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Upgrading to Engineered Flooring: What to Know

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 17:38:48 GMT

Why Choose Engineered Hardwood Flooring?

Engineered wood flooring is quickly becoming a top pick for homeowners who want the elegance of hardwood with the added benefit of durability. Made with multiple layers of wood, including a hardwood veneer on top and stable plywood underneath, this type of flooring is built to last through changing seasons and daily wear and tear.

If you’re looking for a flooring option that blends beauty with practical performance, engineered wood is a game-changer. It brings the timeless look of traditional hardwood without many of its downsides.

The Advantages of Engineered Hardwood Flooring:

There are many reasons why Oklahoma City homeowners are choosing this versatile flooring option:

• Climate Compatibility: Oklahoma’s seasonal changes bring humidity and dryness. Engineered wood handles moisture fluctuations better than solid hardwood, reducing the risk of warping or gapping.

• Design Flexibility: It comes in a wide range of wood species, finishes, plank sizes, and textures—perfect for both modern and rustic interiors.

• Ease of Installation: With options for glue-down, nail-down, or floating installation, it works well in a variety of spaces and over different subfloors.

• Sustainability: Engineered wood uses less hardwood overall and often incorporates renewable resources in its layered construction.

• Low Maintenance: Simple sweeping and occasional damp mopping are enough to keep it looking great.

Best areas to Use Engineered Wood Flooring:

One of the greatest benefits of engineered wood flooring is its adaptability. Engineered planks can go just about anywhere. Popular installation areas include:

• Living rooms

• Bedrooms

• Dining rooms

• Finished basements

• Entryways

• Kitchens (with proper sealing)

Its stability makes it especially suitable for rooms that experience temperature or humidity shifts throughout the year.

Engineered Wood Flooring in Oklahoma Homes:

When remodeling or building, Temple Johnson Floor Company is a reliable choice that offers long-term value. It provides the aesthetic warmth of hardwood and the structural benefits of modern engineering.
Many families love how it brings coziness into a space while holding up to kids, pets, and heavy foot traffic.

Because of its layered construction, it also works well over radiant heating systems and concrete slabs, where solid hardwood may not be an option.

Maintenance Tips for Long-Lasting Floors:

To keep your engineered floors in top condition:

• Place mats at entrances to catch dirt

• Use furniture pads to avoid scratches

• Clean spills promptly with a damp (not wet) cloth

• Avoid steam cleaning or harsh chemical cleaners

Following these steps helps preserve the finish and extends the life of your flooring.

Ready to Explore Engineered Wood Flooring?:

Engineered wood flooring offers the perfect balance of style, comfort, and performance. Whether you’re renovating a single room or planning a whole-home update, this flooring delivers long-term beauty and value.

To get expert guidance and high-quality options, call Temple Johnson Flooring at (405) 842-0112 or contact us online https://www.templejohnsonfloorco.com/flooring-quote for your personalized flooring quote.

Spring Cleaning Your Hardwood Flooring!

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 20:30:57 GMT

Spring Cleaning Tips for Hardwood Flooring

Spring is here! We understand that natural urge to wash away the previous year and start fresh by cleaning your home from the ceiling all the way down to that gorgeous hardwood floor, so we've come prepared to help! Here is the general cleaning process that we recommend to all of our hardwood flooring customers (that don’t have a wax finish on top, that is*), which should help alleviate any concern about what is and isn’t safe to clean your wood flooring with. Fortunately, the routine is quite simple!

We recommend cleaning your floors bi-weekly, and as needed to accommodate for unforeseen daily messes and spills, with a dust mop or microfiber pad, and a cleaner such as Bona brand Wood Floor Cleaner. Be mindful of getting just the bottle that reads “Wood Floor Cleaner” or “Professional Wood Floor Cleaner”, and NEVER purchase any product that states that it “Polishes, Shines, and/or Restores in 1 Coat”.

BONA’s wood floor cleaner is non-toxic, and unlike other wood floor cleaners it doesn’t leave behind streaks or residue if applied properly. Beyond regular weekly cleaning, feel free to use your wood floor cleaner to clean up after a spill or on tougher stains and residue build-up.

STEP #1:
Sweep and/or dust mop with a soft-bristled broom or pad. (The specific product pictured below is just an example, anything similar that doesn't have any abrasive elements will work perfectly fine!)

STEP #2:

Lightly mist the microfiber dust mop pad with bona wood floor cleaner (re-apply the cleaner like this every so often as you clean the desired area)

STEP#3:

Lightly mop with a microfiber pad/dust mop in the desired area. *remember to rinse the pad often, as this helps avoid any streaks and build-up being left behind after cleaning!

And that's it! For any further questions about cleaning your solid or engineered wood flooring in your home, give Temple Johnson Floor Company a call at (405) 842-0112 ! We've proudly served the Oklahoma City Metro area for almost 100 years, and are looking forward to continuing that legacy.

Keeping Pets & Hardwood Flooring in Harmony

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 19:07:49 GMT

Mankind's best friends don't always have such a friendly relationship with wood flooring, but don't worry! We've got some preventative measures every cat & dog owner can take.

Worried about your family's furriest member scratching up your wood flooring? Don't fret! Beyond the fact that all of us at Temple Johnson simply love dogs & cats, we also extend that passion to the wood flooring that they and the rest of your family live on. Although there isn’t any one specific way to curb the scratching that your furry friends can and will inevitably inflict upon your wood flooring, we’ve provided some tips and small strategies that can actually help keep your floor looking nice!

The first step that anyone can and should take in protecting their wood flooring, pet owners or not, is keeping any and all debris cleared away from the floor’s surface. Over time, dirt and pet hair that our furry friends track indoors become like a layer of sandpaper that begins to scratch into your wood flooring. To prevent this, just make sure you’re keeping up with regular dry dust-mopping of loose debris and spot-cleaning tougher spots (with Bona Wood Floor Cleaner). This is half the battle, so doing this daily can really make a substantial difference in the longevity of your flooring, pets or not!

Next up: Toenails! Everyone’s favorite, we know. Keeping your dog’s or cat’s nails trimmed and groomed is going to be incredibly beneficial to your flooring. Alternatively, you can utilize dog nail caps like “Soft Paws” and other related products to put temporary soft, vinyl barrier between your buddy’s paws or nails and that gorgeous wood flooring.

Does the term “zoomies” sound familiar? Well, it’s a natural part of having a canine companion, However you can put runners and rugs down in those “high-traffic” spots? This can put a decorative but also protective barrier between them and the wood floor’s finish. This can also work for spots that they frequently enjoy sleeping or playing on, giving an extra buffer between their claws and the wood flooring.

Have any questions that aren’t covered here? Give Temple Johnson Flooring a call at (405) 842-0112 !

12 Ways You Might Be Destroying Your Hardwood Floors

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:37:06 GMT

This is a wonderful write-up on 12 different common household situations that can very well lead to the degradation and destruction of your home's hardwood flooring, and the article was written originally by Mark Melendres of Home Decor Bliss, and the link to the article itself can be found at the bottom of this page!

1. Wearing High Heels Indoors

High heels can cause significant damage to your hardwood floors. The pointed heels concentrate weight on a small area, creating tiny dents in the wood. Over time, these dents can accumulate, leading to an uneven surface that is difficult to repair. It’s best to avoid wearing high heels inside or use area rugs to help protect vulnerable areas of your floor. Your hardwood will thank you for the extra care.

2. Letting Pets’ Nails Go Untrimmed

Your pets might be adorable, but their nails can be a hardwood floor’s worst enemy. When pet nails are left untrimmed, they can scratch and gouge the wood. These marks not only detract from the floor’s appearance but can also be hard to fix. Regularly trimming your pets’ nails can help keep your floors looking their best. Consider also using rugs in areas where pets spend the most time.

3. Using the Wrong Cleaning Products

Not all cleaning products are safe for hardwood floors. Using harsh chemicals or products meant for other surfaces can strip away the floor’s finish, leaving it dull and vulnerable to damage. It’s essential to use a cleaner specifically designed for hardwood floors. A pH-neutral cleaner is usually best, as it won’t harm the wood. Always read labels carefully and avoid anything that promises to “strip” or “deep clean” unless it’s made for hardwood.

4. Ignoring Spills and Stains

Spills happen, but ignoring them can lead to permanent stains and damage to your hardwood floors. Wood is porous, which means it can absorb liquids if spills are left too long. This can cause discoloration, warping, or even mold growth. Make it a habit to clean up spills as soon as they happen. Use a soft cloth to blot (not scrub) and ensure the area is completely dry afterward to protect your floors.

5. Not Using Furniture Pads

Heavy furniture can leave deep scratches and dents on your hardwood floor, especially if it gets moved around. Furniture pads act as a cushion between the furniture legs and your floor, preventing damage. They are inexpensive and easy to install, but they can make a world of difference in keeping your floors scratch-free. Remember to check and replace them occasionally, as they can wear out over time.

6. Using Too Much Water When Cleaning

Water might seem like a natural cleaning choice, but it can wreak havoc on hardwood floors. Excessive water can seep into the wood, causing it to swell, warp, or even rot. Instead of soaking your floors, opt for a damp (not wet) mop. A microfiber mop is ideal, as it uses minimal water while still effectively cleaning the surface. Keeping water use to a minimum will help your floors stay beautiful and intact.

7. Letting Dirt and Grit Accumulate

Dirt and grit act like sandpaper on your hardwood floors. Every time someone walks across a dirty floor, the particles can scratch and wear down the finish. To prevent this, make sweeping or vacuuming a regular part of your cleaning routine. Use a vacuum designed for hardwood or a soft-bristle broom to avoid additional damage. By keeping dirt at bay, you can keep your floors looking shiny and new.

8. Not Controlling Humidity Levels

Wood floors are sensitive to changes in humidity. If the air is too dry, the wood can shrink and crack. If it’s too humid, the wood can swell and warp. Keeping your home’s humidity levels between 30-50% is ideal for hardwood floors . A humidifier or dehumidifier can help maintain the right balance, especially during extreme weather months. Consistent humidity levels will ensure your floors remain stable and beautiful. A simple and affordable humidity meter can help you monitor both temperatures and humidity levels at various points in your home.

9. Skipping Regular Maintenance

Hardwood floors need regular maintenance to stay in top condition. This includes periodic re-sealing or refinishing to keep the protective layer intact. Skipping these steps can leave your floors vulnerable to scratches, stains, and other damage. Depending on the amount of foot traffic, your floors may need refinishing every few years. Regular maintenance is a small investment that can extend the life of your floors significantly.

10. Dragging Furniture Across the Floor

Dragging heavy furniture is a surefire way to scratch or dent your hardwood floors. Even seemingly light items can leave marks if dragged across the surface. Always lift furniture when moving it, or use furniture sliders to protect the wood. Sliders make moving large pieces easier and prevent the friction that causes scratches. Taking this extra step will help keep your floors looking flawless.

11. Not Using Entry Mats at Doors

Entry mats are your hardwood floor’s first line of defense against dirt, water, and grit. Without them, all the outdoor elements get tracked inside, increasing the risk of scratches and water damage. Place mats both outside and inside each entryway, and encourage everyone to wipe their feet. A simple mat can make a big difference in keeping your floors clean and protected from everyday wear and tear.

12. Direct Sunlight Exposure Without Protection

Sunlight streaming through your windows might look beautiful, but it can cause your hardwood floors to fade and discolor over time. UV rays are particularly harsh on wood finishes. To prevent this, use curtains, blinds, or UV-blocking window film to limit direct sunlight exposure. Area rugs can also help protect sections of your floor that get the most sunlight. By reducing UV exposure, you can keep your hardwood floors looking vibrant for years to come.

Hardwood floors add warmth and beauty to your home, but they require a little extra care to stay in top shape. By avoiding these common mistakes—like wearing high heels indoors, letting pet nails go untrimmed, or using too much water when cleaning—you can protect your floors from damage. Simple habits like using furniture pads, controlling humidity, and cleaning up spills immediately can make all the difference. With these tips in mind, your hardwood floors will continue to be a stunning feature in your home for years to come.

*All Credit for this article and its contents go to Mark Melendres of Home Decor Bliss, and the original article itself that was published on the Home Decor Bliss website can be found here: https://homedecorbliss.com/ways-youre-destroying-your-hardwood-floors/

Choosing A Stain Color for Your Hardwood Flooring

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 21:07:57 GMT

-A guide to choosing your wood flooring's new stain color-

A beautifully stained hardwood floor grabs our senses in the same way an extraordinary painting does. The artist’s subject, color choices and perspective pull us in for a closer examination. When studying handsome hardwood floor designs, our eyes are entertained the same way. We are fascinated by the way the light reflects different shades and even a sense of movement in the wood grain. The appeal of the room is enriched not only by the chosen hue of the stain but also the particular species of the wood flooring.

All the customer’s personal preferences act together to form the impression they want the floor to make. Just as a painter juggles the elements of a canvas—the subject, size, tone, and effect—stain color choices start with the aesthetics of the owner/creator. Plenty of us “know what we like” and are ready to jump in on our own.

And why not? Examples of wood floors are plentiful for us to check out. Websites like Pinterest, or hardwood flooring company’s sites offer inspiring examples that may be just what you are looking for.

However, most people would rather have an experienced studio artist paint their portrait. Why not use a hardwood floor specialist as “a guide by your side” through the entire process?

Temple Johnson Flooring, a century-old, family-owned business that has treated clients like family for decades, is the perfect place to find this support. Owners Bryan Jones and Matt Sparks are hardwood floor specialists who represent decades of experience. They have the talent to listen to what you want and make it happen.

First, they know pertinent questions to ask that will streamline the process. Are you trying to match cabinetry? Do you want your flooring to be a focal point or a team player? What kinds of light will illuminate the floor? Before shopping for stains, a hardwood flooring expert can explain the porous nature of the chosen wood, its naturally lighter or darker tones, which affect how different stains will look.

Lighting, whether natural or artificial, plus the direction of its source, must be considered as well. If there’s little natural light, you may want to choose a lighter stain to avoid making the area look too dark. Lighter wood stains add illumination to an area, and they also reflect more “movement” in the wood’s grain.

Also related to color are the different sheen levels, ranging from matte to glossy, and in between. Protective topcoats and separate sealants can slightly change the color and effect as well.

During this workup of needs, likes and dislikes, the client’s natural inclinations become clearer once they begin to pick out stains. After viewing Temple Johnson’s full showroom, most clients will come up with three stains that they like. By narrowing down the stain color choices in the earlier stages, we are able to put the stain samples down in the client’s home. This allows them to see it in their space, all while continuing the flow of the process without anyone feeling rushed. After all, professionally finished wood floors are going to be there for quite a long time, but Temple Johnson will also be around just as they have since 1927, continuing to serve their loyal Oklahoman clientele.

*When it comes to stain, we almost always use DuraSeal products. Here is a link to their stain gallery page on their website, which can help most everyone at least get started on choosing the right stain color: https://www.duraseal.com/stain-gallery/

Engineered Wood Flooring: Yes, it's REAL wood!

Tue, 07 May 2024 20:38:51 GMT

The real world demands a lot of people’s time today. We’re asked to fill out endless questionnaires, for instance, before every doctor’s appointment. Ask yourself: how long did you have to sit on hold to speak to a real person at a corporation? It sometimes seems unreal, the red tape people are subjected to today.

What may be surprising, and also real, is that a huge project such as buying engineered hardwood flooring today is simpler and more cost effective than ever. It’s amazing how many expenses have been removed from the process. In most cases it costs less than traditional hardwood flooring, but is also easier to install, so complex scheduling over several weeks has become a headache of the past.

One common misconception about engineered flooring is that when people hear the term, they assume it is a man-made veneer, not real wood. At Temple Johnson Floor, after clients see the engineered showroom samples, owners Bryan Jones and Matt Sparks are always asked the same question. “Is that real wood?”

And their answer is always, “It absolutely is.” Engineers and flooring specialists have come up with an ingenious new way to craft real wood floors. It is here and growing larger every day. For reference, traditional wood floors are solid hardwood planks installed over plywood decking, then sanded and stained on the job site. Traditional floors require more procedures that all have to be coordinated with the client and other workers on the premises (painters, electricians, for example).

Engineered floors are constructed using several layers of real wood, which is uniquely configured. On top sits the real hardwood veneer, firmly supported by ¼” layers of crisscrossed different species of wood. It is available finished or unfinished.

