Hardwood Floors April/May 2024

“We look forward to the Expo like a big family reunion every year. I enjoy seeing everyone and meeting new people. It’s just a little extra awesome that it’s in New Orleans.”

Willie Short Coastal Inspection Services

Restoration Unfortunately, the New Orleans area is no stranger to devastating hurricanes and flooding. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Hurricane Katrina is the costliest storm on record in the United States (2005, $195 billion) and Hurricane Ida (2021, $82.4 billion) ranks sixth on that list. “One of the biggest challenges following a hurricane is that most of your former customers want you at the same time. We have to create a waiting list based mainly on a first come/first served method – but always taking special needs into consideration,” explains Steele. “Also, obtaining materials after Hurricane Ida, coming on the heels of the pandemic, was a big challenge.” Short echoes that, adding that stress levels are elevated following a storm. “Often, I have become more like Dr. Phil when I listen to the clients on how they’ve lost everything and their insurance isn’t doing their job, or how another contractor has done them wrong,” he says. “My rules are patience and never going up on the prices during these hard times. Treat the people fair and because of this, we have never gone without.” Following Hurricane Ida, Russell says tens of thousands of people were without power in August, which meant the humidity spiked in people’s homes. “Sometimes working with insurance is easy and sometimes it’s not. Regardless, the inventory got snapped up, and the prices went through the roof,” he recalls. “After hurricanes, you have a lot of water damage, and people will call you two weeks later, wanting to remediate.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JUSTIN RUSSELL | PELICAN HARDWOOD FLOORS

Willie Short, owner of Willie James Quality Flooring and Coastal Inspection Services, has been in the business for 20 years and became an NWFA Certified Wood Flooring Inspector a few years ago to expand his knowledge. He adds that there are some positives to the climate in south Louisiana. “I used to think high humidity was a bad thing with wood, but over the years, I have developed brotherly relationships with other NWFA members from across the nation, and they have both wet and dry seasons and often within the same week. The southeastern region tends to have high humidity year round, which gives us the upper hand with overall stability,” says Short. Justin Russell, owner of Pelican Hardwood Floors, focuses primarily on residential business, and notes that historic homes can bring other interesting considerations. “I see mostly heart pine flooring, which is an interesting sort of niche,” he shares. “Generally speaking, in the older houses, there are no subfloors, so it’s nailed directly to the joists, which brings some unique aspects as far as how weather affects the buildings.” Pelican Hardwood Floors had the opportunity to sand and finish original heart pine flooring in the Buckner Mansion. A Bona Woodline polyurethane in gloss was used here. The mansion was built in 1856 in the Garden District, and has been featured in shows such as “American Horror Story.”

the magazine of the national wood flooring association

83