Hardwood Floors February/March 2026

HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN THESE PROJECTS If you would like to test the waters of working with historic wood floors, Lynn says a great place to start is with maintaining them. That could include cleaning, waxing, or resecuring boards that are moving, as well as filling and fauxing. Joining your local historical society is another first step he recommends. “It’s very inexpensive to join. I’ve served on a lot of boards of historical societies, and they will go to you as the expert,” shares Lynn. “Sometimes you’ve got to do a little pro bono work to get your name out there, but once your name is out there, you’re good to go.” Caran says to gain the necessary knowledge, study historic floors and ask masters of the trade about their experiences. He notes that some of the oldest surviving world-famous parquets originate from as early as 1684 at the Château de Versailles in France, and parquets from the Renaissance period of the 15th century can be found in the Italian city of Siena’s cathedral or in the Piccolomini Library. “Even back then, masters of their craft traveled, gathered experience, learned new skills, and absorbed influences, which they then transformed into their own unique works. The exchange of knowledge and crossing borders always have been among the first steps on the path to genuine mastery,” says Caran. “Hands-on learning with authentic materials, historic tools, and real-world projects is the most direct path to mastering the craft as it was done by the masters centuries ago.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL FLOORS INC. Sprigg Lynn notes that historic restoration is not a speed contest; you have to take your time.

OPPORTUNITIES ARE ENDLESS With the ability to last for generations, other flooring surfaces cannot compete with the longevity of wood. And refinishing the flooring instead of replacing it adds another layer to the sustainability story. “If you ask me, it’ll last forever,” shares Nutter. “All of the places that I’ve done from the 1600s had the original floors. You didn’t have electric machines until around the early 1900s, so most of the sanding was done by hand. They haven’t lost a lot of wear layer.” Lynn notes that historic restoration is not a speed contest; you have to take your time. Making one wrong cut can cause a big headache, so he recommends measuring not twice, but three or four times and cutting once. “These buildings mean a lot to a lot of people, and you have to treat them with respect,” he adds. “If you’re into production, don’t get into this portion of the business. It’s also to learn – the more you learn, the more you earn. By expanding out and doing this, it opens a lot of opportunities for you in the wood flooring business.”

Libby Johnston is the publisher of Hardwood Floors magazine. She can be reached at libby.johnston@nwfa.org.

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