Installed over slab, engineered wood is actually more flexible than a solid hardwood plank, which often expands and contracts with dry weather or high humidity. This is a natural process that Temple Johnson expects and deals with as specialists.

The engineered wood floor, on the other hand, has more flexibility, so much so that it can be glued to a concrete slab without swelling, drying or moving the way solid wood planks can, especially in a state like Oklahoma, which has both dry heat and humidity.

The choices of pre-finished engineered planks are as wide and varied as the client can imagine. Not only is it available in the dozens of trending wood floors in their showroom, but also rarer, special ordered woods. Brazilian tigerwood, African redwood and blackwood, exotic teaks—can all be pre-engineered to fantastic effect.

Another major benefit of pre-finished hardwood flooring is that it comes already stained and finished. It is also available in historically intricate patterns, such as Chevron or Herringbone and with a wide choice of finishes.

Scheduling an installation of traditional hardwood planks can be daunting, not only for the workmen involved, but also the family if they are staying in the home while it is redone. Since engineered flooring usually comes stained and sealed already, it requires less time to lay the floor.

As a testament to its durability and beauty, more and more builders even use engineered wood floors for higher end, million-dollar homes. The specialists at Temple Johnson take pride in treating their clients like family. They stay current with changing trends, and work hard to cut the customer’s red tape to a minimum.

Trust the family-owned Temple Johnson experts to guide you through the steps of buying and installing

engineered wood floors. They’ll customize the plan to your own brilliant, new flooring.

You’ll never have to ask again, “Is that real wood?” In fact, you will be the one to assure people who admire your new floor. “It absolutely is real wood.”

In Loving Memory of Jerry Sparks

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 15:20:28 GMT

Jerry Sparks; January 19th, 1952 - November 4th, 2023

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of someone that was integral to Temple Johnson Floor Company, Jerry Sparks. As a family owned-and-operated company, this was a heavy blow. We would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the innumerable amount of people that he touched the lives of through his work here at Temple Johnson, and the flooring industry in general, customer or otherwise.

While his servant’s heart led Jerry’s life, he also led by example with his hands, accomplishing a profound amount as a small business owner and as an inspiration to others through his hard work. Upon purchasing the company in 1978 from Pauline Johnson & Jimmy Martin, Jerry owned and operated Temple Johnson Flooring Company from 1979 to 1992. He then sold the business to his brother-in-law and promptly started his own home-building business, Chance Matthew Homes, named after his sons.

Building the American dream for others until 1998, Jerry then returned to his expertise by launching J.L. Sparks Flooring in 1998 and operated it successfully until 2011, when his son Matthew took the reins from his dad, and is in fact now slowly taking ownership of Temple Johnson as we speak. As a man of his word, Jerry was old school in business with a handshake always guaranteeing his customers the best. With that philosophy in mind, we will always aim to honor his memory by doing the same here at Temple Johnson Floor Company, ensuring that our customers receive only the very best that flooring has to offer.

Rest in Peace, Jerry

What's Old is New: A Resurgence in Herringbone Wood Flooring

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 18:22:39 GMT

More herringbone wood flooring options than ever!

Hardwood flooring is enjoying a popular resurgence in Herringbone, a familiar and ancient pattern. The design gets its name from the delicate skeletal structure of herring. The fish’s bones slant in a V-shape pattern as they spread away from the spine. This is a fantastic example of the general structure we're talking about here:

This recent rise in demand reflects an old adage: “What’s new is old, and what’s old is new.” Hardwood flooring companies such as Temple Johnson in Oklahoma City have been laying floors in both Herringbone and Chevron patterns since it began in 1927. Bryan Jones, owner of Temple Johnson, has announced they now carry innovative, pre-cut engineered herringbone parquet, that is different from the original hand cut, tongue and groove parquet rectangles. Now Herringbone and Chevron patterns can be ordered and purchased as pre-cut engineered slats. Temple Johnson offers several flooring companies that manufacture lines in these pre-cut versions: Valencia Hardwoods , Provenza Floors , Portercraft Floors , Mannington Flooring , & D&M Flooring , all of which are available for viewing in their show gallery at 405 W Wilshire Blvd, in Oklahoma City.

Working through Temple Johnson, the client first consults with Bryan, Matt, or Braden, and may then schedule an on-side consultation. After deciding on patterns and types of wood, they come up with a comprehensive plan that suits the client’s needs and preferences best. Then, Temple Johnson prepares the specifications for the pre-cut engineered planks, which usually come glued to a wood or concrete sub-floor, and are then carefully placed to fit snugly together. There are always some onsite cuts that will require a craftsman, as the floor is laid, but the time saved with engineered planks makes it an excellent option to explore.

The Herringbone patterns are derived from centuries old designs. In 1539 in France, elite circles picked up on using wooden herringbone designs in their estates and mansions. These beautiful oak, walnut, or pecan/hickory floors can still be admired in historic mansions, especially during the WWII era. Chevrons became a way of signifying a certain rank in the military and police force in the Commonwealth nations and the United States. Now, people are using more and more herringbone individual designs in small areas. The wood itself creates eye-catching, visual effects in spaces like entrance areas, foyers, hallways. The geometric patterns also work for larger spaces, giving them a luxurious, continental feel. Many clients design floors that incorporate both ideas.

Both Herringbone and Chevron squares demand excellent craftsmanship and exacting cuts so the patterns come together in a “V,” like the rafters of a house. Herringbone patterns have used many mediums since at least 312 B.C. when the Romans built the famous Appian Way. They laid bricks over a crushed gravel base, and observed that interlocking herringbone patterns made the roadways last longer and maintain stability longer. Between 750 and 600 B.C. Indigenous people were using the pattern in American basketry and jewelry. During the Medieval Period, rough bricks laid in a Herringbone pattern formed firewalls needed behind the hearths of fireplaces and walls. And herringbone is internationally recognized for the wool fabric used in coats and suits, particularly.

Once the Cathedral of Florence used herringbone brick throughout its famous dome, then repeated the pattern in endless wood floored hallways, its popularity all over Europe was assured for centuries.

Looking through Herringbone’s long and storied history, the amount of workmanship required is phenomenal, making these historical feats expensive and out of reach for many. Clients are now able to shop widely for pre-cut engineered designs, which could make all the difference in adopting classy Herringbone flooring.

Come and visit us and our showroom here at Temple Johnson Flooring, where customers are treated like family!

Elevate Your Home's Appeal: Discover the Exquisite Hardwood Flooring Collection at Temple Johnson Flooring in Oklahoma City

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 19:57:18 GMT

Are you looking to upgrade the aesthetics of your home while adding a touch of elegance and warmth? Look no further than Temple Johnson Flooring here in Oklahoma City! We are thrilled to present our exceptional collection of hardwood flooring options to help you elevate the beauty of your living spaces to new heights. With our extensive range of high-quality hardwood materials and professional installation services, we are committed to helping you achieve the home of your dreams. Let's dive into the captivating world of hardwood flooring and explore why it is the ideal choice for homeowners seeking sophistication and durability.

There's a reason why hardwood flooring has remained a timeless classic since the advent of human history. Its natural beauty and warm tones bring a sense of vibrancy and luxury to any room. We accomplish this with the help of a wide variety of wood species, grains, and finishes offered here at Temple Johnson, which in turn affords you the ability to choose a style that perfectly complements your interior design preferences and goals. From the rich, traditional hues of oak to the exotic allure of Brazilian cherry, all of our hardwood flooring options will create an ambiance that reflects your unique personality and tastes, and ultimately enhance the overall aesthetic of your home.

Wood flooring has brawn to back up all that beauty, as well! Investing in hardwood flooring means investing in longevity. With proper care and maintenance, hardwood floors can withstand the test of time, maintaining their beauty and structural integrity for decades on end. Our hand-selected wood flooring brands that we've partnered with are crafted using the finest materials and expert craftsmanship, ensuring durability and longevity. Whether you have a busy household with kids and pets or you simply want flooring that can withstand daily wear and tear, our hardwood floors are designed to stand up to the challenges of essentially any lifestyle.

With all of that in mind, it becomes quite clear that one of the greatest advantages of hardwood flooring is its versatility. It effortlessly complements a wide range of interior styles, from traditional to modern and everything in between. The rich undertones and different tones brought out by simply changing the wood floor stain can help it remain adaptable to your interior design changes over a lifetime. Because of this, here at Temple Johnson we offer an extensive selection of finishes, stains, and plank sizes to cater to your individuality and creative preferences for your home. Whether you desire a rustic farmhouse look, a sleek and modern contemporary vibe, or a timeless traditional feel, our hardwood flooring options can be customized to match your vision.

Keeping your hardwood floors looking pristine is surprisingly simple! Regular sweeping and occasional gentle mopping with Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner is all it really takes to maintain their natural luster. A recent EPA study also found that hardwood floors greatly reduce the accumulation of toxins. Unlike carpet that trap dust, allergens, and pet dander, hardwood floors are hypoallergenic and contribute to improved indoor air quality, and in a state like ours with allergens abound, this increased air quality is truly a life-changer for many of us. With hardwood flooring from Temple Johnson Flooring, you can enjoy a cleaner and healthier living environment, perfect for individuals with allergies or respiratory sensitivities.

We believe that impeccable installation is just as important as selecting the right hardwood flooring so we've always just both! Our team of experienced and skilled professionals will handle every aspect of the installation process from the moment you walk into our store here at 405 West Wilshire Boulevard, to those first steps on your home's new flooring. We take pride in our commitment to exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail, and we've got nearly 100 years of proof to go with it.

Our vast array of hardwood flooring collections, combined with our expert installation, will elevate your home's appeal and create a captivating living space that you'll cherished for years to come! Visit our showroom today and let us assist you in selecting the perfect hardwood flooring to bring your vision to life. Experience the beauty, durability, and timeless elegance that only hardwood floors can offer.

A Parquet Wood Floor of Your Dreams, Done Locally, Done Right!

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 18:41:34 GMT

French Parquet Wood Flooring, Hand-Crafted Right Here in the Heart of Oklahoma City!

French Parquet wood flooring was originally designed to replace historic estates’ stone and marble floors. Those rigid surfaces eventually wreaked havoc on the mansions’ enormous wood frameworks.

Parquet wooden floors, on the other hand, built using 3’ x 3’ square units, proved far more forgiving than the historic rock-hard surfacing. Not only did French Florentine Parquet prove architecturally functional, but also became universally famous for its eye-catching designs.

Recently, Temple Johnson Floor was approached about a custom wood floor design. It called for scaling down a French parquet’s standard 3’ x 3’ squares to only 2’ x 2’. Clients could never order such a one-of-a-kind design through today’s big box, wholesale flooring stores, who depend on volume sales. It would be difficult to order them from anywhere, really, even though the clients had hoped to begin as soon as possible.

Given the intricate, customized steps to produce these original-design squares, it would require any high-end wood-milling operation a lot of time, especially if they had dozens of other jobs waiting in front of the client’s. The scheduling alone, plus waiting for their custom job to be finished could take several months or longer. Add to that shipping wait times, and it could easily take close to 10 months for the wood tiles to even arrive.

Owner Bryan Jones enjoys challenges, however, and came up with a plan to start work on the order right away, and to lay the floor in a timely manner. Calling on his most experienced wood artisans, Matt Sparks and Glenn Scott, the three concocted a plan to mill, cut and craft the tiles, using an on-site wood-milling workshop. They set it up in the same room where the floor would be laid.

Matt Sparks (pictured top-left in the photo above), who now serves as Manager of Temple Johnson Floor, said it was fun to step away from his desk for a time and work with Glenn (pictured bottom-right in the photo above), who has been with the company for nearly 40 years. Many clients request him time and time again for his craftsmanship and easy-going personality.

Before beginning, the three of them—Bryan, Matt, and Glenn—decided they needed to create a mockup of one of the design squares first, for the clients and designer to see. This would be the prototype for the final approved squares. It gave Matt and Glenn a final chance to check that each intricate piece of the pattern worked before moving into an assembly line to complete all the tiles.

Starting with uncut white oak planks, they made thousands of custom cuts to create the intricate squares, including the beveled edges. “There were no short cuts to this job,” Matt Sparks said. “Everything was custom cut. It was nice getting to work with wood again. That’s always been my favorite part of the business.”

Now that they have completed their clients’ custom dream floor, save for the staining and finishing, Temple Johnson could certainly claim some bragging rights. For them, though, it’s about enjoying their pride in another job well done. That’s why they’ve been around since 1927—treating their customers like family!

Be sure to check back with us in the coming couple of months to see some pictures of the final product!

Avoiding Wood Floor Cracks in the Winter Months

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 19:28:10 GMT

Winter & Wood Floors

It’s once again the time of year when your wood floors become prone to cracks and separation, but there IS a solution! Below we’ve sourced some excellent tips to keep the humidity up and your floors looking as pristine and stationary as possible through the Winter months:

Winter in northern, mountain and central areas brings more than the freezing temperatures. As the atmosphere cools down, the air loses moisture. Cold and arid days push outdoor humidity levels into the single digits causing days or even weeks to be at 20% RH or less. Consequently, we turn on the heaters and fireplaces, creating dry indoor conditions. With low humidity outdoors and indoors, is it possible these conditions are drier than the Sahara Desert? It is – the average humidity in one of the hottest places on earth is only 25% according to this reference.

For areas that are dry and cold during the winter, if you don’t increase your home’s humidity, you could be living in a drier environment than the Sahara. And these are no conditions for a hardwood floor!

Ever considered why there are so few trees in the Sahara? Trees need to absorb moisture from their surrounding environment. When the environment is dry, trees release moisture. As this happens, wood contracts from losing moisture. In humid environments, the tree will absorb moisture and expand. Same thing happens with wood floors! When wood floors get wet, they get wider. When they dry out, they retract. This seasonal expansion and contraction cycle is a natural process mimicking trees. And when they’re Sahara Desert dry, you’re bound to have problems. Keep reading for why winter and wood floors can be a problematic pair.

What Happens When Floors Are Too Dry?

Dry floors create a variety of problems:
1. Boards shrink, resulting in narrower widths than when installed.

2. Narrowing boards leave gaps .

3. Dry cupping : floors can appear rippled or wavy at the edges.

4. Loose boards and gaps cause boards to squeak .

Fastener stress can cause squeaks. Flooring installed in the summer when humidity is high can later shrink to a greater degree during winter. Floors that shrink exert greater pressure on the fasteners, pulling the nail or staple away from the subfloor. Squeaks occur when walking on these loose boards rubbing together.

What is Dry Cupping?

One of the most common symptoms of a too dry floor, cupping boards occur when there is an imbalance of moisture between a board’s surface and bottom side. To put it simply, the top side is drier than the bottom side.

Before a board becomes flooring, the lumber is dried. This process creates dimensionally stable flooring with consistent moisture content. However, this stability is not a guarantee. Any extreme changes in temperature and humidity will upset this equilibrium.

Flooring that becomes wetter than its original acclimated state will curl at the edges. When this occurs in winter, it is called “dry cupping” . The surface layer is drier than the bottom layer against the subfloor.

Damage can range from subtle to significant, depending on the amount of moisture or lack of it in the boards. In either case, the raised edges will be visually bothersome. If not addressed, the damage leads to squeaks, crackles, and pops.
Floors fail in extreme conditions.

What About Engineered Wood Floors?

Solid and engineered wood floors react differently to moisture changes.

Engineered wood flooring has more dimensional stability because of its design. Engineered floors are constructed with a real wood wear layer glued to plywood. This style of wood floor can better perform where moisture may be a concern.

But, a little-known disadvantage for engineered flooring is an extremely dry climate.

In these Sahara-like conditions, the wear layer may loosen from the plywood layer. The veneer wood fibers shrink and then tear away from the adhesive, causing board failure.

And really, it’s preventable by keeping humidity at a level between 35-55%.

A consistent environment in the home is the best way for wood – solid or engineered – to keep its beautiful appearance. Deviating outside the recommended range of the flooring manufacturer can lead to failure.

Winter and Wood Floors

Winter can be stressful for you and your hardwood flooring. Be kind to your wood floors by avoiding the “Sahara” treatment.

Invest in a humidifier and maintain the ideal conditions for you and your floors.

