Hardwood Floors February/March 2026

To maintain control over fit and finish, all milling was done onsite. That gave the team flexibility with acclimation and ensured the material would behave consistently. They built a variety of jigs to keep every board uniform in size, and devoted considerable effort to flattening the subfloor to prevent deviations in the pattern. The team located the centerline of the entryway and snapped

From his perspective, longevity is earned long before a finish coat is applied. It comes from decisions made in the

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JASON HORN | DURHAM DESIGNS WOOD FLOORS

planning stages, from refusing shortcuts, and from doing every step with intention. Horn views each patterned project as an opportunity to reaffirm those values. “When you get into work like this, you realize how much the little things matter,” he said. “Every measurement, every cut, every piece of the layout builds on the one before it. If you take your time and get that right, the whole floor comes together the way it should.” He also credits teamwork and preparation as key elements in reaching that outcome. The coordination required to mill every board onsite, create the templates, and find a centerline in an unfinished space was significant. Yet in Horn’s eyes, these challenges are what keep the work meaningful. “You have to be ready for anything,” he said. “And you have to enjoy solving the problems that come with each job. That is how you grow your skills.” Looking back on the project, Horn reflects most on the satisfaction that comes from creating something that looks like it truly belongs. The finished entryway does not stand apart from the rest of the new home. Instead, it feels rooted in the traditions of the surrounding neighborhood, echoing the craftsmanship of the homes built nearly a century ago. “It is rewarding to know that what we installed today could still be here for the next generation,” Horn said. “Floors like this are not just decorative. They are part of the story of the house. When you do them right, they stay part of that story for a very long time.”

their layout lines from there. “We started in the middle with blocks we knew were perfect and built outward,” Horn said. They installed more than 300 of the 6” squares, checking each one for consistency and fit. The curved portion around the stair base was made using rips of red oak, each roughly 3/16” thick, cut from wide boards. The bend was tight, so flexibility was critical. Once shaped and installed, the entire floor was sanded using a Pallmann Spider, water-popped, stained with a blend of Bona Antique Brown and Natural, and finished with Pallmann Power Satin. One final detail brought cohesion to the project. “We paid close attention to the grain direction in the center blocks,” Horn noted. “If one goes the wrong way, your eye goes straight to it.” Horn takes pride in the discipline behind each project. “It’s about listening to what the homeowner wants, but also making sure the craftsmanship is strong enough to last,” he said. “You do it right, follow the standards, and use good products. That’s how a floor ends up lasting a century.”

the magazine of the national wood flooring association

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