Hardwood Floors June/July 2025

“Because it wasn’t planned in the original estimate, I had to utilize what I needed for that pattern. We had to get more wood from the local vendor to

“The part of the traditional craft is making the pattern by hand. I think the more technology comes into the realm of woodworking, handmade is going to be more and more desired as time goes on.” — Patrick Derry II, Awesome Hardwood LLC

finish a bedroom. A lot of the scrap went into making the office, which was the hexagonal rhomboid pattern. It was a great use of wood that was probably going to go in the trash. Sometimes you have to give and take with these projects,” says Derry. All of the pieces for the patterns were hand cut by Derry, which he says was time consuming, but worth it. “The part of the traditional craft is making the pattern by hand," he adds. “I think the more technology comes into the realm of woodworking, handmade is going to be more and more desired as time goes on.” Mother Nature threw a few curveballs Derry’s way during the project. Two hurricanes hit the Tampa area while he was working on the downstairs floors. “This house was high enough to where the water didn’t go into the crawlspace. It was really a blessing that it didn’t get affected by any kind of water underneath at all," says Derry. “I normally have dehumidifiers and temporary settings going on throughout the project anyway. It was a nailbiter for a while because I live about an hour away from where I was working, so we had to wait a couple of days for everything to clear out and services to get back in order before we could even return to the jobsite.” While the storm might have messed with Derry’s schedule slightly, he says the end result turned out fantastic. Site management and preparation were the keys to his success on this project. “My work is very methodical and is planned out to the nut and bolt and the screw and the fastener,” he explains. “Following the procedures that I’ve learned from the NWFA, regulating the moisture and interior conditions, and documenting everything with pictures and readings is vital, especially when you’re on larger projects. It helps out tremendously.”

the magazine of the national wood flooring association

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