Check out our friends over at Portercraft Flooring's guide by clicking here for what to look for in a humidifier. We care about your home and want to help you find the best solution for keeping your floors looking great for years to come.

A Warm Welcome to Provenza Floors, Our Newest Brand!

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 14:48:55 GMT

Bryan Jones, owner of Temple Johnson Floor, is pleased to announce a new, elite line of hardwood flooring. Provenza, a small, privately owned flooring company in Southern California, seems a good fit with Temple Johnson, a family business since 1927. They thrive on word-of-mouth from their long-standing clients, who are often on a first name basis with the staff.

Johnette Wenz, Provenza’s current representative for Oklahoma and Arkansas, sat down in Temple Johnson’s showroom, along with Bryan and his wife, Janis, and Manager Matt Sparks, to discuss the current market in this area.

“All of the collections that Bryan and his guys have selected should show and sell quite well in this market. In the Midwest, people generally like the medium brown tones, and darker earth tones. I hear customers say quite often that it fits in with the color of the Oklahoma dirt,” Johnette added with a smile.

Temple Johnson, like businesses everywhere, has had to deal with global supply chain issues over the two-plus years of Covid. There have been ongoing problems being able to actually get the wood product that was ordered, and to receive it on time. Provenza promises that will not happen with them.

“Provenza has completely rebounded on that,” Johnette said. “We feel confident in our inventory now. The supply issues have mostly resolved, and we have been able to replenish our inventory to a place where we can encourage as much business as possible now.”

“Most people who come in know of us,” Bryan said, “and are there looking for specific wood floors.” He shared an interesting story about how he decided to add Provenza products to Temple Johnson’s other sophisticated lines. While bidding on a job on site, the potential customer handed Bryan a Provenza wood sample he had from their Moderno Studio collection.

“I knew vaguely of Provenza,” Bryan explained, “but when I saw this sample, my immediate thought was, ‘Man, this is really nice. It's a three-inch wire-brushed white oak—European oak—with a lot of character to it.’ I told the guy upfront, ‘We don't carry this line.’ But I asked for the sample and told him I could pull some other samples that we do carry, for him to check out.”

The customer, who happened to be color blind, was very specific that he wanted a three-inch plank. “In the wood samples I had brought him from our showroom, the beveling and oblique textures were too pronounced for him—unlike what he saw in the Provenza sample,” Bryan explained.

“He couldn’t see the actual color of the floor, but wow, he liked it. Provenza’s depth and texture made it look like a custom-sanded and stained floor—before adding those finishing processes once the floor is laid.”

That experience really affected Jones in deciding to take on the line. He and his manager, Matt, invited Johnette to come in and go through everything with them, including what the best sellers were.

“Provenza’s most popular collection is Affinity,” she told them. “It probably has the widest color range, and it's a half-inch product. The width and length are current for the market, and it fits in for builder upgrades or someone remodeling or redecorating.”

“As for care and maintenance,” Johnette said, “we have a floor cleaner product that leaves the look of hand rubbed oil. And there's nothing like an oil finish floor because it just gets better and better with age. You never have to wax.”

Wenz is also proud of the high quality Provenza demands in both products and compliance. “The California Air Resources board insists on the most stringent oversight of what qualities that wood is allowed to emit. Wood naturally emits formaldehyde, (as do our bodies), but, gradually, companies started to inject even more into their products. They were met with a huge lawsuit in California, which dictated strict standards of what was allowable.”

“Provenza exceeds all the rules and regulations,” she continued, “and are Greenguard, gold certified, which is a big thing for people with allergies or sensitivities. The environment is a growing issue. We don’t take that lightly.”

“We liked the Affinity,” Bryan said, “but chose a number of other lines as well, including the Moderno studio. Another attraction was that they offer a herringbone pattern, which is making a big comeback.”

Temple Johnson will carry and display that Herringbone Reserve, as well as Old World, Studio Moderno, Affinity, Pompeii, Lugano, and Volterra. They are all oil rub finishes.

The pictured samples give a good idea of Provenza’s different offerings, but to get an even better feel for their textures and colors, come by Temple Johnson’s showroom and check out this exciting new line yourself.

With Spring We have A New Line

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 15:29:23 GMT

We now proudly carry Fuzion Hardwood Flooring!

Temple Johnson is pleased to welcome Fuzion Flooring to its outstanding selection of suppliers. Established in 2006, the Canadian-based company has its headquarters in Toronto, with a distribution center in the United States at Louisville, TX. They have sold over 500 million square feet of flooring since they started the company.

Bryan Jones, owner of Temple Johnson, said, “One of the things that attracted me to Fuzion is their dedication to customer satisfaction. I’ve worked with John Cowns, their Sales Representative, before. The care he takes with his accounts is outstanding. In fact, he recently left another company because he felt Fuzion better exemplified his values.”

Fuzion’s wood mill employees are carefully trained to adhere to both U.S. and European high industrial standards, as well as California’s even stricter rules. The company strives to create an environment in which designers and installers are regularly brought together to exchange new ideas and widen their exposure to current practices and contemporary trends.

The company’s mission is clear. “At the core of our family-led business, lies the unwavering desire to do things differently, with customer satisfaction at the forefront. That’s exactly what Fuzion stood for in the beginning, it’s what we stand for now, and we won’t rest until we’ve proven to you that we will continue to go beyond expectation.”

Fuzion offers a variety of floor coverings, including luxury vinyl and versatile carpet tiles, but they are quick to acknowledge what has always been at their core . . . “Hardwood is in our blood.”

Their Engineered Hardwood, which is available through Temple Johnson, is made from European Oak primarily, but also showcases Brazilian Chestnut, Hickory, Acacia, Brazilian Oak, Maple, and Birch.

Wide planks are the norm, usually 6” to 7½,” following the contemporary trend in floor patterns. They come in mostly 6’3” lengths, allowing the artisan installer to easily cut varied lengths for custom installation. Current, popular textures such as Wire Brushing, Saw Marks and Hand Scraping enhance the engineered hardwood’s unique effect.

The names of some of the wood designs seem particularly at home in the Southwestern plains or mountains: Dorado, Wrangler, Ranger, Saloon, Lasso, and Yosemite echo the back-to-nature blending so popular right now. Samples can be viewed at Temple Johnson Flooring now.

Fuzion not only sets strict standards on the materials they use, but also the individual finishing components that coat all of their products, to give them their unique colors and design. Along with their own development, the different chemicals in those components are tested for their effects on people’s health and on the environment. Each product is independently certified by “FloorScore” to meet high, indoor air quality standards. John Cowns, Fuzion Sales Representative, recently stated, “Even though we strive to make our products reasonably priced, that in no way means they aren’t high quality. The company stands behind them all, even compared to much higher price offerings.” He also emphasized Fuzion’s easy availability. Currently, they have abundant stock available to immediately import to America, which keeps them ahead of the shipping lags and availability problems associated with Covid for the past two years.

Fuzion is proud of its sense of obligation to keep the planet green. They are committed to sourcing safe, responsibly harvested and sustainable flooring products. Their latest partnership, with One Tree Planted, guarantees that when you purchase one of their hardwood products, they will plant a tree as a token of appreciation. To date, they have contributed 2,232 trees to the One Tree Planted movement. Fuzion is quickly becoming Canada’s premier multi-surface flooring distributor. By offering highly sophisticated designs, value and expertise, it’s easy to see why. Check by Temple Johnson’s intimate showroom and see their beautiful new line of engineered hardwood flooring samples for yourself. And help plant a tree.

Another New Face for Temple Johnson

Mon, 07 Mar 2022 16:09:26 GMT

Meet our new Office Manager, Braden Thompson

Bryan Jones, owner of Temple Johnson Floor, has welcomed another new staff member to his team this year. Braden Thompson will officially be serving as Office Manager for the company, but his abilities and the long-term projects he will continue to grow, involve a lot more than that title might suggest.

When Janis Jones, Bryan’s wife, came to work for Temple Johnson a few years back, she upgraded the company’s basic technological setup and expanded its use of social media. One of the qualities both Bryan and Janis saw right away in Braden was his knowledge and interest in Internet Technology.

Braden talks enthusiastically about working with something he enjoys so much. “I think it's going to be a really cool process. Getting to work on improving the internet capabilities and IT in this business is great. As Bryan tells me, ‘You're going to bring us into the 21st century.’”

Braden continues to take college courses to finish a degree, but he also has a work history that includes installing floors with Matt Sparks, another new face at the family business, but an old friend to Braden. He found their physical work together enjoyable and learned a lot about the business during those three years they worked side-by-side. But now he is enjoying creating his own niche as the receptionist-slash-sales person.

“For many, I serve as the introduction to Temple Johnson. So first, I want callers to feel comfortable and relaxed. Then we talk about their needs for potential jobs, and together, we go through a step-by-step process, so it doesn’t sound like this overwhelming thing.”

He has a genuine curiosity about the people he talks with. “It's been interesting seeing what's made Temple Johnson the first company on their mind when they set about a new project. This is where my being detail-oriented can be valuable to Bryan, who does all the estimates and arranges the jobs.”

“Our installers go into people’s homes, often while they're not there. They have to work around clients’ belongings and valuables, so they’re involved in an intimate way in the customers’ homes. I get to help build the foundation of what people are going to feel when their first step of every day is on a floor Temple Johnson installed for them.”

“And I like the idea of taking so many notes that I can build a lasting profile. Maybe three years from now, that customer calls on us again, and I can remember everything about their house. That's great. But even if I can’t remember, or if somebody else picks up the phone, then my original notes are available in the client database.”

“I can see at a glance that their dog needs to be put outside every day at a certain time, or they don’t like X, Y or Z done in their home. They appreciate it that you remember those details.”

Braden already has a lot of gratitude for the family business he’s come to work for. “Temple Johnson’s been around for just over 100 years. It wouldn't have been here that long if people didn't respect the name. There is a prestige to it already. Actually, I've got an easier job simply because the name speaks for itself. Staying traditional is at the heart of what we do. You don't call something ‘master craftsmanship’ that's built in a warehouse and assembled by machines.”

“Our installers are rustic artisans, designing and laying floors board by board. My communicating with them through memos, and keeping current client databases—that just helps us stay organized. That's one of the things technologies can bring us, automating that rich vein of information so it will always be available. And we will continue to build on what’s there.”

Between college classes and his fulltime job, Braden doesn’t have lots of time on his hands. He has an extended family in the area and really loves spending time with them, where there’s always good food and great conversations. He is grateful that the sense of security working with Bryan and Janis has given him the relaxation so he can do that.

There is a new voice on the other end when you call Temple Johnson these days. That’s Braden Thompson, and he loves talking to people. Drop by the store anytime. He’ll not only look forward to meeting you, but also taking his time to show you the beautiful, hardwood samples around their intimate showroom.

Newest Addition To The Temple Johnson Family

Wed, 19 Jan 2022 14:46:02 GMT

Matt Sparks

Since 1927, Temple Johnson Flooring has been a family-owned and operated business. Temple, along with his wife and son-in-law, ran it successfully for decades until his death. In the 70’s, Jerry Sparks, who had conducted business with the company for years, bought it with his father, Clyde, from Temple’s widow. They brought in his brother, Jim Sparks, as well as his mother, Frances, for support.

In 1985, Bryan Jones, husband of Janis, (the only girl among the Sparks siblings), joined the company. Bryan bought first Clyde, then Jerry out as they both retired from the business. Now, after 32 successful years under Bryan’s leadership, Temple Johnson is happy to announce that another member of the Sparks family is coming aboard—Jerry’s son.

Matt Sparks joins Temple Johnson Flooring as a fulltime employee. In a recent interview, Matt not only talked about being a family man himself, but also showed he brings plenty of moxie with him to the company. He’s been in and out of floor work since he was 14, when he started working with his father at JL Flooring in the summers.

Jerry is retired now, but Matt has continued contracting floor work with various companies, including Temple Johnson. He is experienced in all wood floor installation. Most of his jobs were engineered pre-finished wood. Recently, he has not only been doing a lot of the physical work, but running the business end of things for JL Flooring as well. Matt seemed happy to start 2022 concentrating on a new path.

“Luckily, the business is not extremely new to me. I’ve always enjoyed the physical work, both laying floors, as well as the artistry in the installation. But I admit I'm looking forward to getting off my hands and knees every day. For the past twelve years, my doctor has been warning me to stop doing it, to save my back and knees.” Most installers eventually suffer from similar ailments, and many, like Matt, are still relatively young.

“I'm excited to focus on the management part of the business for a change.” Matt brings an excellent education with him to Temple Johnson, including a Business degree from Oklahoma State University.

“When I first started out, I wanted to become a firefighter. But that route turned out to be more of an engineering degree, dealing with areas like fire suppression systems. And I said, ‘that's just not what I'm here for.’ So, I went for a general Business degree instead.”

Interestingly, during his junior and senior years at O.S.U., Matt found himself dabbling in some upper-level art classes, because he’s always really enjoyed art. “Most of the classes were Art History, and they were some of the toughest courses I took.”

Those same art classes provided him personal insights to the unique artistry in floor design. He’s not only steeped in historical artisan work, but has seen a lot of trends come and go in the flooring business. He’s excited and curious about what is going to happen next.

“Temple Johnson's reputation is definitely customer-based,” he said. “It’s a well-rounded company. They continue to give their clients exactly what they want, but they’re always looking to the future as well, when people will want newer styles and trends.”

Matt appreciates the high standards Temple Johnson insists on. Right now, he’s watching that in action. “This morning Bryan was talking about all these samples they need to have, as far as color and the sheen of the stain. Temple Johnson offers herringbone, borders, and all sorts of complicated patterns.” The proficiency required has not escaped Matt. “Being in the industry as long as I have, I've seen plenty of people try to do it, but end up botching the whole job.”

“When you watch a professional installer who knows how to do it right, it is an art form. You can tell when somebody is just guessing as they go, and it shows. But when somebody truly knows the art of flooring, that is, for me, pure entertainment to watch.”

He feels good about what he’s doing, but understands there’s a lot to absorb. “I'm not cocky. I mean, I'm confident in what I know, but I’m always eager to learn. Bryan has so much knowledge and experience. I need to pay attention and learn all I can from him. Just from working in this field for the last 15 years, I’ve observed a lot of trends and techniques come and go, so I have some idea of the changing industry. But there's so much more involved that Bryan can pass on to me.”

Matt is pleased that he can grow into a new role in a smaller but elite operation. “Instead of a cold, corporate place, this feels more like a family business.” That attitude will fit right in as he carries on the Temple Johnson tradition.

Matt’s family includes his wife, Julie, and two daughters, Kinsey, 11, and Joey, 8. They all enjoy being around water and often visit places such as Lake Tenkiller, just south of Tahlequah. They have a boat, but he admits—a little sheepishly—that he’s the only one in the family who doesn’t ski.

“Actually, I haven’t tried.” He said this with the air of someone who’s taken some ribbing about it, but then defended himself with good nature. “I can't get the wife to learn how to drive the boat correctly, so that's my excuse. Is that true? I don't know. But my daughters both know how to kneeboard, and I'm trying to get them to start wakeboarding. That's the fun for me, watching them behind the boat.”

Drop by Temple Johnson’s showroom anytime and see what’s new in flooring design. While you’re there, take a moment to meet Matt. He’s looking forward to it.

Introducing A New Line - Jackson Hardwood

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 18:57:51 GMT

Adleta Corporation has created a new hardwood floor line.

Adleta Corporation out of Carrollton, TX, nationally distributes a wide variety of floor coverings, such as commercial flooring in schools or malls, porcelain tile, and vinyl plank flooring. They also handle three top-of-the-line hardwood floor companies, who not only manufacture traditional hardwood floors, but specialty finishes, such as hand-scraped and hand-stained boards, wire-brushing, and exotic wood techniques.

Recently, Adleta’s sales representative for this region, Scott Donoho, visited Temple Johnson Floor and talked about their three flagship companies. Temple Johnson already carries two companies that Adleta distributes: Bella Cera and LM Flooring.

Now Bryan Jones, owner, has announced they will add a third new Adleta line: Jackson Hardwood. Sales representative Donoho believes Jackson’s new Autograph Series represents a solid, contemporary trend in both flooring and home decorating. The series itself is largely European white oak (also commonly called French oak) and features long planks and bold widths.

