A trend that still seems to be holding sway in the world of wood flooring is the trend toward the handscraped effect, and handworked wood surfaces in general. Those looking to buy handscraped wood flooring in particular are after a more lived in look than they can get with smooth-planed hardwood.
I suppose even the illusion of an authentically worked wood surface lends an air of comfort, and also a sense that the surfaces are hard won. And ultimately, there is a feeling that the surface has a history locked inside of it too. This effect obviously extends beyond flooring, and also applies to cabinetry and furniture too, for those who want that down-home, back to basics look.
For hundreds of years, and up until the present day, true hand-worked millwork, wood flooring, cabinetry, and other elements have been made by religious communities in rural areas all over North America. In looking into it a bit, I found a Squiddo lens about Amish furniture.
And yes, the irony of finding something about the Amish on the Internet is not lost on me. At least you know that the Amish will never spam you, right?
Amish woodworkers favour the species which are native to the areas in which they live. So, lots of oak, cherry, and maple.
Among other points made, the lens talks about the work-ethic found in their beliefs which drives them toward precision and excellence. And these principles comes out in the work they do. For them, working with wood is more than just about practicality. From their standpoint, woodworking is spiritual too. You’ve gotta respect that.
Cheers,
Rob.
Amish family in a carriage image courtesy of Diluvi.
Well, as of today I’ve switched mediums. Well, not switched so much as diversified. Instead of the usual wood flooring, and wood-related post, I give you my introduction of BuildDirect on video. Here’s our first foray into the world of the video blog.
So, there it is; a bit of a ‘hello’. What we’ll be doing over the course of the next few weeks is giving you a direct insight as to who we are, what we do, what we care about. And hopefully, what we’re putting out there will resonate with you. Then, we can start talking!
The state of the economy is not exactly my area of expertise, although I’m as affected by it as anyone, in my immediate circle at least.
But one voice which is very well trusted is Forbes magazine, who have featured an article about the lumber industry and the negative impact the downward spiral of the economy is having on the lumber industry. Foreclosures and the virtual moratorium on building new homes has presented itself as an economic sock on the jaw, with added boots to the gut. Unemployment, credit problems, inflated inventory levels, and any number of other economic knock-on effects is worrying even the most seasoned veteran.
According to the article, the next few months are about survival, with the hope that the economy will start its ascent in 2009 sooner in the year rather than later. For us here at BuildDirect who have the advantage of being able to circumvent a good deal of the traditional processes as far as holding inventory is concerned, it will be interesting to see how this dark period in economic history will change the industry in the long term.
For me, it seems that the nature of business itself is on the verge of transformation, when the methods and attitudes of the past must be seriously re-examined, overhauled, or entirely re-invented where necessary. In some ways, it’s kind of an exciting time to live in, at least where innovation in business is concerned. The loss of savings and jobs part of things isn’t so grand, of course.
That being said, we’re all hoping that whatever model is shaped to carry us forward into the 21st century will be sustainable for the long term, with a prosperous future kept in mind along with more immediate gains. A lot of the time, business practices are focused so much on the instant payoff that the fact that human faces and real lives are attached and are dependent upon the big decisions is forgotten . Hopefully, this blind spot of our current model can be done away with too.
Here on this here blog we’ve talked a lot about how practical wood flooring is, how it can add resale value to a property, and how great it looks. But, what about the spiritual benefits of wood floors? Well, here’s an article about wood flooring and the principles of feng-shui.
Feng-shuiis an ancient Chinese philosophy which concerns itself with the balancing of energies in a physical space. The ultimate goal of feng-shui is to increase the health of those who live and work in that space. So, whether you put any stock into feng-shui or not, that’s a goal that’s hard to argue with.
The role of flooring in feng-shui is that of a stabilizing force, which is pretty much in line with its practical purpose too.
Be sure to read the comments in the forum section of the attached article. There are plenty of stories of people who are making an attempt not only to add some visual benefit to their spaces through wood flooring and other elements, but also to get a sense that their interiors can be a real place of refuge from a busy life.
One of my earliest memories was being in the hospital as a toddler. I had an eye operation and was in there to heal up. This being the early 1970s, I had to stay in there alone as the companies for whom my parents worked didn’t exactly allow for the whole ‘work-life balance’ dynamic which many of us enjoy today.
In any case, this was a time where I really grew to hate hospitals, not because I was neglected or abused while there, but because medical facilities tend to be so sterile and dehumanizing. All of that cold metal and institutional green paint is not exactly the kind of place you’d want to spend any time, even if you aren’t a toddler with an eye patch.
Have a read of this article about the Duke Integrative Medicine facility at Duke University in North Carolina, where it’s understood that environment has a great deal to do with recovery times. One thing it outlines, and why I’ve included it here, is that the use of wood seems to add a sense of hominess and warmth to a space.
