Hardwood Floors April/May 2026

WOOD CAN BE A SOLID CHOICE There is quite a bit of history with wood flooring in Florida. Bob Goldstein, who handles technical training and sales for Vermont Natural Coatings, is based in Boca Raton. He says that dating back to when Henry Flagler and others were developing the state, wood was the material of choice. In fact, he notes that so much Dade County Pine was used during the construction boom that the trees were near extinction. “In the 1940s through the mid-1960s, if you wanted an FHA mortgage, you had two options for flooring: wood or terrazzo. The majority of homes had wood floors,” says Goldstein. “Now, let’s move to the present. Florida basically is hot and humid year-round. It is rare for anyone living in the state

to turn off their HVAC. This fact gives Florida one of the most consistent, stable interior environments in the country.” If a customer has the perception that having real wood floors in Florida isn’t possible, Lenny Hall of Endurance Floor Company Inc. in West Park, explains that solid wood components have survived in structures across Florida since at least the 1880s. Beyond actual wood floors, he uses solid beam trusses, joists, subfloors, cabinets, tables, and ceiling planks as examples.

Solid wood components have survived

in structures across Florida since at least the 1880s. If wood flooring is acclimated properly, the

“Back in the early years of Florida, we weren’t as data and science driven as we are today. Wood science and product technologies have improved vastly such that there is no reason NOT to have real hardwood floors, particularly solid hardwood floors, here in Florida,” says Hall. Educating the end-user is key, according to Rob Mercier with Walk on Wood Inc., which is located in Winter Park. He believes much of the perception that solid wood floors are not suitable for Florida stems from past failures caused by improper installation or poor environmental control, rather than an inherent flaw in the material itself. “When wood flooring is approached as a complete system, including proper subfloor preparation, moisture management, material selection, and installation methods, it can perform extremely well in this climate,” says Mercier. “By taking the time to compare different flooring options and explaining how each system behaves, we help clients make informed decisions with realistic expectations.”

humidity is not much of an issue.

TOP PHOTO COURTESY OF LENNY HALL | ENDURANCE FLOOR COMPANY INC. BOTTOM PHOTO COURTESY OF BOB GOLDSTEIN | VERMONT NATURAL COATINGS

“Back in the early years of Florida, we weren’t as data and science driven as we are today. Wood science and product technologies have improved vastly such that there is no reason NOT to have real hardwood floors, particularly solid hardwood floors, here in Florida.” Lenny Hall, Endurance Floor Company Inc.

the magazine of the national wood flooring association

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