“The Autograph Series has some offerings with 85-inch lengths, which look great in large, long rooms,” Scott explained. “Today we're really seeing a lot of nice, wide plank timber. And they’re great colors, less gray shades right now, but lighter, warmer colors.”

“White Oak is like Europe's kind of hickory tree, if you will. Even though hickory only grows in continental North America, white oak has strong similarities—in that it's very dense, has been around for a long time and stains well. They also put an over wash on the stain, which leaves some unique, whitened coloration along with the dark grain.”

BLUFFS in the Autograph Series actually is American hickory. It’s not smoked, but they wipe the stain on the board manually. Hand staining is quite subtle and doesn’t announce itself near as much. “But it almost gives you a smoked effect,” Scott explained. “The lighter or heavier pressure from the hand translates to a nice, light flow of color in the wood.”

Another hickory product in Jackson Hardwood’s lineup is TEMPEST . “Most people don’t realize that when you hit hickory with stain, it turns the wood really black,” Scott said. “With TEMPEST, the artisans use a color toner on the board before they start putting stain on it. It nicely mutes some of the blackening of the grain. So, what you notice is that it's not a wild, dark blackening when you get your coloring on the board. It knocks it down just enough to give a softer, eclectic look. And it’s absolutely beautiful.”

CAVALIERS is one of Jackson Hardwood’s more unusual patterns. It features hand-scraped birch, which naturally has a unique and uneven grain pattern. “That’s just the nature of birch wood. They do a lot of hand carving and hand scraping with this wood, so you can see a lot of visual activity going on in the texture of the material. What’s extra special, that we never had before, is some contemporary color, because birch is actually a lighter color wood, very close to Maple.”

Donoho described the RESTORATION OAK in Jackson Hardwood as being a ‘little brother’ product to the Autograph Series. The difference is that it's a 6½” wide plank, which is textured with heavy wire brushing, and has also been lightly smoked. Since smoke is acidic, it reacts with the oils and sugars already present in the fiber of the wood.

“You hear wine drinkers talk about tannins for wine wells, because when they char the barrels, that reacts with the oils and sugars to create certain flavors and tastes associated with the wine’s flavor. Tannins are an important part of the process of fermentation, and the process is essentially the same with wood.”

“It brings out the difference in the wood with more oils and triggers more color expansion through the process,” Scott said. “So, you can have some nice surprises in the final product. Sometimes they will even add ammonia, which reacts with the oils and sugars in the material. It creates some shading effects, and what it does—it blesses some of the undertone of the colors.”

Many of the new offerings are a response to current trends observed in major remodels or new construction builds. Decorators are moving away from staining wood bases and door casings—even cabinets. More often, they paint them in cooler tones, such as light gray or white. As a consequence, four out of five colors in Jackson Hardwood offerings are lighter, closer to blonde tones. Toasty, natural looks are really popular right now. Jackson’s new floor ideas complement these new looks, such as Urban Farmhouse and Western Rustic.

And there’s no one more enthusiastic about the new Jackson Hardwood line than Scott Donoho. He not only has a sure command of the particulars of his products, but he seems to have a lot of fun distributing them as well.

Come in and check out the new fall offerings in Temple Johnson’s showroom. Bryan Jones, and his wife Janis, are always happy to see you come in the door.

Water Damage To Hardwood Floors

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 15:30:30 GMT

Temple Johnson Flooring is often called on to look at clients’ water-damaged floors. Owner Bryan Jones sees all different kinds of problems, from the easily fixable, to major flooding that requires complete removal and replacement of floors.

The Jones’s have experienced flooding in their own home. Janis, Bryan’s wife, once discovered a gushing leak coming from their bathroom, which had spread into the bedroom. “We had a water vacuum and were able to take quick action,” he said. “The floor buckled a little bit, but it went right down. And it all happened because of a cheap washer that should have been brass.”

“Otherwise, it could have flooded the whole house,” Janis added. Luckily, they avoided what could have been a catastrophe because they were home, rather than on vacation or gone for a few days. Timing is everything.

“If you’re home, the damage can be mitigated by turning off the water, using fans or a water vacuum,” Bryan said. “You have a better chance, anyway, but if you’re on vacation, your floors might have to be completely replaced.”

A lot of water damage, however, isn’t always that obvious. “You don’t necessarily see water on your floor. If a pipe breaks, an ice-maker leaks, or a sink overflows, chances are you will find water on your floor. You know right away you’ve got to do something,” he said.

Most of the time, however, what happens is people first notice their floor starting to ripple. They will see “cupping,” that is, the wood planks bow down in the middle and come up on the sides.

“That indicates that there’s some sort of moisture getting to the floor from somewhere, but it’s not obvious where. It could be from under the floor, it could be a pipe leak, or in an icemaker line that runs through the walls,” Bryan explained. “The bottom line is wood absorbs, or wicks, moisture, no matter where it comes from, and it causes the wood to swell to the point it can’t expand anymore. Then it will buckle or cup.”

“I can only do so much,” he said, shaking his head. “I can do a moisture test, look under a sink, see if I can find where it’s coming from. But, in any case, you are going to have to get a plumber out there. You might even have to get a leak detection company. People will often drag their feet. But the minute it starts, you have to take some action.”

Once the source is determined and repaired, then it is time to survey the damage.

If the floor is solid hardwood, the chances are good it can be repaired. Some portion of the floor may need to be ripped up and replaced. Then the entire area is sanded, stained, and finished.

With engineered wood flooring, only the top layer is actual wood, so there is less material to sand. Repair options may be limited in that case, especially if water has penetrated the subfloor.

Matching engineered floors, when you need to replace only a few boards after moisture damage, can be tricky. “It’s a good idea to buy a little more wood at the beginning,” Jones suggested. Colors can be changed or an entire line discontinued, for example, without a source to replace those isolated floorboards. “If you had that box of extra planks up in your attic, it might help take care of that leak damage in the floor.” Always try to keep a record of the brand name, style, and color to help us find a replacement.

In Oklahoma this past year, environmental changes have caused havoc in many homes. Temple Johnson is finding a lot of cupping when they go out on calls. The bitter cold the state experienced in February sucked out the moisture from the wood. Then in early spring there was so much rain that everything closed back up. Too much humidity will cause the floor to buckle—when it comes up and actually peaks up off the floor.

The damage may be extensive enough that entire floors will have to be torn out. But water mitigation companies can do a surprising amount. They use enormous fans and also cover the floors with absorptive mats. It’s their specialty.

“It’s possible after discovering and fixing the leak, that the floor will go back to normal by itself. Sometimes I tell people that we should wait to see what happens,” Bryan explained. “It could take months, but, if something happens in, say, October, I might advise them to give it until the winter, when they get their heat back on, and see what happens when the wood dries out.”

“I don’t know why one floor goes back to normal and another doesn’t. Sometimes you just get lucky. Wood is funny. It’s a product of nature, and sometimes it does things that there is no answer for.”

Introducing An Exciting New Brand For Us: Valencia Hardwood

Sat, 29 May 2021 18:41:31 GMT

Valencia Hardwood "Nature did her part, we take care of the rest."

At the Southwest Flooring Market in Dallas this year, Bryan Jones, owner of Temple Johnson Flooring, was about to leave when he heard Roadhouse Blues cranked up just ahead. He decided he had to check out what company was blasting The Doors at their hardwood flooring exhibit.

“The volume was at Warp 10. They had to turn the music down just to talk to me,” Bryan said. It turned out to be an enjoyable introduction to Valencia Hardwoods and their flooring lines, two of which Temple Johnson will offer at the Oklahoma City store.

Out of Austin, Texas, Valencia is a family-oriented company that is also proudly eco-friendly. When it was first forming, the company called in a variety of valued professionals in the wood industry to share their ideas, advice, and wisdom. Their collective experience represented centuries of working with hardwood flooring.

Valencia seeks to marry the lived-in floors of the homes we love with the exquisite forest floors that grace our natural world. They search for the impressions of nature in the organic knots, splits, and cracks found in wood. They regard these not as defects, but part of the naturally occurring and unique character of hardwood.

The selected boards are then crafted with a reactive staining process, in which color is achieved from the inside out, not just applied to the wood. This technique, known as “fumed” or “smoked” oak, naturally changes the tannins in the wood, so the resulting color variations are lasting and purposeful.

Bryan Jones, owner of Temple Johnson Flooring, announced they will carry two of Valencia’s lines. He found himself drawn to the collections. “The quality of the product was outstanding, with a great color variety. I also liked the passion George, one of the owners, had for the product line. It was like he was a proud father.”

The Floor Art Collection

The Floor Art Collection features largely French and German oak, in a range of colors and finishes, all carefully selected to highlight natural color variations within the wood. Veering toward lighter tones with either smooth or brushed textures, Floor Art features wide planks (7.5” to 9.5”) and 80% of the boards are 8’ long.

This European collection is reflected in some of the wide-ranging geographical names: Bruges, Paramount Rustic, Rocky Mountains, Tahiti, Zagros, and Bora Bora . They can also be custom cut to lay as Chevrons or Herringbone patterns.

The 9/16” thickness of the boards is 3-ply engineered, with a Hevea Core and Softwood Back. The product is finished using Bona products that provide a matte sheen and natural look.

The Tejas Collection

The Tejas Collection, a new line from Valencia, will be available soon at Temple Johnson. Texas Post Oak has long been revered for its natural resistance to decay. Its name originated because of its common use as fence posts. Valencia works with farmers in selected areas of the Lone Star State, where this sturdy, durable hardwood naturally grows.

This close-grained variant of white oak offers a clean blank canvas to achieve stunning earthbound colors and textures. Floor names such as Cheyenne and Nagodoches evoke the rich history of Texas, and its Native and Mexican people. Its thickness is 5/8” with solid engineered construction, using a Baltic Birch Multi-ply substrate. Width is 8” and comes in 2’ – 8’ lengths.

Valencia goes to great lengths, as do their manufacturing partners, to practice responsible forestry. They are Lacey Act compliant, promote healthy indoor air quality, and integrate ultra-low waste and material re-use in all their products. As their webpage says, “Nature Did Her Part. We Do All the Rest.” https://valenciahardwoods.com/

Temple Johnson is excited to offer both these new lines to our family of clients. This connection to native Texan Post Oak will hardly override our Red River Rivalry, but these collections should feel right at home on Oklahoma hardwood floors.

South West Flooring Market Visit

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 15:33:26 GMT

Every year Dallas hosts the Southwest Flooring Market, where people in the industry can see what’s available and what’s new in the world of hardwood flooring. Recently, Bryan Jones, owner of Temple Johnson Floor Company, caught the 2021 show and shared what he came away with.

“I have to say, I was a little disappointed because the show ended up being smaller than usual, due to Covid, but there were many striking displays to take in. It looks like the wider European French Oak and brushed white oak, that were popular last year, are still trending. But now they are graduating to 8-inch, 9-inch, and even 10-inch planks. And in longer lengths, as well—up to 8 feet.”

The new hot item the reps were all talking up was “smoked oak.” Having been in the business for thirty years now, Jones recognized the technique, and asked them if they meant “fumed” oak. “That’s what they were calling it quite a few years back,” he said, “and it’s basically the same approach.”

The process works by putting oak in a closed container and subjecting it to ammonia, which creates heat. “That pulls the tannins in the wood up through the surface, which brings out tones within the actual grains, rather than just the grain. The longer it’s left in the container, more numerous dark tones emerge. There will be mineral streaks around it, which makes the wood darker.”

While it produces a beautiful effect, Jones warned it has some drawbacks. “You have basically impregnated that dark shade throughout the wood,” he explained, “so if you decide later you want to sand and refinish that wood, be aware that the overall color will stay the same. Once it’s been fumed, the effect can’t be changed.”

There was also lots of chatter about new pre-engineered waterproof floors, which are guaranteed by their companies, even in flooding conditions. But, again, experience in the industry has made Temple Johnson wary about jumping in at the moment. Bryan believes the jury’s still out over whether the waterproof claims will hold up over time. “There’s always movement in a wood floor, depending on the dryness or wetness within the wood, so you can still get cracks.” And cracks mean water gets in. He plans to keep an eye on it.

The industry is seeing promising innovations in oil-based wood finishes, which have always had a beautiful hand-rubbed look. The problem was the amount of maintenance they took. It had to be done by hand, and was labor intensive, so most people eventually turned to floor professionals to keep them up.

Now, however, they have developed spray-on materials that do the job just as well—including mops where you can just pop the trigger as you clean, making it much simpler to maintain. “Because they were so tricky, we’ve largely stayed away from them. But if this new rejuvenation technique proves to be workable, it would be a future offering with Temple Johnson.”

Texas Post Oak was a product from Valencia that definitely caught Bryan’s attention. The name comes from their wood source—post oak trees left on deserted farms or where the trees are no longer needed. It’s called “post oak” because farmers made their fence posts out of it. A naturally aged wood, it has a polyurethane water-based finish. With its distinctive look and name, it could have wide appeal here in Oklahoma.

Everyone at the market agreed that, even though it is on its way back, supply and demand still have a powerful hold on the wood flooring industry. “And with Covid, the prices at each step can increase before you can get the product to the United States,” Jones said.

Some small overruns the service professional can absorb, but, in extreme circumstances, some may have to be renegotiated. Most clientele are understanding, if it comes to that. There’s not much anybody can do right now, with a struggling work force and hundreds of container ships sitting idle in ports all over the world.

Well-known flooring companies, such as Mastercraft and Adleta, have warned their clients they will need longer lead times, and that the price could change even as late as the day you pick the materials up. Plus, if you let your delivery sit for too many days, they’ll ship it out to somebody else. Both companies announced price increases across the board.

In Oklahoma City, plywood has gone up $20 a sheet, and flooring up 30 cents a square foot. And right now, white oak is difficult to find anywhere. “That doesn’t mean you can’t get a new floor,” he added with a smile, “but the client may want to look at other choices to minimize delays.”

Consider switching from white oak to red oak is his first suggestion. That not only saves the customer some money, but red oak is easier to find now. “I don’t know why the white oak is more popular than the red, really,” he added. “Basically, white oak has a yellowish cast and red oak has a reddish cast. Both are equally beautiful.”

Supply and demand problems have touched all industries, not just wood flooring companies. But Temple Johnson always stands ready to guide their clients to plan earlier, allow for longer lead times, and choose products that will hasten the way to a timely and gorgeous hardwood floor.

Temple Johnson's Celebrates International Women's History Month

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 13:40:19 GMT

Choose to Challenge

March is International Women’s History month. This year’s theme, “Choose to Challenge,” mirrors what American females have been doing for over a century now. Marching for the vote in long white dresses in the 1910’s, supporting the WWII effort by taking on industrial jobs in the 1940’s, and seeking new career choices since then, describes the arc of women moving into influential positions.

The hardwood floor industry has observed more women making inroads into its ranks as well. Not only has there been a 20% growth of females in manufacturing, transportation and installation, but more and more are also heading up their own flooring businesses.

Recently, the National Wood Flooring Association named Barbara Titus, Vice President with Sheoga Hardwood & Paneling in Middlefield, Ohio, the first recipient of their Women’s Industry Network award.

Temple Johnson Floor has been shaped by strong women since its beginning. After the death of founder Temple Johnson, his widow, Pauline, continued to run the business successfully for years. After she retired and sold the company to Jerry Sparks, the entire Sparks family eventually became involved with the company.

Frances Sparks, the family’s trusted matriarch, created an effective accounting system, and then ran it herself. She continued to support the business when, in 1990, her son-in-law, Bryan Jones, bought the company.

In addition to Frances, other women filled important work roles: Cindy managed the office for several years; Maaike remains their present accountant; Carol worked with her husband installing for many years; Alisha, Amanda and Crystal, who have chosen the artisan side of the business, have been doing contract sanding and finishing. And their ranks are growing.

Janis Sparks Jones, wife of Bryan, joined the company after a successful career path of her own at the Social Security Administration. After retiring from there in 2016, she would come in, at first, to answer the phone and manage the showroom when needed, leaving Bryan free to go out and do estimates or check job sites. She enjoyed the laid-back feel of the office, its easy camaraderie.

“I became more involved when we decided to change our advertising, build a website, and improve our social media presence,” Janis said in a recent interview. “I started helping with that just because I had more computer knowledge from my former work.”

