StewartFloor Blog

I was recently in a retail store here in Chicago and discovered a text book case flooring issue.  Wood flooring is directly impacted by the relative humidity and it needs to be maintained at 35-50% regardless of where you live.  This is the standard which the NWFA – National Wood Flooring Assocication states.  Wood is hygroscopic which means it adapts to the environment it is in, much like your skin for a comparison.  In the winter time we turn the heat on and this causes the wood to shrink and potentially create gaps in your floor, it’s not defective, the wood is simply shrinking due to the lack of humidity.  In the summertime with a higher relative humidity, the wood swells and depending on species, fills back in.

Consumers and commerical clients alike need to understand that no manufacturer warrants against this issue.  The reason?  It’s not a defect, it’s simply wood reacting to the environment.  It’s essential to maintain the proper humidity with a built in humidifier or a portable humidifier and everyone should have a hygrometer to measure the conditions.

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During my recent visit to Brazil I found many interesting opportunities.  One of them was the plantation teak I had  mentioned earlier in the summertime.  The plantation is highly impressive and shows what can be done and how quickly these plantations mature.  I also found some other very interesting species which had been planted some years ago in Brazil as a test and out of curiousity, such as Khaya Ivorensis or commonly referred to as “African Mahogany.”

The future is bright and we are on our way.

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Looking for an Exotic Wood Floor?  Perhaps someone has mentioned The Lacey Act to you?  In a nutshell, the illegal logging ban was passed during the Summer of 2008 and is an amendment to the US Lacey Act.  This amendment impacts anyone who is involved in the import, sale or trade of wood which is harvested illegally.

We support this wholeheartedly!  It protects the world’s forests and protects buyers who practice due diligence and buy from ethical supply chains.  We only buy from a couple of suppliers in all of South America and we import all containers with our own import bond.  This is granted by the USDA.  Additionally, this amendment helps to curb low cost imports which many times can be low cost because they are avoiding government regulations.

We believe in clients being able to enjoy the wood floor of their choice, but doing so legally and ethically.  This helps provide longterm jobs and livelihoods for native peoples as well as insuring future supplies for generations to come.  We work with family owned businesses with the same philosophy and which work within the government guidelines for the betterment of all of our lives.

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Are you doing a remodel of a room or perhaps your entire residence?  Are you planning to install new wood floors and perhaps doing some painting?

Something you want to be aware of and one of the most common mistakes made, you should not or your builder should not be painting a room or the entire house after your wood floors are installed.  Don’t forget that wood is hygroscopic.  What does hygroscopic mean?  It means that wood adjusts to the environment it is exposed to, paint represents moisture, moisture and wood do not go together!  This is a very common mistake made in new construction, not to mention that you must avoid getting paint on your floors by adequately covering them up.  All of the moisture from the paint is going to be absorbed within the room.  Please do yourself a favor and protect your wood floor investment, painting should be done before the installation of a new wood floor NOT beforehand.

One cannot recommend enough the use of a hygrometer to measure relative humidity.  As a general statement a room or home with wood flooring should be kept at 40-60% relative humidity at all times.  If a room is to dry it will cause shrinkage and gaps or in severe dryness, surface checking or cracks on the face of the flooring.  If the moisture is too high, cupping of the floor can occur as well as other moisture related issues.

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Species of wood are as unique as individuals. It’s important when choosing a new wood floor 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. Some species are more stable than others which means they move less in service.

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 or low relative humidity. A humidifier is highly recommended for winter months. In the summer months, more humidity means the wood swells again and gaps typically close up. Depending where you live, a dehumidifier may be necessary in the summer months.  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 hardwood for your new floor.

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Are you looking for the ultimate wood flooring expression and a plantation product?  We have partnered with an existing supplier on bringing Plantation Teak (Tectona Grandis) from plantation in Brazil to the North American Market.  We will be offering 3/4″ X 3-1/4″ X 1′ to 7′ as well as 3/4″ X 5″ X 1′ to 7′ lengths.  Product will arrive in July, inquire today to be among the first taking advantage of this offering.  Teak is the ultimate hardwood with a great history unmatched by all species other than Big Leaf Mahogany or Genuine Mahogany as it is called.  As you see below, we are really working hard to bring products to market in direct containers to save you money!  Teak blanks to be processed into flooring shown below.  Watch this space for an even bigger surprise…..

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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.

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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.

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Awareness about environmental issues is high and likely to trend higher.  Wood flooring is the only flooring option on the market which is completely sustainable.  In fact, wood flooring has the least impact on our environment.  Wood is carbon neutral, uses fewer fossil fuels in its production, uses less water consumption in its production and provides the longest service life of all flooring options.  You can find additional details regarding this under the “environmental pledge” section of the website.

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