Frequently Asked Questions
My new home is being built with radiant heat. Can I use wide plank wood floors?
This is a common question that we receive, and you most certainly can use our floors over radiant heat. In fact, that’s our favorite heat source with our floors! If you think about this in terms of how these floors began, in homes that were heated with inefficient wood stoves or fireplaces, it seems logical that with a radiant heat system, where the heat is distributed much more evenly, it’s much more stable for the wood. Again, we always go back to the quality and stability of the wood we use — coupled with such an energy-efficient, consistent heat source, it’s the perfect marriage.
Can your floors be installed directly to a concrete slab?
Absolutely! For all the reasons why you can install our floors with radiant heat, you can install on a slab application. We take all of the critical steps to make sure your floors are crafted from the most stable wood available in the industry, and we follow that by going through a long, natural drying process to make sure the fibers of the wood remain pliable and healthy — which is critical for stability in any application or any climate. We offer very specific instructions on how to install over concrete, regardless of your particular job site situation. We will also make recommendations regarding the thickness of your floors as well as widths and lengths, in order to maximize the ease of this particular method of installation. Thousands of our floors have been successfully installed over concrete slabs in all parts of the country, from Florida to California!
I have heard that wide boards cup. Is this the case with your wood?
Wood sometimes will move in a manner that may be undesirable, such as cupping, crowning or warping, for a variety of reasons, none of which is the width of the boards! If you use a very good quality wood, one with a tight vertical grain structure, that is dried properly by air and by kiln, then your planks will be stable regardless of the width. This is why we are able to make boards up to 20 inches wide and 16 feet long that will stay flat for the life of your floor.
Can I use wood floors in my kitchen?
Absolutely! For the first 200 years that homes were being built in this country, wood was the only flooring option in every room. In fact, there are still homes in New England that have their original wood floors throughout, and they are beautiful. The key in a kitchen or other area that may be exposed to additional elements is to use an appropriate finish. We recommend our High Resin-Tung Oil, which actually penetrates into the fibers of the wood to seal and protect your floors completely — even for the messiest chef!
Isn’t Pine too soft for a wood floor?
We use several different types of Pine when crafting our floors. Our most-sought-after floor is made with White Pine, which is indeed a softer wood. However, you don’t want to confuse softness with a lack of durability. Eastern White Pine has been used in homes for 300 years and in many cases is still in existence and still beautiful. You will want to appreciate the dents and dings that create the old and traditional look of this floor.
What does “Old-Growth” mean?
The term “Old-Growth” refers to a tree that is allowed to reach full maturity in a natural environment before it is cut down. When the tree reaches maturity, it is necessary and beneficial to cut the timber; otherwise, at a certain point it will start to decay and become useless. By selectively harvesting these older trees, we are making room for the younger trees to have access to sunlight, water and nutrients. Also, by using these old trees that have grown tall and wide, we are able to make the widest possible planks with the longest lengths. (Please ask us about more specific information regarding Old-Growth vs. virgin timber.)
The Salmon Falls River
Alton, New Hampshire