She began to spend time exploring social media and advertising, “because, really, I had to learn about all those things, while I was still trying to gain knowledge about wood.” When it came to learning about wood, she had the perfect teacher—her husband, who by then had been in the business nearly 30 years. But it was a different kind of tutoring.

Janis recalled that “Bryan would answer my questions, but his philosophy is, you learn after you’ve been around awhile. So, I also researched everything I could find online until I was sick of all things wood.” She laughed, remembering how she overloaded herself. “Then I realized how much I was learning just watching him talk to customers.”

“There is so much to know about hardwood floors that can’t be taught in a manual,” she continued. “Each area has different climate and construction practices that require different ways of laying wood floors. It isn’t just learning the difference between solid hardwood and engineered hardwood or what products each company carries. It involves knowing how to lay it, having employees who are artistic enough to complete jobs and the people skills to know how to educate customers while finding out what they are wanting.”

Through this process the last few years, Janis discovered the area she feels most comfortable with is also what she most likes doing at Temple Johnson: helping clients hone in on what they want, and then feel satisfied with their choices.

“Any time you have work done in your home there are high emotions,” she explained. “I’ve been through some myself. It is all fun picking it out. Then all the mess of the work, and time seems to go in slow motion. All you really want is for everyone to get out of your house. Bryan is good at times like that. He knows how to explain the process, what they can expect, and what needs to be done.

“Now that I’m comfortable with knowing our products, I can enjoy helping people look for that perfect floor. I like seeing their pictures, plans and color schemes. That’s not necessarily Bryan’s favorite part. Some clients may need more time and support to feel assured that what they pick will work. I’ve learned about what questions to ask before setting up an estimate, how to advise cleaning the wood floors and when to refer people. I generally tell them I have some knowledge, but Bryan is the expert.”

To which, Bryan would likely say that she’s underestimating herself.

Pandemic Effects On Hardwood Flooring

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 12:30:51 GMT

Working with COVID issues in the hardwood floor industry.

Temple Johnson Floor Company has been providing high quality hardwood flooring and professional workmanship for almost a hundred years. The variety of wood samples in their showroom seems endless, from the practical to the exotic.

Owner Bryan Jones is grateful that his company has remained busy and productive during this pandemic, when nearly all businesses have struggled in one way or another.

After almost a year of dealing with supply and demand in our personal lives, whether it’s emptier shelves at grocery stores, or slower shipping times due to a marked increase in online shopping, that slowdown has hit many other industries as well, including the hardwood floor business.

“Temple Johnson’s long-term relationships with our suppliers still allow us to negotiate the best possible prices for our clients,” Jones says. “But now those issues also include the availability of the wood products.”

Ironically, the higher the standards of the product, the more problems can develop in the steps along the way to a finished, beautiful hardwood floor. Due to Covid-19, worldwide increases in unemployment mean slowdowns in production.

Part of Temple Johnson’s mission to offer the highest quality in wood safety, means they support and follow the strict guidelines of the Lacey Act. This legislation originated in 1900, in order to ban trafficking in illegal wildlife. Then, in 2008, the Act was amended to include plants and plant products.

This was landmark legislation, the first ban in the world on trade in illegally sourced wood products. It protects against the wholesale deforestation of woods here and in other countries, ensuring a safe, legal supply to the United States. The Lacey Act also requires the forest industry to declare the scientific name, value, quantity, and country of harvest origin for the product.

Lacey Act violators can face criminal and civil sanctions. Due to these multiple issues, wood processing companies, such as Weyerhaeuser, have reduced their operating capacity by 20% for lumber and around 25% for engineered wood products.

Bryan Jones, like many in the flooring business, is not only closely watching the wood industry, but also the world-wide transportation sector, which has been hit equally hard. Covid-19’s impact on shipping has been far-reaching. Transporters often have to deal with skeleton workforces to ensure freight can continue to move. At the same time, pent-up consumer demand has boosted freight rates.

Temple Johnson has to juggle both the availability and the transportation of the desired woods of its clients. No easy task. “Now,” Bryan Jones explains, “once the client accepts our bid on their project, I tell them that I’ll still have to confirm the availability of the wood floor product they chose.”

The pandemic’s impact on the global supply chain of the forestry industry has been significant. However, as countries have lifted lockdown restrictions to reopen the economy, suppliers have begun resuming operations. It may take some time, however, for companies to get back up to speed. They are still operating with a limited workforce and must first focus on back orders or undelivered orders.

As it has for decades, Temple Johnson Floor remains committed to care for their many loyal clients as an extended family. Even if it requires a little more patience in these shifting times, they will continue to maintain and deliver the highest standards in hardwood flooring.

Robbins New Line Of Hardwood Flooring

Wed, 13 Jan 2021 14:54:05 GMT

The New Nature's Canvas line from Robbins

From the earliest homes on Cape Cod to the log cabins of the Old West, the wood to build them had to rely on the forests in the area. Lumber from trees growing close to the homesites was affordable, or free if cut by the settlers, and didn’t have to be transported far. Western homes took advantage of rich pine and red oak resources. In the east, builders had maple or hickory at their disposal.

In time, the railroads made it possible to transport lumber across the entire country, a major game changer. Soon, the demand for accessible, new varieties of wood products from just about anywhere, quickly built a sturdy industry in hardwood flooring. Today it still thrives, presenting buyers with an embarrassment of riches.

Temple Johnson Floor Company has always strived to carry a variety of beautiful, high quality, engineered flooring. With the New Year, they offer a new line, Nature’s Canvas, from Robbins Hardwood Flooring Company.

Bryan Jones, owner of Temple Johnson Floor, sees artistic originality and design flexibility in Nature’s Canvas. What sold him was its fresh palette of wood finishes. “The colors excited me, and the longer I’m in the business, the harder that is to do. And the Robbins Company gave me a call. I didn’t call them. They were looking around, trying to find people that they wanted to carry their line.” That alone is unusual.

“The company wasn’t looking to come in and bombard the market,” he said, “but to find people who knew how to sell wood, and who dealt in higher end flooring. Big company names and huge box stores weren’t their target. I liked the fact that they came and talked with us, that they wanted that kind of relationship with the professionals handling their product.”

Sara Babinski, designer of Nature’s Canvas, uses an approach that finds its cues in nature. And, when she defines nature, Babinski not only includes the natural colors and textures of the earth, but also our personal “canvasses,” the furnishings in our homes, the creations we love to surround ourselves with. At the moment, she believes consumers are moving into a bold curiosity in color combinations and an interest in eclectic designs, both reflected in her three categories of engineered wood floor designs.

Nature’s Canvas Silver

Nature looks ancient and fixed, yet is always becoming new. The designs in Canvas Silver strive to capture the boldness of natural textures and colors in outside nature, all in a constant, slow state of flux. There should never be a flat surface to look at, Babinski believes, but one with highlights and lowlights that give depth to the hardwood floor.

The design titles, such as Fire’s Ember, Mystic Vapor, and Dipped in Honey, all reflect nature as constantly fluid, and are presented as contrasting light and dark woods. These are hand scraped white oak and hickory, 3/8” x multi-width planks (4”, 5” and 6-1/2”).

Nature’s Canvas Gold

These designs of lighter wood colors reflect “nature interrupted,” according to the designer. It is not just a world slowly changing, but a world prompted into motion. This kinetic approach, with many markings in the mostly white oak woods, may be as gentle as a mountain stream or dramatic as a thunderstorm.

Design names such as Rain Cloud, Sun Kissed, and Autumn Taupe , all represent a shift in the feel of the environment. Wire brushed woods are prevalent in Nature’s Gold, which uses white oak and some hickory, ½” x 7½” planks.

Nature’s Canvas Platinum

This canvas studies nature’s wide exposures, earthy colors and majestic lines. Titles such as Bear Meadow, Artsy Escape, Back Country reflect that part of nature seasoned by exposure to the elements. They are weathered by the sun, water, and wind to become the platinum elements in nature. Canvas Platinum features wire brushed white oak in super-wide planks (9/16” x 9”).

This canvas reflects the lightness of sheer aqueous colors alongside multiple grays seen in bones and rocks. These elements are also prevalent in our personal environments as well, seen in the comeback of skins in clothing (faux fur) and room accessories. Bone effects (real or synthetic) are popular as well. Nostalgia and aesthetic clutter are strong influences, even artisan creations such as woven hangings. And, Babinski adds, rustic tastes never seem to leave.

She also suggests we are moving into a period with lots of unique kitchen and bathroom designs, which includes not only bold colors, but metals, particularly copper. With Covid influencing us so much, copper has become a popular element, because of its antibacterial, antimicrobial properties. Rusts, wrought irons, brass, and copper are the future.

We invite you to drop by and take a look at this exciting new line of engineered hardwood floors. Both Bryan and Janis look forward to helping you check it out.

How Weather Can Affect Your Hardwood Floors

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 01:12:04 GMT

Winter Weather Care For Your Hardwood Floors

Will Rogers said, “If you don’t like the weather in Oklahoma, wait a minute and it’ll change.” And it has—from a crushing ice storm in late October, to 65-degrees and sunshine on Thanksgiving Day. Anyone dealing with Oklahoma’s erratic weather this winter might take some advice from the storied Geronimo: “Be ready for anything. Be prepared for nothing.”

During 2020 people have spent a lot more time in their homes, working through teleconferences and Zoom, limiting their outings, and distance learning through high tech screens. Now that winter is almost officially upon us, home furnaces will be running longer, and the fireplace will be burning a lot at night as people go out less often. Winter promises to be a challenge for everyone, and not the least for your hardwood floors.

Wood does not like all that extra dry heat. Hardwood flooring is a product of nature, and it responds to how much moisture or dryness is in the air. Even though the wood has been dried, cut, and processed into flooring material, it will still expand or contract depending on the amount of moisture in the environment.

During dry winter weather, hardwood flooring may contract and even show tiny gaps between the individual planks. This shrinkage begins when the room has 25% humidity or lower. Seasonal gaps that appear between the boards are more prominent with solid wood flooring products than with engineered floors. The engineered wood’s structural composition allows it to be more dimensionally stable than solid wood flooring.

It is only the floor’s abnormal gaps, those that remain after a seasonal change, that are of concern. These should not be confused with normal, seasonal gaps, which take care of themselves. Once the interior heating systems are turned off and the indoor environment regains moisture, most gaps will disappear. When summer days arrive with warmer, humid weather, hardwood floors will expand and swell. This usually begins when the humidity goes above 55%.

Luckily, it is not difficult to maintain consistent relative humidity levels throughout the year. The owner is in control, and their hardwood floors will stay healthy with a little, thoughtful maintenance.

For those cold, dry months, a humidifier can be brought into the room. Movable humidifiers are affordable and do a good job. Individual ones can be used in different rooms, or a large console unit (holding around nine gallons of water) can treat up to 2500 square feet (the size of a small house). A three-gallon unit, for example, can treat up to 800 square feet.

Many of the larger movable units come with their own hygrometers, a gauge that measures the exact humidity. Or, individual hygrometers are small, inexpensive, and can be placed in different rooms.

A humidifier can also be installed in the existing furnace. This operation runs through the house vents and can easily be professionally installed. Many owners, especially those who are handy around the home, like to install the units themselves (Instructions and films are available on YouTube and elsewhere).

These types of humidifiers cost more initially but last for years and are cost effective. Once the weather starts to warm up for springtime, the heating is turned down and humidity levels will naturally rise. Then any seasonal gaps in your hardwood flooring material will close on their own.

There are also economic and health bonuses in using humidifiers .

1. Raising the humidity makes air feel warmer, so the thermostat can

be turned down for energy savings.

2. Physicians often recommend humidifiers to guard against dry skin, hair, and scratchy throats.

3. House plants will love them.

In extremely humid areas, dehumidifiers may be used to avoid too much moisture in the air. If the humidity level is consistently over 50%, dehumidifiers help avoid excessive swelling in a hardwood floor. As with humidifiers, they come in all sizes, from units that will service a large basement to those intended for small storage spaces.

Oklahoma is slightly above average humidity, with an overall 54.4%. The average monthly relative humidity ranges from 48% in August to 62% in January. To keep your hardwood floors from struggling against excessive humidity or dryness, maintain a consistent relative humidity level of 30-50% throughout the year.

At Temple Johnson customers are considered family, with a commitment that goes beyond just installing beautiful floors. If seasonal issues arise, their hardwood floor specialists welcome the opportunity to assist with any maintenance problems.

Thankful For Family

Sat, 14 Nov 2020 23:56:54 GMT

In memory of Frances Sparks, Matriarch of Temple Johnson.

Family owned and operated businesses feel it keenly when they lose one of their own. It represents not only the loss of a family member, but also someone they worked alongside for years. On October 27th Temple Johnson Floor lost Frances Ione Sparks, the longtime matriarch of their company.

Although retired for many years, Frances and her husband Clyde first got involved with Temple Johnson when they moved to Oklahoma City from Tulsa in 1982. They came to support their son Jerry in his new business, and Jim, who was already there working with his brother. Both Frances and Clyde went to work at Temple Johnson and also invested in it.

Frances became the Office Manager, utilizing her business school degree in Accounting and Bookkeeping. Bryan Jones, her son-in-law and current owner of Temple Johnson, and his wife, Janis, reminisced about how different things were then, before the computer.

“At the beginning, she was always writing down numbers on the backs of envelopes, scraps of paper, you name it,” Bryan said. “Her scribblings would fall out of old files. There wasn’t even a set of books when she started out.”

“And she always used a pencil, never a pen,” Janis added, “because she had to be able to completely erase any errors, so they wouldn’t show.”

But even if her numbers and early scribbles didn’t always make sense to others, Frances was systematically organizing and setting up the accounting structure of Temple Johnson Floor. It has proved to be a solid foundation that still serves the company decades later.

Like any business, there were trying periods. “Frances held things together through good times and bad,” Bryan noted. “Nearly everybody had some bad business times during the 80’s in Oklahoma.” The family credits her with saving the company through some of its rough years.

Frances and Clyde always answered the call whenever their kids reached out. She extended the same support to Janis and son-in-law Bryan when he bought Temple Johnson in 1990. By then, Frances had her own niche in the daily operations, and, she let it be known, it didn’t include being a “front” person. She could never quite be at ease as a salesperson, or even greeting the public.

“That wasn’t her thing,” Bryan explained. Her demeanor in the office was always cheerful, but “even taking the pressure of answering that rare phone call, when you end up getting screamed at, made her too nervous, even though we explained to her not to take it personally.”

What Frances loved was to balance the books and to manage the accounting, and she took great pride in it. The only time anyone remembers her showing a temper was if someone hurt her kids. Then she could be as fierce as a mother bear. “If you were hers, you could do no wrong,” Janis said with a grin. “She would defend you, no matter what.”

Her professional love of numbers carried through to her personal accounts. “If she found she’d made a mistake in her checkbook, for example, Frances wouldn’t just correct it with the new balance,” Bryan said, laughing. “She would go back up to where the mistake was made, erasing every number back to the starting point.”

In her private life, Frances was an avid gardener, known for her beautiful flower beds and landscaping. She was also an accomplished seamstress and knitter. The blankets she created and passed down are treasured by her family. She was also involved in church work and its outreach. Special baby blankets she made to be distributed through the Children’s Hospital are appreciated every day by many who may have no idea who Frances Sparks was, but are touched by the legacy of her big heart.

Another Of Our Artists At Temple Johnson

templejohnsonflooring@coxinet.net (Bryan Jones) — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 18:55:27 GMT

Jim Sparks another part of Temple Johnson

In July of 1980, Jim Sparks’ brother, Jerry, called him in Tulsa and asked him to come work with him in Oklahoma City. Jerry had just bought Temple Johnson Floor from the original owners a year earlier.

Jim liked the idea of working with family, so he joined his brother as part of the Temple Johnson staff. After an all-around training period in the business, he settled into the area of sanding and finishing. Although he was enjoying the work, Jim would never have guessed that he was beginning a 40-year career in the hardwood floor business.

Woodrow Odell, a seasoned team member at Temple Johnson, worked with Jim and taught him sanding and finishing skills. Odell had a reputation as an often-impatient taskmaster who could get prickly if you didn’t get it right.

“Odell trained me, and he could be tough, for sure,” Jim said, “but he showed me how to do it right. I appreciate that.”