Where a lot of medical facilities have to balance design with practicality (minimizing the spread of bacteria being the biggest) , it seems that wood still has a place. And perhaps a welcoming environment, which wood surfaces tend to engender, has a practical use too. After all, if people are relaxed and not alienated by their surroundings, maybe quicker recoveries are more likely.
Cheers,
Rob.
Depressing hospital image courtesy of frenkieb. Not to say that the hall should be adorned with wood paneling, but I’m sure they could have done better than this.
Here’s an article which outlines all there is to know (well, the basics anyway) abouthardwood floor fastening. In addition to some basic ‘how-to’ information, the article also talks a little bit about the history of fastening, that before the 1950s, everything was done manually.
This is contrasted with pneumatic fastening machines and nail guns which allow the user to set the depth of a nail or screw in a hardwood floor. We’ve come a long way!
Here’s a video which outlines something of the cork industry, and talks a bit about how sustainable cork is. And the video stars SNL alumnus Rob Schneider, who isn’t trapped in the body of a sorority girl, possessed by animals, nor is he portraying an unlikely gigolo either, I promise. Take a look:
For more information about “Save Miguel”, take a look at the Save Miguel website. According to the site, a harvested cork oak is better able to absorb C02, which lessens the effects of greenhouse gasses. Further, cork oaks are a part of a working eco-system of dependent animals and plants. I suppose the main point being made is that if the species is fostered through industry, the health of individual trees is likely to be higher.
The wine industry is the main driver here for this campaign. More specifically, the company Amorim in Portugal who makes wine corks and is active in the promotion of cork as a sustainable material. But, of course we know that wine isn’t the only use for cork.
And for a bit more information, check out this article which references the campaign, which has been undertaken to raise awareness of the value of cork forests, to promote the idea of buying ‘green’ wine bottles and other products, and to continue to protect the practice of cork bark harvesting.
When I was first starting out here at BuildDirect, I didn’t know one thing about flooring, other than the experience of walking on it. So, a good deal of my time when I joined up with this ragtag bunch of rebels (note the Star Wars reference…) was spent researching the world of flooring - how it was made, what some of the advantages and disadvantages are, and how to take care of it too. One of my favourite sites to fill in my knowledge gaps was this one - Ask The Builder.
This is an accessible site that seems to speak to people at all skill levels. So, an article like this one, which talks about how to repair a hardwood floor, really helps the less experienced to understand how it’s done, and kind of makes the idea of having a hardwood floor to be a little less intimidating too. Since getting hardwood flooring installed can be a chunk of change when compared to other types of flooring, many people shy away from it because, perhaps, they feel it’s beyond them.
I have to admit, I kind of felt this way myself, because I’m DIY charity case. But even if you’ve got some skills at home repair, like the fellow in the article for instance, I think the feeling of being out of one’s depth is a thing which a lot of people face when it comes time to shop for a new floor, or indeed anything which is meant to last for a long time. Will I be able to take care of it? Am I up for the responsibility?
For my money, the answer is nearly always “yes” for people who think to even ask the question. It’s kind of like wondering if you’re really ready to be a parent, only, you know, with fewer concerns about changing diapers and midnight feedings, and more to do with how often you’re likely to look at refinishing or putting felt protectors on your furniture legs.
Is that a bit of a forced comparison? Well, maybe.
The point is, there are plenty of sources of information out there for you to look at, which not only allows you to take care of your hardwood flooring and enjoy success with them in adding value and practical benefit to your property, but also to help you weigh the pros and cons of making the investment in the first place. Building knowledge builds confidence, and after that the possibilities are yours to imagine.
It’s great living in this golden age of information! There’s a lot of helpful content out there to help us out with home improvement projects, including information about refinishing a hardwood floor.
I found this video which you might find helpful:
The video comes from a site called HowCast, which is kind of like a Youtube dedicated to “How To” information.
We at BuildDirect are looking into creating some videos of our own pretty soon - not just how-to stuff, but certainly including information like that. Any opinions on what you’d like to see would be helpful - let us know in the comments section on this post.
In the meantime, take a look at what this video can help you with, and let me know what you think.
Comments (0) Posted by Rob on Wednesday, October 1st, 2008
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For hundreds of years, and up until the present day, true hand-worked millwork, wood flooring, cabinetry, and other elements have been made by religious communities in rural areas all over North America. In looking into it a bit, I found a Squiddo lens about Amish furniture.
But one voice which is very well trusted is Forbes magazine, who have featured 
The role of flooring in feng-shui is that of a stabilizing force, which is pretty much in line with its practical purpose too.
Have a read of this 
This is an accessible site that seems to speak to people at all skill levels. So, an article like this one, which talks about 
