Hardwood Floors October/November 2025

All American Floor Sanding and Installation Summerfield, Florida

CATEGORY DETAILS: Entries in this category include any parquet pattern installed into a flooring project. INSTALLATION FEATURED CATEGORY BEST IN PARQUETRY

“The home had been flooded when a hurricane came through, and as a result, the floors were just in really bad shape, totally saturated with water. We couldn’t sand them and had to rip them out,” explains Patrick Russell. Once it became clear the floors were beyond repair, the team saw an opportunity to create something meaningful for the homeowners, who had faced significant challenges. They sourced reclaimed heart pine, a species favored by the company, originally milled a century ago for home construction and now valued for its rich character and history. “As we were inside the house, I saw there was a dining room set off from the kitchen, and I just thought it would be cool to do something very special. I approached the homeowner, and he said he was willing to have us surprise him,” says Russell. That small dining room, just 160 square feet, became the canvas for a custom basketweave pattern with book-matched end-grain blocks. Inspiration came unexpectedly. While unpacking materials, the team noticed the tight grain of 2” by 3” heart pine studs used as delivery spacers – wood intended for disposal. Recognizing their potential, they repurposed the studs, chopping and squaring them up despite the labor-intensive process, as the pieces likely were salvaged from an old house and coated in glue and grime. “I had no idea that this was going to be the approach,” Russell reflects. “It just sort of happened and unfolded as the job went along.” With help from Robson Lopes of Home Team Flooring in Charleston, South Carolina, the team milled all the wood on-site. They ripped the original 2 ¼”

METHOD: Nail Down

FLOORING TYPE: Solid, Reclaimed, Strip, Parquet, End Grain FLOORING FINISH: Berger-Seidle GreenStar Matte FLOORING SHEEN: Matte SPECIES:

planks down to 2”, removed the tongue and groove, and installed the blocks using full-spread glue and nails. Finished with a matte sheen, the floor’s beauty emerged during sanding, revealing a striking and timeless pattern. The solid end grain blocks are extremely durable and can be sanded many times over, ensuring longevity and reflecting the team’s craftsmanship and care in creating a truly lasting addition to the home.

Reclaimed Heart Pine PATTERN: Heart pine basketweave with heart pine book matched end-grain blocks SQUARE FEET: 160

SEE YOUR FLOOR HERE NEXT YEAR

If you complete an award-worthy project in 2025, be sure to enter next year’s contest!

SEE NWFA.ORG/WFOY/ FOR MORE INFORMATION

the magazine of the national wood flooring association

79