Over the years Jim has seen big changes in industrial machines and finishes. “Sanding machines are a lot different today. The designs have changed so much in just the last four or five years. At home, I have an old drum sander type machine that uses sandpaper. But now they have these new Hummel belt sanders, and they put entire sleeves on them. They’re so much easier to work, and they do a better job of sanding.”

At the end of a project, Jim always feels satisfaction at seeing a hardwood floor’s deep, resonant shine, and knowing it is ready for years of wear. He has, however, found himself needing to make physical adjustments in the last ten to fifteen years. He still enjoys the work, but now it’s tougher on his back. “As far as lifting or carrying a lot of heavy stuff, I’ve had to cut back on that. I’ve still got my ‘get up and go.’ I’m not complaining, but with age, there’s more wear and tear on your body. You have to be more careful.”

Now he spends more time helping out at the store location or often teams up with Glenn Scott (who was profiled in our April blog). They work together on a variety of jobs. Jim still does some edging, or, in the current project with Glenn, they are both working on repairing some damaged floors. There’s still plenty of ways to do lighter work. For example, he enjoys installing glue down engineered flooring. “It’s something I can still do without too much strain on my back,” he said with a smile.

Jim Sparks has seen a lot of faces over the years and can speak of a time when the world was a little easier going. Salesmen often thought of their regular customers as friends. He misses that sort of interaction, asking about one another’s children and discussing the world. He appreciates that his brother-in-law, Bryan Jones, who now owns the company, still carries on that tradition as part of Temple Johnson’s mission—to treat their clients and reps as family.

Jim likes spending time at his five-acre home, which he bought when moving here with his wife forty years ago. He has a couple of Shetland horses that his grandsons love, and a house he is constantly remodeling. His favorite wood, hickory, which has a distinctive, strong grain, makes up the floors in his home. He even has custom hickory cabinets.

With that much land, he stays busy keeping it mowed. He points out that most machines, just like the sanders, change in efficiency over the years. When he first moved there, he had to mow it with a push mower. But now he has a zero-turn riding mower, which makes the job considerably more fun.

Jim still enjoys being part of the family business at Temple Johnson, and likes the shorthand communication that goes along with employees who know each other well. “We’ve been working together for so many years, we know what needs to be done, and we go do it. It’s been that way for 40 years.”

Don't Shortchange Your Hardwood Floor

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 13:54:56 GMT

You’ve taken the plunge and installed new hardwood floors. You managed a lot of people’s schedules to get the work done and made adjustments in your own daily life. And now your new hardwood floor rewards you with a new feel and fresh tone to your home. Whether you had a single room redone, or an entire house, the striking, rich gleam of your floor shows that the time and effort you put into it were all worth it. Congratulations!

One of the greatest things about your investment is that your hardwood floors can look just as beautiful years from now as they do today. There are just a few things you will want to know about the TLC requirements for hardwoods. Temple Johnson Floor Company continues to serve their customers after the installation and can be your best advisor on caring for them properly.

Once your new floor is installed, you’ll be anxious to know how long it will take before you can go back to living as usual. You can’t wait to see the room with your furniture moved back in and area rugs in place. Naturally, everyone is excited to walk on them, including your pets.

Before that can happen, however, two processes take place simultaneously: DRYING TIME and CURING TIME.

DRYING TIME is much shorter than CURING TIME, and this allows you to move your belongings back into the room relatively quickly: Drying times are approximately

Water-based finishes - 4-8 hours

Hard wax oils – 4-24 hours

Oil-modified polyurethane – 12-24 hours

You can test the dry time by placing your hand directly on the floor. If it doesn’t leave a mark or pull off any finish on your palm, it’s completely dry, and safe to carefully walk on.

At the same time your new floor started drying, it also began to CURE, and this process takes longer. Important things happen during CURING TIME: the floor’s finish hardens, and, as the solvents evaporate, strong fumes coming from the finish go away. The amount of curing time needed depends on the type of finish chosen and the humidity levels of your location. (Houston is going to take longer to cure than, say, Phoenix.)

Generally,

Hard wax oils take between 1 and 7 days.

Water-based finishes - 7 to 14 days.

Oil-modified polyurethane – 30 days.

It’s important to remember that, even though your floors have dried, they are still in the curing process. Dirt and oils from your shoes, scratches from a pet’s paws, or any spilled liquids can damage the new floor. Bryan Jones, owner of Temple Johnson Floor, recommends wearing socks if you must walk on the floor, and no matter what, keep your beloved pets off them.

Your furniture can be moved back in after the drying time, but any area rugs shouldn’t go back on the floor for a couple of weeks. Jones also recommends replacing the felt pads on the bottoms of your furniture. The old ones could have pet hair, dirt, and dust that could scratch your floor. When your floor has finished curing, you’re back in business as usual in your home. Enjoy your new hardwood floor!

The final step is to determine a cleaning plan that’s easy on both you and your floors.

THINGS TO AVOID IN REGULAR CLEANING OF YOUR HARDWOOD FLOORS

1. Vacuum attachments with rotating brushes or a bar with stiff bristles are too abrasive for wood materials. Use one with a soft brush or felt component.

2. Avoid mops that are dripping with water, as they leave excess moisture for the porous wood to absorb. Use a mop that is slightly damp, or basically dry. In fact, any water spills should be cleaned up ASAP. If ignored they can cause the wood to buckle or develop discolored patches.

3. Although there are owners who swear by simply mopping with water and vinegar or ammonia, this can damage the wood’s finish by slowly eating away at its protective surface. The same is true for baking soda and bottled spray cleaners.

Talk with your floor specialist, who understands preferred methods for specific hardwoods. Today, more people prefer using oil-based cleaners. Temple Johnson carries several types of cleaners and will help you select a method that won’t damage your wood’s appearance, won’t prematurely age it, and will protect the wood’s surface. A last, simple reminder: Sweep your floors regularly. In addition to eliminating dust and tiny particles, it will extend the life of the wood.

Don’t shortchange your hardwood floor. If you take a little time to formulate a cleaning plan, it will repay you with years of lasting beauty.

Three Things For Customers To Know To Find Their Best Hardwood Floor

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 16:05:40 GMT

Whether you’re remodeling a room and ready for a new floor, or redoing your entire home, shopping for hardwood floors involves absorbing a lot of information. It can be a bit daunting, in fact. If you don’t yet appreciate that wood floor professionals (rather than your skilled handyman) need to be in charge of your floors, you will soon enough.

A family-operated company, such as Temple Johnson Floor, with nearly a century of experience, prides itself on giving personal service and the highest standard of hardwood floor installations.

If you’d like to have a leg up before getting started, however, here are three things that can make your visit more productive and boost your confidence as a buyer. Not only will you discover more about what you really want, but you won’t end up feeling overwhelmed with information.

FIRST , if you don’t already know, find out what kind of foundation your home has. It makes a difference as to what kind of new wood floors the installers will be dealing with. If you have no idea, don’t worry. There are people who live to know these kinds of things and will be happy to enlighten you (a cousin, your father-in-law, even your neighbor).

The Possibilities:

Your home could have a Concrete Slab , which provides a solid base on which an engineered hardwood floor is directly installed. This engineered floor can be prefinished or site finished. This foundation needs plywood to support solid hardwood floors which are finished on site. Sometimes this entails changing the height of the floor to get a good installation, but this can be accommodated by gently sloped door sills and other fixes. This is what pro’s know how to do. Since the 60’s, most homes have been built on concrete slabs.

Or, you may have a Crawl Space , especially if you have an older home. You can literally crawl under your house. In this case a subfloor is already in place for a solid hardwood floor. This way you will not have to deal with height issues that come with a concrete slab.

SECOND , try to prepare yourself for the process of having a wood floor installed in your home. It’s a pretty big deal. If you’re remodeling, chances are you’re having other improvements made as well. Plus, most clients working on their houses are nearly always under a time constraint. They’re selling a house, for example, or they’re working with multiple contractors to coordinate the work.

Bryan Jones, owner of Temple Johnson Flooring, has worked with complicated remodeling calendars for years. “Generally, a house or room is worked from the top down, that is, start with the ceiling, work down the walls, and wait until the end to do the floor. That’s the only way to guarantee that the floor won’t get marred or have paint drops from the ceiling or walls on it.”

“Along the way, from carpenters to painters to countless other workmen, your calendar will go through changes, many unforeseen and unavoidable.” Obviously, you don’t want to start your renovation November 1st if the entire family has been invited for Thanksgiving.

“As time gets added to how many days things are going to be running behind,” Jones explained, “the wood installers often get jammed up. There’s a lot of pressure to hurry the floor work because somewhere along the way, a wrench got thrown into the works.” It’s tough to deal with if flexibility hasn’t been built into the client’s calendar. Your hardwood floor is a long term investment that needs to be allowed time for install, drying and curing. We will cover this in the next month’s blog.

THIRD, and this is where it really gets to be fun, bring in your own ideas about what you like and don’t like in wood flooring. Janis Jones, part of Temple Johnson’s working family, talks with a lot of potential clients and offered some helpful suggestions.

“Chances are you’ve seen a floor that appeals to you. Try to figure out what you like about it, so you can pass that on when you come in. Whether you’ve noticed a floor in a friend’s home, or in a magazine, or on the internet, take pictures. Clip the printed photos, and copy URL’s of designs that appeal to you.” You can also jot down questions so you won’t forget to ask about your concerns. This helps your floor specialist see what kind of look is going to make you happy. It also gives you the confidence that comes from seeing a lot of possibilities.

Most clients are remodeling, so they have predetermined circumstances to work with. Color palettes inside the house, especially woodwork, need to be taken into consideration. Or if you’re selling your home, consider whether your flooring choice is going to have a wide appeal to potential buyers, or only a narrow segment.

Take advantage of the showroom at Temple Johnson’s, where their actual floor showcases large examples of different woods, viewed up close and personal, the same way someone will look at your floor. Also, you see them in room lighting or ambient sunlight, the way they will look in your home.

A little homework can ease the way for an enjoyable encounter with the people who will be working for you. You’ll be less likely to feel bombarded with information because you’ll come already knowing something about the process. Then, when you arrive at the flooring company, you can utilize the best of their specialized training, which is something you can’t Google. Flooring professionals like Temple Johnson work hard to stay current with their unique knowledge about hardwood floors. And, in the end, no book can capture the smarts that come from decades of experience.

What’s in With Wood Flooring – and What’s Out

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 17:31:56 GMT

Trends in wood flooring are usually not as radical nor as quick to take hold as many home decorating ideas. But Temple Johnson Floor Company has seen lots of wood choices and styles wax and wane in its nearly century-old history. Often the particular wood itself influences the decisions the home owner or decorator chooses. Owner Bryan Jones explained that exotic woods, for example, are always rich and beautiful.

“The problem with them is you can never change the overall look of that floor. Say you use a walnut. That floor has a dark, rich reddish-brown natural cast to it, and no matter what you do to that floor, you can’t change that appearance.” An oak floor, or a hickory floor gives the owner more options down the line. They can be sanded and refinished, so they can change from a light floor to a medium or even dark floor.

“As trends change, you can be more versatile if you stick with the red oak, light oak, ash, or maple. You get into the cherries, the Brazilian woods, they can change drastically over time. If you ever need to patch into them, for example, there can be a difference between the way the old wood looks, as opposed to the new, and there’s nothing you can do about that.”

The wood floor industry seems to be trending away from the gray floors that have been popular in the last ten years or so. “The predominant wood we use now is white oak,” Bryan pointed out. “But twenty or thirty years ago, everybody wanted red oak.”

Another trend gaining wide popularity today is using wider planks in flooring. “They call them European oak, and that signifies a wider plank. It does come from Europe, where white oak is predominant.” It looks different, however, because European oaks are processed by mixing all the different grades of oak wood together, which reveals a rich mixture of all the aspects of the wood. Here in the United States, the different grades of oak are separated, so they appear more uniform.

Oak grows all over the country. When asked what grows in Oklahoma, Jones explained, “Southern oak is what ours is called. The growth rings in our oak are different than in the north. They grow fast here because we don’t have the extreme cold.”

French oak is distinct from European oak. It must come from France. “They use the same process as European oak, but it literally comes from France so you feel warm and fuzzy about it.” He grinned. “Like Roquefort and bleu cheese. You can’t call it Roquefort unless it comes from that French region.”

Hand scraping is a current trend that has somewhat surprised Jones. “When it first came out, I thought it would be gone in ten years or so, but it’s still here.” This process happens after the wood is already installed. The craftsman, on his knees, hand scrapes the wood, leaving markings that personalize a floor and make it completely original. It is time consuming and expensive, but it remains popular.

“Scraping gives the floor character. No two people do it the same, so you will find unique patterns in each worker’s flat scrapes or circle scrapes, and whether they use heavy, medium, or light markings.”

Temple Johnson Floor Company remains in the current mainstream of the creative changes as they trend in the Wood Floor Industry. In the end, it is always the client that counts, and what they want to do with their floors. But a wealth of information can help them choose wisely, and for that, Temple Johnson is always just a phone call away.

One Small Wood Flooring Business: Where Clients Feel Like Family

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 17:42:24 GMT

Family Owned - Client and Employee Focused

It is refreshing to find a great business, large or small, that has much more on its agenda than just making a profit. The advantage of a family owned company, one that is able to keep customers and staff over decades, is that the operation feels like an extended family. The loyalties and feelings of being valued become as important as the “bottom line.”

Temple Johnson Floor Company fosters its craftsmen, most of whom have trained from the bottom up within the company.

“It takes two to three years, for example, before someone is able to sand and finish up a floor,” owner Bryan Jones explained. When they reach that level, they keep learning and polishing new skills until, over the years, they become true artisans. He tries to keep one or two novices paired up with a more skilled, experienced worker. That’s how they learn the trade.

In a family business like Temple Johnson, this grows the sense of being connected among the workers. When Jones bought out his partner, Jerry Sparks, in 1985, he had the foresight to foster the continuity his business would need. “I did it with the proviso that Jerry Dale, who had been Sparks’ right-hand man, would stay with Temple Johnson and help me out. And he did.”

For years their turnover rate has been almost nil. “Most of the people working here have been with me for 20 years or more. When we go out on jobs, the client may see the same guy working on your home who worked on it 10 years earlier. Whereas with larger competitors, you may see as many as 10 different people working on a job that only takes five days. They can’t offer that continuity.”

“We may be a little more expensive,” Jones explained, “but we stay small so we can give that hands-on service. We stay small so I can go out and personally check the jobs. I do all the estimates myself. Even if there’s a problem – and everyone runs into problems . . . anyone who says they don’t is lying – we come out and address it in a timely manner and get things taken care of. I pride myself on returning their calls and being accessible to my customers. We’re here before, during, and after the sale.”

Temple Johnson is a full-service company. They maintain a showroom with popular, current wood samples and unique patterns illustrated in the floors. They not only offer prefinished floors as well as unfinished, but custom sand and stain existing floors as well.

“We try to treat our customers as family, as friends,” Bryan said. “You’re not going to come in here and have me oversell you something you don’t need so I can make more money. I’ll explain what I would do if you were related to me, or my mother or father. How I would steer them.”

When asked about the difficult parts of the business, Jones said it was “the uncertainty of the product. Wood is a product of nature. Even though it has been taken down, and gone through the process of cutting it and kiln drying it, wood has a mind of its own as to how it reacts. It swells in summer months, shrinks in the winter. Ideally wood should acclimate at the job site before it is worked with.”

The Lumber industry has changed for the better, he pointed out. Tree farms do have strong regulations now. It’s not like strip mining and deforestation.

“One day, 30 or 40 years ago, we might not have had any forests left today. The way they came in and cut it down and didn’t replant anything. People appreciate that we have those standards today. It’s a much more regulated industry than it was.”

“Chemicals in glue and formaldehyde had no standards years ago, so it was possible they could really hurt you, or they would stay in the soil or in the landfills. Now they’re proactive, more environmentally friendly.”

All the wood that Temple Johnson buys is WFA approved (Wood Floors Association) but there are a lot of mills that are not approved. “All the woods we buy are certified forests. They all belong to the farming industry. For every tree they cut down, they plant a new one.”

That is a practice right in line with the philosophy of Temple Johnson. Excellence and a sense of working together from top to bottom.

A History of Longevity Sustains Hardwood Floor Company

Tue, 05 May 2020 19:01:08 GMT

Second in the series of people who make up Temple Johnson Flooring Co.

