Gaps Appear in this Wood Floor After a Fire Restoration -
Patrick Burke
I was called to do an inspection on a 3-inch solid prefinished Brazilian cherry wood floor installed over OSB. The homeowner said there were gaps left all over her floor...
Concerned Customers: How You Handle Them Speaks Volumes -
Joe & Joni Rocco
We all say it: “Next time, I am going to remember to do this or that differently.” Unfortunately, time has a way of blurring the specific...
Problematic Pooches: For Dog Nails, Booties Could be the Answer -
Doug Dalsing
Karen Luther sees the difficulty in owning both wood floors and a heavy dog. “The unfortunate thing is that I don’t think people realize dogs can damage wood floors before ...
Vintage Moments: Simple Moisture Management -
Doug Dalsing
Compared with the electronically sophisticated humidifiers of today, this model is uncannily simple. In Reichow’s words: “The felt wicks ...
Wood Performs in This Striking Concert Hall -
Doug Dalsing
Wood is a highly regarded building material for many reasons, including its acoustical qualities. This is why architects for Kansas City's Kauffman Center used wood throughout Helzberg Hall, a concert hall that ...
A Buckled Wood Floor Results in a Kitchen Demo -
Avi Hadad
I received a call from a homeowner who wanted me to look at his newly installed floor. He said the floor was cupping and buckling. The homeowner decided to remodel his kitchen a few months ago...
Engineered Enigmas: Know These Answers to Avoid Problems -
Catherine Liewen
Engineered flooring has come a long way since it was first introduced to the market nearly 70 years ago. As these products continue to gain popularity, a multitude of style and construction...
Nonprofit Exchanges Healthcare for Rainforest Preservation -
Doug Dalsing
It’s a very simple concept: In Kalimantan, Indonesia, there is a medical clinic that provides locals discounted healthcare if they help preserve the rainforest. And it’s ...
Signs of a Great Workplace - Norm Spitzig
What makes a workplace great? What are the specific characteristics that great workplaces share? If there is a more basic...
How to Handle a Super-Picky Client - Bob Goldstein
I’ve been a wood floor man for 45 years and have worked for the full spectrum of people, from picky designers, to deranged...
Q&As: Customers Picking out Boards, Extending Pneumatic Tool Lifespans & Using Moisture Meters to Test Waterborne Finish - HF Editors
I installed a prefinished floor for a customer and now he’s saying he doesn’t like some of the boards...
How to Prevent Cupping and Worse in Summer Months - Craig DeWitt, Ph.D., P.E.
During the summer, even the most carefully installed wood floors tend to expand and sometimes cup or even buckle...
Tips for Top-Nailed 5/16-Inch Floors - Avi Hadad
In my region, here in California’s Bay Area, older homes typically have a floor not commonly found in many other areas: solid 5/16-inch-thick...
Crawl Space Moisture Leads to a Cupped Floor - David Paal
I was commissioned by a central Indiana homeowner to inspect a 1,500-square-foot main level hardwood floor showing generalized cupping...
An Inconsistent Stain at Wall Lines - Jon Namba
I received a call from an installer who was having problems with inconsistent, splotchy stain on a new...
Vintage Moments: Woodworking Ads From 1917 - Doug Dalsing
"Drive 'em out with this Machine!" reads this ad from Ohio's Sidney Tool Company ...
Are You Liable for Your Employees? - From Nolo
Like it or not, you might be responsible for harm caused by your employees. Under a handful of legal theories ...
Clear Up Confusion About Maintenance - Kim M. Wahlgren
As wood floors have grown in popularity, so have products and ideas about how to maintain a wood floor. There are...
The Cause of 'Dry-Cupping' in Engineered Wood Floors - Dan Blake
When you're talking about problems with wood floors, nothing gets more attention than moisture and its consequences, like cupping. But lack of moisture...
Know these Facts Before Working with Bamboo Flooring - Dan Harrington
As the focus on environmental responsibility gains strength among consumers and the wood flooring industry, bamboo flooring continues to be in the spotlight...
Calculating Wood Flooring Job Costs - John Lessick
Are you charging what you should should for your wood flooring jobs?
Warning Signs of Bad Clients - Don Bollinger
Read the warning signs potential wood flooring clients send you
Taming the Buffer, Part II: Understanding How a Wood Floor Buffer Works - Galen Fitzel and Jim Schumacher
More mysteries of this wild wood flooring beast are revealed
Get a Handle on Wood Floor Staining Strategies - Kim M. Wahlgren
Some wood flooring contractors love to stain floors. They up sell their jobs by offering customers any color they desire, even without having to buy...
How to Prepare Your Wood Flooring Edger - Wayne Lee
Make sure your edger pad is "dressed" for the job
Taming the Buffer: Understanding How a Wood Floor Buffer Works, Part I - Galen Fitzel
Understanding the beast helps create better sanding jobs.
The Finer Details of Sanding and Finishing Wood Floors - Steve Seabaugh
Oftentimes contractors do all the major steps right, but overlook small detailson the job site. The result is a job that is good, but not great. This can make the difference...
Don't Take These Lazy Shortcuts When Installing Wood Floors - Steve Seabaugh
Don't take these lazy shortcuts when installing wood floors