))?

Tell me all about it.

Cheers,

Rob.

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Hey Good People - Rob here.

I can’t get enough of hearing about innovation when it comes to milling hardwood flooring, or the creativity of members of the wood industry in general. This is particularly true when I hear stories about how creative people are getting when it comes to sustainability and approaches to green building practices. I like that certain sectors of industry are beginning to realize that single-minded profit seeking denies them, and their customers, of many wider benefits. And some are way ahead when it comes to a more holistic approach to sourcing building materials in their own communities.

Here’s another great article about reclaimed hardwood products out of Santa Barbara, California.

Rob Bjorkland mills his own wood, a result of what is called urban forestry. This means that trees which normally would be subject to the wood chipper after falling to disease or other natural causes in neighborhoods are actually given new life through reclamation and re-use. And of course, the milling of this wood goes hand-in-hand with an aggressive re-planting program.

I think the wood flooring industry has been painted with a pretty broad brush when it comes to sustainability issues. For me, it’s great to see that a traditional product made in a traditional way, is actually subject to a pretty modern approach, with eco-friendly attitudes firmly in place. And it’s also important to note that innovation in the wood flooring and wood products industries are done at the grass roots level, which is true to the green building movement in general.

It’s clear that this is a lucrative business. Yet, practices like these also add to local communities too, not just short term profits. And there is respect for natural resources and wood species, and what they offer neighborhoods, outside of their role as wood flooring and other products. Re-planting fallen trees, and making use of available materials which had traditionally been discarded infuse new life into local economies and make sure that urban forests and green areas are sustained for the future as well. I personally find this long view tendency to be really encouraging.

What do you think, Good People? Are there similar efforts in your own communities with regard to replanting programs and reclaimed wood practices?

Tell me all about it!

Cheers,

Rob.

image and attached article courtesy of Santa Barbara Independent

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Hey, Good People - Rob here.

I came across this great story about a Cleveland Ohio-based company who makes it their business to make sure that historical building materials live on rather than fall to traditional demolition. Through meticulous ‘deconstruction’, a number of gems in building materials like oak hardwood flooring are found that might otherwise have been missed.

Read the story  here.

The operation is a truly hands-on effort, as local laborers and trades people deconstruct an old property sometimes literally by hand. Many of these properties would have traditionally been knocked down, with vintage flooring and other building materials buried in the rubble to later be landfilled and forgotten. This newer approach has led to some incredible discoveries, . For example, the team preserves the original oak hardwood floors through patience, and innovation:

Inside the house, (company owner, Brad) Guy starts to remove the original tongue-and-groove oak flooring in a second-floor room. He turns the task over to Melinda Harchuck, 30, who wants to be a carpenter and recently completed training through Hard Hatted Women in Cleveland.

Harchuck uses a tool that Guy invented to gently pry up floors. It looks like a short rake, but with only two prongs just inches apart. The tool rests on an exposed floor joist, the prongs on either side.

“Just rock it back and forth a little bit,” Harchuck said, explaining how the prongs exert upward pressure on the floor slat.

Eventually the slat pops up, carefully preserved. A pneumatic tool called a nail kicker will be used drive any nails back through the wood.

We wrote a piece about reclaimed wood for flooring not too long ago, and this is a great example of how it’s done. And this is not just about providing alternate means of flooring in line with being ‘green’. It’s also about preserving the history of the wood, the building it came from, and in some ways the community in which the building had for so long been a part. And of course, it’s great for the local economy too, providing work for skilled tradespeople instead of just another target for the wrecking ball.

Cheers!

Rob.

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