When Bryan Jones, owner of Temple Johnson Floor Company, talks about the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on his family business, he begins by pointing out all the things he has to be grateful for.

“It’s been a challenge,” he acknowledges, but “we’ve been blessed that we were considered an essential business, so we’ve been able to stay open.” Now, however, their work is confined to new construction, remodels, or insurance jobs.

Normally they would be doing a lot of what he calls “retail work,” with people actually living in their homes while the work is done. “We had a lot of those jobs scheduled when this happened. I called everybody and asked them their preference, and we rescheduled that work for down the road. But we’re still blessed.”

“We have been taking extra precautions, you know, social distancing and, instead of having two or three guys out on a job, we may have only one. We’re following all the guidelines.”

That day it’s just Bryan and his wife Janis in the showroom, with all the other employees out working on jobs. “The showroom is open right now, but someone comes in and professionally disinfects and cleans it thoroughly every couple of weeks. That’s in addition to our wiping down the phones and surfaces all the time.”

Temple Johnson, which employs a base of five or six workers, seems like a perfect candidate for the small business loans now available, but Jones opted not to go that route. “We considered applying for one, but after a lot of thought and contemplation, I decided against that. We are still working full-time, and there are people out there who really need the funds because they may not be able to open their doors again. That is a lifeline that may allow them to do that.”

The history of the company spans almost a century now. It was founded by Temple Johnson, an Oklahoma City native, who started working out of his home around 1922. In 1927 he officially founded the company, although he continued to work out of his home until 1945. Then he built Temple Johnson Floor Company at N.W. 12th and Pennsylvania Avenue.

It remained there until the early 1990’s when they moved to their current location at 405 N. Wilshire Boulevard. On a familiar Oklahoma City street, it is much easier to access geographically in its present location, which is convenient to main roadways and the interstates.

Bryan got into the business through his brother-in-law, Jerry Sparks, who bought the company in the late 70’s from Temple Johnson’s widow and stepson, who were running the company by then, but were ready to retire. Sparks was a sales rep at the time, and, knowing and liking him after doing business for years, they approached him about taking it over.

Janis and Bryan were living in Atlanta at that time, both having completed degrees at O.S.U. Jerry called them at a time when Bryan was successfully working in hotel management, which was what his degree was in. Being a partner in his own business, however, sounded like just the change he needed. He agreed quickly to return home to Oklahoma, although he admitts with a wicked grin, “I did have to drag Janis, who was not so enthusiastic at first.”

“One thing I give Jerry a lot of credit for,” Bryan says, “is he did not change the name. A lot of people buy something, and they want to see their name out front, but Temple Johnson was such an established business that people, by that time, didn’t care who owned it. They knew the name and wanted the quality of business to stay the same.”

Both their staff and their community of clients have stuck by the business for decades now. The core of their workers has been there for twenty years or more. The same employee may install a floor for two generations of the same family.

It gives Bryan and Janis a lot of satisfaction to treat their clients as family. “We have so many repeat customers that, by this time, we’re doing third and fourth generation. Customers will say, ‘Temple Johnson did my parents’ house and my grandparents’ house.’” That’s music to any business owner’s ears.

Lost Art of Hardwood Floor Installation

Thu, 02 Apr 2020 16:43:10 GMT

First in a series about the people who make up Temple Johnson Flooring Co.

There are fewer artisans in the hardwood flooring business today. Traditionally, it is an art passed down from father to son with great pride, whether Italian, Greek, or in Glenn Scott’s case, American.

Glenn, who has worked with Temple Johnson Floor Company for 28 years, got started through a different sort of family connection. He and the son of a former partner in the company, Jerry Dale, were best buddies. The teenagers got in the habit of “hanging out and watching Jerry work. It was kind of fascinating.”

Starting work there soon after, Glenn got to know the business from the bottom up. He found he loved being around hardwood flooring, and watching a job’s completion. “It’s good to see a project well done, to see it go from nothing to something really nice.” Today he is respected and often requested by the company’s clients because of his outstanding work and the cheerful disposition that comes with it.

Temple Johnson owner Bryan Jones usually picks Glenn as his go-to guy for the most intricate, custom installations. But Glenn still enjoys even the basic jobs. Today he is working on a flood-damaged floor which requires muscle and pry bars to rip out the sections of ruined wood. Then the original residue has to be cleaned up. In addition, he must match the damaged area to other parts of the white oak floor unaffected by the flood. Not only does Glenn have to meticulously match the pattern but the original stain and finish as well.

Glenn says it’s exciting to be a part of making custom designs a reality. His input on how those designs will work is part of the process. “I’ve developed an eye for what works in the space given. Say, this larger design doesn’t work in this small area, the way it would in a large expanse of floor. I help work that out.”

One of his favorite custom jobs was “laying a baseball diamond in a floor. It was a parquet that features diamonds that all come together.” He also enjoyed the Ranch restaurant with a featured “log cabin” pattern.

Parquet and herringbone designs may demand thousands of small hand-cut pieces. In fact, it is such exacting work that the artisan typically dry-lays the patterns prior to the final installation, in case modifications need to be made. These complex designs often involve several kinds of wood: a walnut herringbone pattern, for example, laid in the middle of a white oak floor.

Through the years, Glenn has enjoyed working for a family business. “I think they’re more understanding than a big company. Everybody knows everybody and we know how everyone works, and what to expect.” They have nicknames for each other, though he just grins when asked what some of them are.

“Everybody down there really cares about the product they’re putting out, instead of just going in and doing it.” And it’s nice to have his boss’s support. “Bryan trusts me, but if I have questions, he always right there, helping to solve problems.”

Glenn has lots of funny stories. Once he looked up to take a breather from his work and saw two police cars parked in front of the house. When he opened the front door, a police officer on the porch had his gun drawn. Once his heart stopped thumping, Glenn found out the house belonged to the officer’s sister. But she forgot to tell her brother that workmen were redoing the floors. Glenn laughs about it now, but “it sure wasn’t funny at the time."

Hardwood Flooring: The Eco-Friendly Option

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 18:05:57 GMT

The most eco-friendly flooring might not be what you expect.

When you say “eco friendly”, “environmentally friendly” or “renewable” your mind might go to wind turbines, dams, solar panels and hybrid cars. But when it comes to flooring, the best option comes from the ground.

That’s right. It’s wood.

Why Hardwood Is Eco-Friendly Flooring

The USDA actually endorses hardwood flooring as an eco-friendly, carbon-neutral flooring option. As the USDA Forest Service notes , wood buildings store carbon, and for the length of time that wood should last any wood installation should become carbon neutral.

It works because by the time that wood wears out or is removed, usually the forest will have regrown. Though hardwood trees take a long time to reach maturity, hardwood flooring lasts a long time if properly maintained. You can find original hardwood floors in some hundred-year-old buildings. Though a floor needs a certain thickness to be able to be refinished, most ¾” thick boards will take anywhere from six to ten refinishings comfortably.

Engineered wood is less capable of taking refinishings than regular solid hardwood flooring, but it will still last long enough to be eco-friendly. In some ways it may be better than solid hardwood because the core layers are made of more easily-managed softwoods that reach maturity quicker than equivalent hardwoods. Though they still use glues and finishes that may not come from sustainable sources, engineered wood floors are an environmentally-friendly option.

Hardwood Flooring Production

Though the production of hardwood flooring isn’t necessarily carbon-neutral, it’s offset as the trees grow. Hardwood trees are removed and the forest managed according to forestry regulations, which leaves new timber to grow where the old timber had been.

As trees grow, they remove carbon dioxide from the air, and a stand of mature hardwood trees will replace the carbon impact of their harvesting and installation by the time the floor comes up for replacement.

Engineered wood uses more glue than a solid wood floor will, and both types of hardwood flooring may be finished with something like polyurethane that isn’t a natural or environmentally-friendly product. But the overall impact on the environment is much more muted than something that relies on a non-sustainable material like petroleum.

Wood flooring is one of the best options for sustainable harvesting, but it’s not the only one. Bamboo and cork are similar products that have other drawbacks. But any biological material that comes from the ground and will replace itself over time is going to be an environmentally-friendly solution.

Eco-friendly flooring is mostly limited to natural or perhaps recycled materials. That leaves out a lot of options, especially common ones like carpet, vinyl and linoleum that are made with petroleum products or byproducts.

What’s Not Eco- and Environmentally-Friendly Flooring?

Floors like vinyl and carpet are not as environmentally friendly as hardwood for a few reasons.

Firstly, they’re mostly made from petroleum products and byproducts. Vinyl in particular is a big offender because it’s liable to release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can cause health effects. In the event of a fire, it’s also hazardous to both the environment and the people nearby because of the vapors that can be released.

Unless you’re buying specialty eco-friendly carpet made of natural fibers with natural backing and non-toxic glue, it can be just as bad as vinyl. Off-gassing (the release of toxic gasses as the carpet ages) is a similar problem. That doesn’t even get into the impact of its production.

Environmentally-friendly carpet is more expensive and harder to get than the other options. Vinyl and linoleum just flat aren’t environmentally friendly. Tile and stone can be environmentally friendly but they come with their own tradeoffs, too.

Another problem with these types of flooring is their disposal. When vinyl is removed, there’s no easy way to recycle it. Different types of vinyl have different formulations, and these formulations are incompatible for recycling even when the material’s able to be recycled. Often vinyl just winds up filling up a landfill. It doesn’t break down easily, either—it’s non-biodegradable.

Carpet isn’t environmentally-friendly flooring either, because it’s almost as hard to recycle. Recycled carpet is available, but it’s not easy for the same reason vinyl is: the material is different from type to type, making it difficult to break down. Carpet is also made up of multiple systems including the backing and the fibers, which adds to the eco-friendly flooring issue.

Usually if you’re choosing environmentally-friendly flooring options, carpet and vinyl won’t be at the top of your list. Hardwood flooring is preferred.

The Better, More Environmentally Friendly Flooring Option

If you’re thinking of putting in a floor in your house and you want to be conscious of the environment, hardwood is one of your best options.

It’s made from natural materials, unlike carpet and vinyl, so you don’t have to worry about off-gassing or byproducts. It’s durable, so you don’t have to worry about replacing it a bunch of times over its lifespan. It’s tough, so you don’t have to worry about resurfacing frequently. Hardwood is one of the best options for flooring that you can get if you want something that’s beautiful, durable and good for the environment.

And if you’re really concerned about getting hardwood that’s sourced in a way that’s good for the environment ask for something that has a stamp from the FSB or one of the other certification boards for sustainably-produced lumber. There are still occasionally lumber sources that pull from illegal timber, and FSB and other certified lumber sources will make sure that the supply chain is legitimate from start to finish.

If you’re sourcing flooring in OKC and you care about sustainability, hardwood flooring is one of the best options. Environmentally- and eco-friendly, hardwood is an option that helps you keep the environment safe while still getting a beautiful finish for your house.

Temple Johnson provides you the eco-friendly hardwood flooring options that you’re looking for. We’ve been in business for a hundred years, and our experienced flooring crews and top-notch sales staff can provide you with the floor you’re looking for. Come schedule a consultation today and we’ll show you what your floor can look like. And if you want to know more about environmentally-friendly flooring, ask us what options we have for your house that can minimize your carbon footprint. We’ll give you the floor you’re looking for. Beauty, quality and environmental impact—we have everything you need here. Just come by our store and we’ll get you set up.

The Family-Owned Difference: Personal Service and Expertise

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 18:11:32 GMT

This is the era of the big retailer. Big box stores have moved into even many small communities, causing the well-known “Walmart Effect” which drives smaller stores out of business. The convenience of higher buying power, central locations, and a wide variety of merchandise, makes big boxes the main choice for many consumers.

But not every small retailer goes under. Even in the era of the big box, some stores and installers are thriving. What makes the difference?

Personal Service from a Family-Owned Business

Small retailers actually have a distinct advantage in a couple of ways. One of the biggest is personal service and expertise.

Older businesses that haven’t been driven out of business by big boxes have an advantage that Walmart, Lowes, and Home Depot can’t bring to the table — they know their customers intimately. They are often embedded in the fabric of the community they live in. That’s what sets Temple Johnson apart.

We’ve been in business since 1927 and, consequently, we’ve built deep roots in the community. That means we know people and their preferences, we know what sells and what works in this area of the country, and we’re willing to take the time to get to know you better than a big box store.

Your local name-brand big box hardware store may have installers, but the people in that job turn over frequently—talk to someone one year and they may be gone by the next. That’s not the case here. We’ve been a family owned business for almost a hundred years, so you know the people you’re getting now are probably the same people you’re going to be talking to the next time you get your floors done — even if it’s years from now. Our personal service will be here now, tomorrow, and in the future.

Time-Tested Expertise

Many hardwood flooring installers haven’t been at it for all that long. That means you can run into issues with your install—with moisture, understanding of the product, or figuring out what works the best for your house and your needs. Larger national chains can suffer from a “jack of all trades, master of none” problem. They want to be all things to all men, but that can mean they’re not as expert as they should be about some of the specifics.

Here at Temple Johnson, we’ve been installing wood flooring and wood flooring only for the entire time we’ve been in business. We know what it takes to install a proper hardwood floor in Oklahoma. There are plenty of flooring stores in OKC, but we bring a difference in craftsmanship few can match.

In the flooring industry, craftsmanship is often overlooked because people don’t know enough about what they’re doing. It takes constantly being on top of the latest improvements in hardwood floor installation, as well as knowing what’s come before. Installation may be more automated than it was in years past, but there’s always a place for fine craftsmen who know their trade well.

Wood texture and the finish matter as well. Advances in vapor barriers and adhesives make it easier to adhere floors to the underlying materials and keep moisture out. Creating a proper finished surface takes an understanding of the material, the methods and the finishes, and, because wood flooring is the only thing we do, we have that understanding.

Some people decide they want to install their wood flooring themselves. It’s definitely possible to do if you’re armed with a few YouTube tutorials and some tools. But if you ask many of the people who’ve tried to DIY their own floors, it’s a harder road than they might have planned for. Many people run into issues when they decide it’s time to try for themselves. Sanding and finishing wood flooring is a lot harder than it looks. Divots and dips caused by the sander can sometimes show up after the floor is finished even if it seems like the work is going well in the moment. It takes a patient person with a steady hand to get a finish right, and if you’re not careful the stain can come out streaky instead of clean.

The Crew Difference

Our crew has a combined 150 years of experience with a huge variety of ages. Each of our crew leaders has apprenticed under other people who know their trade well until they are ready and capable of running their own crew.

There’s an attention to detail and commitment to the craft of hardwood flooring from every one of our crew members. Our workers know the craft, and they’re the ones who make our personal service truly special.

It may take longer than some other outlets you could go with, but it takes time to produce quality. We hire people who do the job right and have proven it over many years in the field.

Temple Johnson’s strives to be the premier hardwood flooring store in the metro—we know what it takes to do the install right.

Big Box vs. Family Owned

People have the misconception that big box stores will almost always have a better price than local family-owned businesses. But price is not the only thing you should use to make your choice. It is only one of the factors that goes into choosing what company you should use. We stake our claim on quality hardwood flooring, not just selling you material to do it yourself. We’re craftsmen, not just retailers. Our installation technicians and sales people know their business.

Our personal service sets us apart from all the other flooring stores in OKC—that’s the Temple Johnson difference. Our capable installation crews, knowledgeable sales staff and legacy of quality mean that we can offer the best to anyone who wants a wood floor in their home.When you want a wood floor, choose Temple Johnson. Call us today at 405-842-0112 and find out what we can do for your home. We’ll make sure you get the quality installation your home deserves.

Which Wood Floors are Real?

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 18:40:42 GMT

The market has never had more choices in wood and wood-like flooring. With modern materials and the constant demand for wood floors, it can be difficult to figure out just which floors are right for you. And if you’re looking for real wood, it’s often confusing to figure out which options are actually wood instead of being some sort of composite.

Temple Johnson can help those who want high quality wood flooring, as this is we only install real wood flooring—not any of the substitutes that you might have seen moonlighting as wood.

Not Wood Flooring at All

Some of the wood-like options on the market are not real wood at all. Take, for instance, laminate flooring.

