Hardwood Floors December 2025/January 2026

Wood Stock

From Tile to TIMELESS When Oliver Barajas of Garibay Hardwood Floors was approached by an architect working on a full-home remodel in Saratoga, California, immediately he saw an opportunity to create something special. The 6,000-square-foot home, previously owned by a current NFL coach, featured tile floors in several areas and 4” rift By Burt Bollinger

and quartered white oak in others. Initially the new owners wanted to tear out the existing wood and replace it with prefinished flooring, but Barajas encouraged them to reconsider. “I told them what they had was valuable,” said Barajas. “Rift and quartered white oak in that width is not always easy to source. I explained that removing it actually could be seen as a downgrade.” After several conversations, the direction of the project shifted. The team would retain the existing flooring, remove the tile, and expand the hardwood footprint with matching white oak from Allegheny

“As craftsmen, when we walk into a home and someone tells us they want to rip out their floors, it helps to explain what they really have,” he said. “In this case, they were going from a Rolex to a Casio watch without realizing it. Sometimes the customer just doesn’t know. In the end, it’s always their choice. We just want to help them make an informed one.” — Oliver Barajas, Garibay Hardwood Floors

Mountain Hardwood Flooring. They also planned to upgrade the staircase and refinish the upper-level hallway. In total, Barajas, his father, Javier Barajas, and his crew laced in approximately 800 square feet of new wood in the entryway, mudroom, and upstairs, along with various patch-ins where walls had been moved or adjusted.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF OLIVER BARAJAS | GARIBAY HARDWOOD FLOORS

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