Surface Blog

Welcome to Surface, a blog by Carlisle Wide Plank Floors. Join us in discussion about hardwood flooring wood grains & styles, home decor, green building products, trends and more.

Customer stains and finishes Ash floors herself

Posted by Don Carlisle

A customer, JoAnn Johnson, sent us these photos of the Premium Grade Ash floors she had just put in. She reports that she did the staining and tung oil finish herself, and that she had a lot of fun choosing which of the many boards to "highlight" in each of the rooms she finished. Besides these two rooms, she's also undertaking a new floor in her Great Room. Way to go, JoAnn!

Posted on May 8, 2009 at 01:54 PM in DIY • (0) Comments
Yes, you can glue Carlisle Walnut floors directly to concrete

Posted by Christine Halvorson

Homeowners Kim Keast and her husband in Houston, Texas set out to directly glue a Carlisle Walnut floor, with 5- to 10-inch widths, directly to concrete, and they worked with Robert Plut out of Carlisle's Denver offices and showroom. We got photos from them while they were in the middle of their project and another set and a nice report from them when they were done with the installation.

[Above: The dining room, left, mid-project and the finished piece, right.]

Here's the note Robert got from Kim right after she and her husband finished the installation.

Hi Robert,

I have attached a few pictures of our home. A view from the upstairs to the foyer, my dining room and then my path to the master bedroom. Thanks for all of your help and we'll be in touch about our next Carlisle project in 2010! Now that's it's done, it's hard to believe we laid it ONE board at a time! It's absolutely beautiful! Exactly what I had pictured in this brain of mine!

THANKS! KIM

p.s. We had only 6 - 8-inch boards left of different lengths and very little scrap. We used every 10-inch and 5-inch board that you sent to us! I had so few left over that I could stack them in my clothes closet for when we get to our kitchen project next year! Great estimating!

[Above: The concrete floor of the foyer, left, and the finished foyer, right.]

Posted on May 1, 2009 at 01:43 PM in DIY • (0) Comments
Do-it-yourselfers on Whidbey Island do a great job with their Carlisle floor

Posted by Christine Halvorson

Our Sarah Bergren got a nice note from Diane (and Bob) Billingsley from Whidbey Island, Washington. They ordered a Carlisle floor about one year ago--a 3" to 7" Anitque Oak and, as a cost-saver, they installed the floor themselves and did the final finishing with Tung Oil. Good for them! Here's the note from customer Diane:
Hi Sarah:

I am not a photographer but these will give you some idea of how beautiful the floor came out in the kitchen. We still have not put the great room floor down or the stairs and landing. Do you think the wood will be 'acclimatized' sufficiently? We hope to get it all down within the next month or so....

We went to see a house that is being remodeled here on the island yesterday and one of the gals with us remarked on the floor. It was a simple, tight knot (she said) pine, stained and sealed. The owner said she was disappointed with the floor, that it was not a "Carlisle" but she had to live with it. I didn't say anything, didn't want to make her feel any worse, but I was beaming inside and Bob (my husband) and I exchanged a wink. She and her husband are coming over to see our progress next Saturday...
Ciao,

Diane

Posted on March 5, 2009 at 08:03 PM in Customer Stories • DIY • (0) Comments
A Sierra cabin gets an Antique Milled Barnwood floor

Posted by Christine Halvorson

Jason Wolfe, an account manager in our L. A. office, sent along these photos of a Carlisle Antique Milled Barnwood floor. The floor, in a Sierra cabin in Markleeville, California, was installed and finished by the customer, Mr. Ed McCormick. Thank you to Ed for sending along these photos!

Posted on February 27, 2009 at 03:19 PM in DIY • (0) Comments
Don Carlisle offers some floor nailing tips

Posted by Christine Halvorson

Erik Paulson, a client, wrote to our Lauren Power about his pre-finished Eastern White Pine with Indian Summer stain, 8" to 12". The floor was installed in his house that was under construction.
Thanks for all your help. We love the floor, although I haven't yet put the antique nails in, partially because I don't want to ruin anything.-- Erik Paulson
Don Carlisle dropped in with this note to give Erik some confidence in putting in the nails:
Pre-drill the holes with a small pilot drill 1/8" to avoid splitting. Make sure the nail is parallel to the grain. In doing this, you'll get some little areas around some of the nail heads where there is bare wood from the nail going in. Trust me, I tried not to and you just can't help but get some. I took a little tiny sponge brush--you could even use a paintbrush--like the little ones you use for artistry. Just dabble a little stain in around the nail head and let it sit while you do the whole row. Then go back with a little rag and wipe off any excess that gets on the surface of the floor. You would also only want to put nails in every other joist. I'd only use three on the face every other, and two on the ends and every other. --Don Carlisle

Posted on February 20, 2009 at 01:11 PM in Customer Stories • DIY • (0) Comments