Hardwood Floors April/May 2024

By Aaron Sheaves

We opened a retail store in the early 2000s. We had quite a few crews, but as the years passed, the workforce was dwindling, and it was tough to find anyone to work or for anyone to want to get into the trade. When I took over the family business in 2018, we still had employees, but after another couple of years, I decided to complete the work solo. At that point, I wanted to try to do everything with Mom and myself, as Dad was working as a territory manager for Bona. I handle all customer calls/emails, going out and doing the estimates, booking the jobs, and the actual work part. She works alongside me daily and handles all the bookkeeping and purchasing for the business. I am not aware of a lot of other mother-and-son teams. When potential clients ask who will do the work, I tell them, “It’s actually my mom and myself. We do it all from start to finish.” The client looks at me like I’m joking until they realize I’m telling the truth. Then, after every job, the client praises my mom in ways I’ve never seen for the work she puts in alongside me. It shouldn’t come as any surprise, though, as Mom has been in the industry for 30 years. When she met my dad in 1981, he was already doing floors. She continued working in bookkeeping/accounting and joined the family business in 1993. She did all the accounting for Sheaves Floors while helping on jobsites as needed and continues with the same today. Mom always has enjoyed the installation side of the business but now prefers the ease of sanding, especially with the planetary sanders. This tool has been a game changer for her, as less fatigue and vertical sanding have enabled her to keep going.

At Sheaves Floors, we have what some might think is a unique sand and finish crew. It’s me and my mom, Darlene Sheaves. Sheaves Floors is a family-owned and operated business started in 1993 by my parents, Jeff and Darlene Sheaves. When the business began, we only did sports floors, including anything from racquetball to basketball courts at large universities. As time passed, we started to transition into the residential side of hardwood floors.

the magazine of the national wood flooring association

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