Hardwood Floors October/November 2025

preservation, known as shou sugi ban, which had been taught during a session at this year’s NWFA Expo. Before doing that, he did a deep wirebrushing on it. “This method helps with the moisture, the insects, and gives it cool character,” explains Short. “I had tried several different methods of staining and I didn’t like them, so I decided to do shou sugi ban. I charred it really hard, and then I lightly sanded it to smooth it out. Next, I did a darker gray Bona Chroma. Then I went back on top of it with Bona Traffic to get the look I wanted to achieve.” One of the most unique parts of the floor is also the most special part to Short. “The areas that I scribed-in have a blue epoxy, kind of a like a little river flowing,” he shares. “I’m a very sentimental person. My brother passed away in November 2020, and he had the most beautiful blue eyes I’ve ever seen. I went with this color to remind me of my brother because he helped me install the original floors in this office.” Continuing to try different processes until finding the right

combination of technique and outside-of-the-box approaches allowed Short to complete this one-of-a kind project successfully. “I couldn’t do anything else with the Southern yellow pine, so I figured I may as well burn it. Sure enough, that’s what worked. As we were doing that, you could see the oils and sugars boiling out of some of the knots because there was so much sap in there,” he says. “Everything about it was interesting because it’s such an unorthodox way to do a floor.”

“Southern yellow pine is a very tricky product and can be as ugly as it gets,” says Short. “It doesn’t take stain right. That’s why I went through three different stain processes before I found a method that worked. It’s so splotchy when you’re staining it, and no matter what you do, it looks horrible. I had tried several different methods of staining and I didn’t like them, so I decided to do shou sugi ban. I charred it really hard, and then I lightly sanded it to smooth it out.” — Willie Short, owner of WJ Hardwood Designs

the magazine of the national wood flooring association

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