Hardwood Floors December 2025/January 2026

Wood Stock

These pieces taper from about five inches to a sharp point, so you lose a lot of material. If you want a five-inch-wide piece at the outer edge, you have to start with a seven-inch plank.” To make the most of the visual impact, Barajas selected the most quartersawn pieces for the circle and carefully mirrored each wedge with its counterpart across the pattern. Every segment was cut from the same piece of wood as its opposite, creating symmetry and balance that rewards a closer look. For the perimeter of the circle, his father, Javier Barajas, worked alongside two additional craftsmen to gradually bend thin strips of wood into a clean radius that enclosed the starburst design. “You need the right team and the right tools,” said Barajas. “And patience. You can’t rush it.” Once the pattern was complete, they sanded and stained the entire floor with DuraSeal Antique Brown and finished it with Bona Traffic Satin for a rich, classic look. The goal was to achieve a sense of elegance that felt timeless rather than trendy. “The architect wanted something that said ‘elegant and timeless,’” Barajas said. “Not modern, but not overly rustic either – just warm, clean, and classic.” Throughout the project, Barajas made a point to educate the homeowners on the value of what they already had. “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 the value of what they have. In the end, it is always their choice. We just want to help them make an informed one.”

Make sure you have helpful (and proper) information available to pass along to homeowners. Visit nwfa.org to find out more about how to download the “Real Wood. Real Life.” materials or NWFA guidelines.

The

Homeowner’s Handbook to Real Wood Floors

Photo by Jaroslaw Ceborski

hardwood floors hardwoodfloorsmag.com

18