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Choosing the ideal flooring for your project entails many important decisions - your selection will directly impact final design goals. More importantly, our custom Antique and Old Growth flooring is manufactured from uniquely historical wood and we like to believe it should be considered carefully and with reverence when making your final decisions. Keep in mind, too, that the flooring you select will be a permanent fixture in your home and may ultimately effect it's value. Thus, choosing the right floor is a very important decision and, of course, the selection process may easily overwhelm. In an attempt to help simplify your decision process, following are a handful of FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS with informative answers. This is a great place begin to your selection process. Armed with these decisions, choosing the ideal floor may be an easy one!

Q. Do I Want Antique or Old Growth Woods?
A. Again, a very important decision. Generally speaking (and more information is provided on the pages to come), Antique Wood is significantly higher in character - with nail holes, checking and cracking, intense color variations and overall weathering. Our Old Growth Woods will be more consistent in color and display no nail holes. Both, however, have desirable tight growth rings which make for a more durable wood. Whichever you choose, they will always provide a fantastic finished look but Antique is just much greater in character then the Old Growth.

Q. Do I want Random or Fixed Widths?
A. This is an important decision—the finished looks are completely different. Random widths are the most common floor style, however often your design goals call for a fixed width floor.  Random width flooring is provided in either three different widths relatively close in range (e.g., 3", 4 1/2" & 6" widths, or 8", 10" & 12" widths) or in "bundles." It should be laid in a non-repeating pattern. A fixed width floor is provided in one uniform width (e.g. all 11" widths). The prices in this book are always based on random widths. If you prefer fixed widths, there are specific price per square foot increases. Note that there is no real benefit as to durability, this is solely a design effective decision.

Q. What widths do I want?
A. First, determine whether you prefer random or fixed. Having tackled this decision, now choose a width that will compliment the size of your space. A good rule of thumb is that a smaller room should not have too wide of a width. If it is an enormous room, wide widths are very attractive. You may also have to consider the species you desire - make sure it is offered in the widths you seek. Also, some people prefer consistent flooring throughout a home - same widths, same species, same stains - while others like to mix it up a little. This decision is totally up to you. Finally, if laid properly by a professional installer with experience in this type of flooring, any width you choose will stand the test of time.

Q. What is right for me - a hardwood or softwood?
A. Choose according to you design goals, however keep in mind that hardwoods will stand-up to damage and high-traffic considerably better. "Softwoods" (conifers) will generally give a warm, country feel to a room, but will wear quicker and dent much more easily. Marks such as these may get lost in the character of an antique wood. If you choose a softwood, be prepared - in old growth softwoods, these marks are a little more obvious.
The hardwoods (deciduous or broadleaves) will not dent or wear as easily because they are more dense. While hardwoods do not repel damage, they are simply much less vulnerable to the everyday damage that may occur. Note, too, that the benchmark of wood durability is the white oak.

Q. How much flooring do I need?
A. Wastage is very important: You do not want to be short wood! As is with all plank flooring, you should consider a waste factor above and beyond your finished square footage.  When choosing an Antique Wood, we recommend 15% waste consideration on top of your finished square footage. For Old Growth Woods, ten percent is recommended. When your order is placed, we ask if waste was considered in your square footage tally. While we can tally waste for you, we highly recommend that you or your builder calculate the final square footage tally, whether off plans or simply by measuring the space on site.
(Clients local to NJ, please ask about our in house measuring services)

Q. Why stain & finish my new floors?
A. We recommend staining your floors to amplify and accentuate the fantastic colors of the wood. That is the sole reason why you stain a wood. Even if you do not want to introduce any color into your woods, we recommend a natural or clear stain. A finish is required to seal your floors. Generally two coats of a durable solution should be used. Waxes and oils look great, and can be touched up as needed. The tung oils, though, are dangerous to work with, expensive and very difficult to find without going to a specialist.

Q. Are your floors high maintenance?
A. Not at all. When required, clean with a lightly damp mop. If it does not dry swiftly, lightly towel dry. Do not allow fluids to stand for extended periods of time. Light vacuum, sweep or dust whenever needed - that should never damage your floor.  If over radiant heat, remember to increase your thermometer slowly, gradually over a period of time in the beginning of the season, and reverse on the season change – we encourage you to ask for one of our flooring professionals about installing over radiant heating!