Hardwood Floors October/November 2024

Wood Stock

“When I first saw the wood, I realized it was only roughly milled. Nothing was perfect at all. We had to go through it all, chop it, cut out the bad parts, and re-groove everything. It was a lot of work, but it was necessary to ensure the floor would turn out beautifully.” — Patrick Russell, All American Floor Sanding and Installation

The foyer, measuring around 250 square feet, became the project’s focal point. The intricate basket weave pattern was laid out carefully, with a starburst design in the center square and matching starburst patterns in each corner. “The very center square is actually a starburst pattern, and all of the corners were done this way too,” notes Russell. “The project also included the incorporation of crosses made from olive wood from Bethlehem. These crosses were embedded into the floor, adding a personal and meaningful touch to the design.” The installation process was not without its challenges, particularly when it came to fitting the soldier boards to the live edge slabs. Russell credits Justin Boone of Boone Flooring for helping to mill and saw pieces of the pattern, ensuring that everything fit together seamlessly. “We had to fit the soldier boards to the live edge slabs using a router,” explains Russell. “It was a lot of work, but the result was worth it.” The final steps included hand-scraping everything and applying a clear epoxy to the voids in the live edge slabs. “We sealed the floor using Zinsser, followed by two coats of Loba Hybrid with Amberizer, which had some tint added,” says Russell. “We waited a day, buffed it up, and hand-rubbed several areas. We then top-coated it with Loba Duo.” Russell also credits Pat Hodges, who assisted in finishing the scraping and laying the final touches. The entire foyer took about a week to complete, but the result was a breathtaking floor that the homeowners were thrilled with. “Every morning we worked, the homeowners would come in drinking their coffee, and you could feel the amazement,” reflects Russell. “This wood was so special to them as it had come off their property. They had

been stockpiling it for years before the house had even been built. They were so great to work with and so happy with our work. Everyone that comes in the house cannot believe it.” Russell advises others facing a similar project to inspect the material carefully before beginning. “When I walked in, I was walking in on someone else’s job, meaning I was not the one who had ordered this wood,” he says. “If you don’t know what mill it came from, you need to look it over before you agree to a price. We didn’t find many issues until we initially attempted installing it.” He also emphasizes the importance of ensuring that the tongue and groove pieces fit together correctly, especially when dealing with wood of different widths. In the end, the project was a success in terms of the craftsmanship and the personal connection the homeowners felt to their floor. “They were so happy with our work,” Russell says. “And that made all the hard work worth it.”

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