There is a real difference between talking about hardwood flooring manufacturing and seeing it firsthand. Samples, specifications, and product literature help explain the finished floor, but they do not fully show what happens inside a mill. Seeing the process in person provides a clearer understanding of how lumber is handled, how boards are milled and dried, and how those decisions ultimately affect the flooring that reaches a jobsite.
During a recent visit to Muscanell Millworks in Cortez, Colorado, NWFA had the opportunity to see that process up close. The tour offered a firsthand look at how the company approaches hardwood flooring production, with an emphasis on precision milling, long average board lengths, and moisture control. Those priorities are central to Muscanell’s manufacturing philosophy.
“Every time we open up our facility to customers and industry partners, it’s an opportunity to build connections and share our passion for making high quality, unfinished hardwood flooring,” said Jolene McElwain, secretary/treasurer of Muscanell Millworks. “These connections and sharing of knowledge best happen in person, so hosting tours is crucial. It also gives us a chance to show the steps we take to ensure we are living up to our motto, ‘Count on Quality’. Transparency in manufacturing gives customers and end users peace of mind knowing they purchased a quality product.”
Muscanell Millworks traces its roots to 1986, when Doug Muscanell launched a small business creating decorative boxes for the American craft market. In 1995, the company shifted into hardwood flooring.
Today, Muscanell highlights three priorities in its production: precision milling, long average board lengths, and special drying. The company maintains an average plank length of about five feet in most species and grades, which contributes to visual continuity once the flooring is installed. It also measures bundles individually and manages average length during packaging to ensure customers receive what they ordered.
For many attendees, seeing the production process firsthand offered valuable perspective. Joe Lott, owner of Mountain Impressions Hardwood Flooring and an NWFA member, noted that the operation reflected a strong balance between efficiency and quality throughout the mill.
Mark Strauss of Patriarch, LLC, said the tour changed his perspective on hardwood flooring manufacturing. Seeing the process up close gave him a deeper appreciation for the level of science and technical precision involved in producing flooring that ultimately reaches jobsites.
Moisture control is another major part of the story. The company explains that wood is hygroscopic, meaning it responds to the moisture conditions around it. To address that, Muscanell re-dries lumber after it arrives at the Colorado mill, bringing it into a 5 to 7 percent moisture range before milling. According to the company, that step helps minimize movement after production and is especially important in the dry climate of the Intermountain West.
“We hope visitors leave with the understanding that we care about the quality of the flooring going into their space as much as they do,” McElwain said.
Another takeaway from the visit is how the company uses its raw material. Muscanell says all wood byproducts from its milling process are utilized, including for heating buildings, drying wood, and melting snow and ice. The remaining sawdust is used to produce Woodchucks fire logs, which the company describes as compressed briquettes formed with heat and compression and made without binders or additives.
That practical use of material reflects a broader strength of the wood flooring industry. At a facility like Muscanell, quality is not only about the finished board. It is also about how the lumber is selected, dried, milled, packaged, and fully utilized along the way.
“Collaboration benefits almost every industry,” McElwain said. “For us, working with NWFA and other professionals in the industry is all about the relationships we’ve built. From lumber suppliers to distributors, dealers, contractors, and customers, our quality and reputation would not be what they are today without those relationships.”
Visits like this connect the technical side of manufacturing with the people who specify, sell, install, and promote wood flooring every day. When manufacturers open their doors and share their process, it strengthens understanding across the industry and builds trust in the product itself.
For more information on Muscanell Millworks, visit muscanell.com.