Hardwood Floors April/May 2026

MEET OUR MEMBERS

DISTRIBUTOR MEMBER

OLIVER R. BARAJAS CEO, BRIDGEBAY FLOORING INC. – HAYWARD, CA

The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) is an international not-for-profit trade association with a

Oliver R. Barajas

mission to unify and strengthen the wood flooring community through technical standards, education, networking, and advocacy. In each issue of Hardwood Floors, we will introduce you to one of the NWFA’s members. Oliver R. Barajas is CEO of Bridgebay Flooring Inc., a material supplier throughout Northern California. He serves on the NWFA Emerging Leaders Council and was named to Hardwood Floors magazine’s “40 Under 40” list in 2021. Tell us something interesting about yourself. My first love was cycling, and I did it competitively for a long time. After I retired from cycling during my sophomore year of high school, I did boxing, which I really enjoyed. Finally, while I was in college, I did Spartan Racing. How did you get started in the industry? My family’s start in the industry was in 1984 with my uncle, Mere Barajas, who owned Barajas Hardwood Floors. My father began in the trade in 1988 and opened Garibay Hardwood Floors in 1996. I was basically born into the business, but I started working on floors when I was 12 years old. It became my official, everyday job in October 2016 and I opened Bridgebay Flooring Inc. in January 2017. Who has influenced your career the most and why? My father, Javier Barajas, from Garibay Hardwood Floors. I saw him work with wood flooring my whole life; he really liked it, he is great at it, and he influenced

me a lot. Rick Coates of Galleher was very influential in my career, along with Richard Mack from Big Oak Hardwood Floors, the late Denny Hickman from Allegheny Mountain Hardwood Flooring, Jimmy Setiawan of Urban Floor, Dan Natkin of Essex Coatings, Pierre Thabet of Mirage, and David Lauzon Jr. of Lauzon Hardwood Flooring, to name a few. Also, the entire Barajas family, almost all of whom do floors. I’ve had a group of amazing role models, and for that I am so grateful. What is your favorite wood floor project that you’ve participated in? It was a full-home remodel in Saratoga, California. Not only were we able to talk the owners out of tearing out the existing wood, but they let us remove the tile from the entryway, upgrading it and the stairs to wood. This included a custom starburst pattern. I enjoyed every moment. It was a vision from start to finish, and we were very happy to be a part of it. (Read more about this project in the December 2025/January 2026 issue of Hardwood Floors magazine). How has being an NWFA member impacted your career? The biggest value is the people. I have met great people, factory owners, and other flooring professionals. If there is a situation that I have never seen before, I have someone to ask or brainstorm ideas with. For example, we don’t use a lot of heart pine in California, so I’ll call someone from the East coast where

PHOTOS COURTESY OF OLIVER R. BARAJAS | BRIDGEBAY FLOORING INC.

knowledge. I also have met a lot of our suppliers through the NWFA. What are you listening to right now? “What I Want” by Morgan Wallen and Tate McRae is my favorite song at the moment. Do you have a morning routine that sets you up for success? I wake up in the morning and rush out the door as quickly as possible. However, I can’t leave without a coffee. That gets me wired enough to function 100 percent. What keeps you busy outside of work? Spending time with my daughter, Aurora, and my wife, Adriana. I also am big on watching sports – cycling, football, and boxing.

they use it more than us and ask how they get the heart pine a certain color. They’re happy to share that

To learn more about how to join the NWFA or take advantage of the benefits of being a member, visit NWFA.ORG/MEMBERSHIP or call 800.422.4556.

the magazine of the national wood flooring association

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