StewartFloor Blog

Wood is like no other natural product on earth!  Hardwood flooring adds an undeniable warmth to any home or commercial space.  Wood flooring has many advantages when compared to other flooring materials such as carpet, among them are health benefits.  Unlike carpet, wood flooring is allergy friendly and easy to maintain.

When choosing among various wood species for your interior, there are several key points to keep in mind to guarantee your satisfaction.

1.  Color is the first consideration given the fact that flooring is the major canvas for overall interior design.  One simply cannot underestimate the importance of color and its impact in your overall design goals.

2.  Once the color range has been decided, your personal lifestyle is an important consideration.  This comes into play considering the density of one species over another and practical wear and tear.  Tropical species have a major advantage in this consideration when compared with traditional domestic species.  The species offered at StewartFloor range from 25% harder up to 3 times harder when compared to domestic species.  What does this mean to you?  Although like all woods, they will still dent and scratch, tropical woods will do this to a lesser extent compared to domestic species such as Oak & Maple.

3.  Species of wood are as unique as individuals.  It’s important to consider your climate and how one species behaves in your climate compared to another species.  Wood is hygroscopic and this means it adapts to the environment it is in.  During the winter months with the heater on to maintain a pleasant environment, wood will shrink and this is what creates the “gaps” you commonly see in the floor.  There is nothing wrong with the floor and it is not defective, it’s simply shrinking due to the dryness in the air.  In the summer months, more humidity means the wood swells again and the gaps fill in.  Some woods shrink less than others and are more stable than others, if this is a critical point for you, then comparing species stability should be on your list of considerations in selecting the right species of wood for your new floor.

Continue Reading

Why should you buy your prefinished exotic wood flooring from stewartfloor?  I am a direct importer and actually control the quality from start to finish.  Here I am at our North American prefinish partner inspecting and “racking out” some Brazilian Teak/Cumaru which is being run.  At stewartfloor, we know what we sell and sell what we know! As you can see, I prefer to take a hands on approach to what I do so that I can be properly informed when discussing with my clients.

Brazilian Teak/Cumaru going into the sander. The first step of prefinishing.

Yours Truly, Sean Stewart inspecting and "racking out" prefinished hardwood from the finish line.

Find us here too:  www.stewartfloor.com/facebook and www.stewartfloor.com/linkedin

Continue Reading

The production of StewartFloor tropical wood flooring contributes to the economic strength in the communities where our manufacturing partners are located in Brazil, Paraguay & Peru.

StewartFloor is committed to preserving the forests of South America.  In Brazil, the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Natural Resources (IBAMA) monitors and regulates the forestry industry. StewartFloor promotes sustainable forest practices and is committed to securing timber that is selectively harvested and inspected under the governments guidelines.  StewartFloor  supports only manufacturing partners who are committed to sustainable forestry practices and are committed to the social and economic well being of their employees as well as obeying the law.  Following these practices provides well being for communities and employees as well as ensuring that the forests live on to provide economic benefit for local communities for generations in the future.

Continue Reading

Flooring is the foundation or canvas for all interior design.  Wood Flooring provides a naturally warm and allergy free environment.  The species offered here at stewartfloor offer natural depth of color without artificial stains and this provides for longterm optimal appearance over time.  Flooring is an investment and think about it, how many floors are you going to purchase in your lifetime?  Buy your wood floor from a direct container importer working directly with the manufacturer in South America.

Continue Reading

Stewartfloor is proud to import Santos Mahogany which has the natural pleasant aroma the wood is known for.  Not all Santos Mahogany has this smell and it is also a sign of the most color consistent product as well.  Balsam, which is used in perfume & cologne among other uses comes from this tree which is botanically known as Myroxylon Balsamum.  Santos Mahogany is the ideal floor for the homeowner looking for a sophisticated warm reddish brown floor.  It is nearly twice as hard as Northern Red Oak.  Our product is Premium grade and offers random lengths of 1′ – 7′ with an average of 30″ – 42″.  Stewartfloor does not sell shorts.

Continue Reading