Laminate is one of the most popular "wood" options on the market today. It is composed of four layers: a bottom layer that balances the floor and protects against moisture from below, a core layer composed of fiber and melamine (formaldehyde) resin, a layer with a photograph of the intended surface, and a durable, clear aluminum oxide top layer.

The appeal of laminate for many homeowners is that it’s cheaper and much simpler to install as a DIY project. That comes with downsides too though. Just like real wood flooring, laminate doesn’t love moisture. But unlike wood flooring, if standing water is left on laminate and damages it, the entire floor will need to be replaced. Often real wood can just be refinished.

Another downside is that some glueless laminates can come apart at the seams. This leaves permanent gaps where dirt can come in. Though it is intended to replace wood or stone, laminate also only approximates the look of these materials, and it’s readily apparent to even a casual passerby that it is not actually real wood or stone.

Wood-look tile is another option that many people are substituting for wood flooring. Although It is much more resistant to moisture than laminate flooring, it just doesn’t look quite like real wood and is cold to step on.

Vinyl plank and sheet vinyl are two more options that are on the market, but they are lower quality than either of the other two.

Hardwood Flooring: The Original

Hardwood flooring is the true, high-end flooring option that has been around forever. It is REAL wood. The beauty of hardwood flooring is its high quality finish, warmth, and the added value it brings to the home - that’s the thing that sets it apart from its competitors. Hardwood floors are made from naturally tough species of wood, so they are designed to stand up to the wear and tear of everyday life.

There are two options for hardwood floors when they’re bought: pre-finished and unfinished. Pre-finished hardwood is just what it sounds like. It has been finished at the factory with the surface sealed and protected and a stain applied. This has some installation benefits, particularly when it comes to a home that’s already being lived in. There are no odors or volatile compounds left in the air from finishing, which makes it much easier for a remodel. The advantage of unfinished hardwood comes from being able to see how it looks in the home, test any stains to make sure they match the decor and do the finish with it in place.

Solid hardwood is a great option for longevity, as it can be sanded and refinished for many, many years. Because it is the same all the way through, refinishers don’t have to worry about the material loss from sanding las they would with engineered wood.

Because wood is a living material, it does have some “special care” requirements that the owner needs to be aware of such as sensitivity to moisture and humidity. When real wood floors are installed in a home, that home needs to keep its temperature and humidity as constant as possible to avoid the shrinkage and warping that can come outside of those norms.

It is wise to refrain from using wood flooring in any place that’s likely to see a lot of water like a bathroom or a kitchen or basement. For those areas. it’s better to use tile, finished concrete or a more water-resistant real wood product.

Engineered Hardwood: Real Wood Remixed

Engineered hardwood is still real wood, unlike its laminate cousin. The difference with engineered hardwood is its composition. Where hardwood flooring is the same material all the way through, engineered hardwood uses a sandwich of materials, building a strong finished product that’s indistinguishable from the real thing.

The face of any engineered wood product is called the lamella , and it can be flat-sawn, quarter-sawn or rift-sawn for a different grain appearance. Underneath the lamella is a core of another type of wood laid perpendicular, often a softwood. Sometimes there are multiple layers of this laid in layers, or plies (hence the term plywood). Finally, there’s another layer of durable wood on the bottom. Some higher-quality engineered floors have only one ply in the middle and the same durable hardwood on top and bottom, especially in Europe. These layers are held together by various glues that add stability.

Engineered Hardwood is much more flexible in its installation and application than regular hardwood flooring while still maintaining the warmth of real wood. It stands up to moisture, humidity, and temperature fluctuations much better than hardwood as well. This makes it suitable for installation over concrete and allows it to be placed in bathrooms and kitchens (though it’s still not always recommended). If extreme conditions occur, it can still warp or buckle, but overall it’s much more stable than hardwood flooring. This stability also makes it compatible with in-floor heating systems. It can be hard to find a solid hardwood product that will stand up to the temperature changes that come with radiant heating, but most engineered wood will handle it without an issue. If you want to combine heat with real wood, Engineered Hardwood is a great choice.

Engineered wood floors cannot be refinished as many times as solid hardwood floors because the top layer is composed of veneer. If refinished too many times, the sanding and finishing process will break through into the inner layers, making it necessary to replace the floor.

For the most part, engineered and solid hardwood have similar properties. They are both real wood, though they differ slightly in the flexibility of their applications, and they are beautiful and add value to any home.

Real Wood, Real Installers

Temple Johnson only installs real wood flooring, whether that be engineered or solid hardwood. With 92 years of experience and expertise, we can help our clients make the best choice for the environment their flooring will occupy, and the most pleasing look. Our installers have many years of experience and work with clients to achieve a beautiful end result. With our combination of experience and quality, Temple Johnson is Oklahoma City’s choice for real wood flooring.

Are you looking for a real wood floor for your house? Whether it’s new construction or remodel, we have the tools, the expertise and the material to make your house glow with the warmth of real wood. Call us today or visit our showroom and see the real wood difference.

Real Wood Hardwood Flooring Wood Flooring

How Do We Install Wood Flooring in OKC?

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Sun, 08 Sep 2019 20:31:11 GMT

If you thought carpet was the most popular flooring in the United States, you’d probably be right.

But that’s not because it’s the flooring most people want.

According to a 2017 survey by the National Wood Flooring Association , wood flooring is the preferred choice of the American homeowner. Wood is beautiful, durable and stylish. When it begins to wear or scratch, it doesn’t require replacement like many other floor coverings—it can be refinished. It avoids the allergy problems that can come with carpet . Wood flooring in OKC is a perfect choice because of this.

Temple Johnson Flooring has been in this business since 1927 because we truly love what we do. As lower-quality coverings and DIY installations become more common, we’re one of the flooring stores in OKC that’s still kept an installation crew made of artisans and craftsmen, not just half-trained people who can slap down a little laminate and call it a day. We keep the tradition of wood floor quality alive through proper installation techniques. And we don’t just install—we refinish, too.

What goes into a Temple Johnson Flooring installation?

Preparing the Floor

First, whether we’re installing hardwood or engineered wood, we have to prepare the floor. A proper wood floor installation begins below the wood with a well-prepared surface. To begin with, we remove any baseboard trim and possibly the baseboards themselves so there’s room underneath for flooring. A half-inch gap is left between floor and wall to make room for the wood to expand. Door casings and jambs may also need to be trimmed.

Wood is a natural, porous building material—because it is hygroscopic, i.e., it either dries or picks up moisture until it reaches equilibrium with the air. Keeping a constant humidity through the year will help with this, but it’s hard to do entirely. Small gaps are to be expected as the flooring expands and contracts.

One of the key elements that will keep wood flooring in OKC from suffering through moisture is proper floor preparation. If there have been previous moisture problems on the floor, a moisture barrier will be laid.

In addition, to avoid any dips and make sure the installation is completely integrated with the concrete, the floor will be cleaned of any adhesive and other material. A concrete floor may also need to be floated to fill in divots and depressions so the final product is perfectly level and smooth. Not all flooring stores in OKC will go to this level of effort for a quality fit and finish.

Finally, any dirt and debris will be swept up and removed.

Subfloor Installation

If the floor is to be solid hardwood, there’s a second important step before you begin to add the top layer. Solid hardwood has to be nailed down to a subfloor layer of plywood or OSB, with a minimum of a ¾” thickness required for proper nailing. We lay a full layer of this underneath the area where the hardwood floor will be located.

Subfloor has to be checked for squeaks and sounds at the time it is laid. Though wood flooring in OKC is particularly susceptible to the temperature and humidity fluctuations that come with weather, well-installed subfloor can stop the worst of the traditional squeaky wood floor noise. We tack down the subfloor particularly carefully in any area that makes noise or doesn’t seem quite level.

Because of its susceptibility to humidity, it is unwise to install solid hardwood below grade. This makes it too easy for water to make its way in and cause boards to warp, cup or lift. Engineered wood, which requires no subfloor, is a better choice for below-grade installation or areas likely to see water, such as kitchens or bathrooms.

Floor Pattern Layout

The next step is to lay the flooring out in the desired pattern. As you can imagine, installing wood flooring in OKC requires particular care to acclimatization of the wood. We bring the material into the installation area early to allow it to get used to the humidity and temperature of the building. This ensures that the installation is closest to the baseline of what the wood will be without expansion or contraction patterns.

Plumb lines will be laid out across the workspace to keep the floor square, and urethane is sprayed over it to keep the chalk from smudging as we work. If there is a pattern, we lay this out at the same time as well.

Hardwood Floor Installation

Once the wood is acclimated to the area where it will be installed, the next step is to lay it permanently. Wood from different batches is used together to make sure the floor has a random look, and it keeps color more consistent throughout. If a floor is laid box by box it will look more unnatural than one that has been mixed. Width and length can vary even within a box, so it’s important to have an experienced crew to keep it consistent. Our flooring store in OKC offers a wide variety of lay patterns, hand scraping and borders so you can get the look you want.

If a subfloor is used, we try to overlap lines on the subfloor with full sections of hardwood so no cuts run straight from the surface to the flooring underneath. End joints are staggered from each other so the floor has structural integrity. Adhesive is applied to engineered wood as it is laid, while solid hardwood flooring is nailed.

If the flooring for a particular job is pre-finished, this is where the job ends. However, If the wood flooring in an OKC home or business doesn’t have a surface finish yet, we still have more work to do.

Sanding

After the floor has been laid it’s time to prepare it for finishing.

Many of the installations from our OKC flooring store tend to need finishing in place. On-site finishing is a trend that’s on the rise, especially for wood flooring in OKC. Why? Probably because it’s easier to choose a finish and texture when you can see the wood actually in place inside the home. It also allows for easier mixing and testing of stains. Either engineered or solid wood products can be finished in place, depending on the product.

If the wood is not pre-finished, hand scraping, wire brushing, sanding or other finish techniques take place at this point. A large industrial sander will be used for most of the floor while the edges and more finicky areas are sanded by hand.

Cleaning

Sanding leaves behind a lot of very fine dust which can play havoc with the finishing step. Wood flooring in OKC in particular can have dust problems, especially in areas that have doors to the outside because of the wind gusts when it is opened. We use a vacuum and tack rags to get every last piece of dust off the floor before moving on to the stain process.

Staining and Finishing

Stain is applied by hand, not by machine. We use rags with either a dry or wet rag application to show the intensity of the stain, then reassess after drying to determine if any changes need to be made.

If all goes well during installation, a new job would take Temple Johnson Flooring a couple of days for preparation and laying, a couple of days for sanding and staining and a couple of days for finishing. Depending on pattern, finish, size and many other variables, though, it could take a little longer.

Your Choice for Flooring Stores in OKC

One of the most popular floor coverings in OKC is wood flooring, especially for high-end homes. Temple Johnson Flooring has been in business for almost 100 years, and our installation crews have over 150 years of experience between them. We pride ourselves on the quality of our installation. Temple Johnson Flooring is a hardwood floor specialist. Wood flooring is the only thing we sell, the only thing we install, and the only thing we refinish. Most flooring stores in OKC sell a wide variety of coverings, and they don’t necessarily have the time or experience to delve into hardwood. Temple Johnson doesn’t just provide a hardwood floor—we install it the same way we would in our own home, with the experience, quality and finish that we would expect ourselves. We’ll also help you maintain and refinish your hardwood floor.

Real hardwood flooring provides great long-term value and can stand up to anything a family can throw at it. We believe in our product and the quality that our installation and refinishing crews deliver.

Give us a call today or visit our flooring store in OKC to find out what Temple Johnson Flooring can do for your home.

Real Wood Real Life

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 21:25:13 GMT

Home is where real life happens. From the day you move in until you hand over the keys, you need a real surface that can handle your family’s big and small moments. Learn why wood is the only flooring that can truly last for the life of your home.

Choosing the right species of wood flooring is a matter of your lifestyle, budget, and personal preference. More than 50 domestic and imported species of wood flooring are available to achieve a unique look. Each species of hardwood has a different level of hardness. Some like walnut, cherry, and birch are less hard in comparison to other common domestic species like maple, hickory, and oak.

Today's wood floors are designed to withstand the traffic of busy families, including the pets they have. Wood floors are extremely durable and can look beautiful for decades. If you have pets in your home, placing breathable rugs at the doors will minimize dirt and debris being tracked inside. Debris is often what causes scratches as it is walked on. While it may not be the favorite activity for your pet, trimming their nails is another good deterrent. Scratches can happen in everyday life, but they are usually in the floor finish surface only and easy to repair.

If one of your needs is a floor that is easy to clean, hardwood floors are for you. Wood floor maintenance is quick and easy. Routing cleaning involves weekly sweeping with a dust mop or vacuum with bare floor setting to remove dust and dirt. Clean your wood floors with the appropriate wood floor cleaner monthly. We sell Bona cleaner in our store. Be sure to clean spills immediately with a dry or slightly damp cloth. Do not use wet mops or steam mops, which can damage the finish and the wood over long periods of tie.

Wood floors are the most environmentally friendly flooring options available. Trees are a renewable resource that can be regrown time and time again. The hardwood forests that provide flooring products are growing more than twice as fast as they are being harvested. Because wood floors can last for many generations, they require fewer raw material. There is less landfill waste than other flooring options. Wood also stores carbon during it service life and can be recycled for other uses.

You will be floored at the value wood adds to your home. When the time comes to buy a bigger home or downsize, homes with wood floors sell faster for more money than homes without them. Real estate agents indicate that identical homes with wood floors can sell for up to 10 percent more. When maintained properly, wood floors can last generations, providing a great long-term value.

Wood floors add natural beauty and timeless style to any décor. Wood floors offer endless design possibilities and make it easy to fit your home’s needs and personal style. The maintenance of wood floors is quick and easy, environmentally responsible and add value to your home. Come by our store or contact us with help picking out your real wood floor.

Why High Humidity In Your Home Is Bad

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 03:00:48 GMT

High humidity levels in your home can be uncomfortable and can even pose a threat to the interior of your home and your health. We talked about humidity in the winter months in the Moisture and Your Hardwood Blog . With summer months and the rainy weather, it is time to address the effects of too much moisture.

Your home’s humidity levels should be in the range of 35-55%. The best way to check the humidity level in your house or home is with a hygrometer.

Anything higher than that range is when moisture build-up can cause:

Mold spores and mildew can easily grow and multiply
Wood can swell creating pressure between the boards, causing warping and cupping

The process of rust speeds up
Asthma and allergy sufferer may experience worse or more frequent symptoms.
Pest infestation
Flaking paint and peeling wallpaper.

What causes higher humidity levels?

Apart from your AC not properly removing humidity from the air circulating inside your home, here are three of the most common ways excess moisture gets into your house and causes humidity:

Everyday activities . You may be surprised to learn that many of your daily activities may be introducing excess moisture into your house. Everyday actions like cooking, washing the dishes, running the washing machine, taking a shower, sweating and even breathing can cause moisture to build in your home—especially if you’ve got a big family.
Leaks . Moisture could also be entering your house through leaks and cracks in or around your home. To find the culprit for these types of issues, look around for leaky pipes, a cracked roof tile or a loose zinc joint or fitting.
Rising damp . Rising damp is a rarer, but more serious cause of high humidity in a home. Rising damp occurs when moisture from the ground rises through the pores in the bricks and masonry. Keep an eye out for symptoms of rising damp, such as mold, rotting window frames, flaky plaster or damp or wet patches on your walls. If you have reason to suspect rising damp in your home, it’s definitely time to call in the professionals.

How can you lower humidity in your home?

The most effective solution to lowering humidity in-home is proper ventilation. Rooms in your home like the kitchen and the bathroom naturally create more moisture in the air, leaving more humidity in those areas. Cooking, showering, and doing laundry can all have an effect on the amount of moisture that is in the air. If you have poor ventilation or no exhaust fans, moisture will get caught in the air, making your home more humid.

Another common solution is to purchase a good dehumidifier . A dehumidifier will wring out any moisture that is in your home and also provides you with better air quality for a more comfortable home. Portable dehumidifiers can be purchased at any home store, alternatively, if you have more money to spend, you could invest in a whole-home dehumidifier system.

Other helpful tips include:

Take shorter showers with cooler temperature
Ensure your bathroom fans are working correctly
Check that your dryer is properly vented
Temporarily place house plants outdoors
Keep gutters clean
Be mindful of the temperature outside and in your home

High humidity levels in your home can be uncomfortable and can even pose a threat to the interior of your home and your health. Engaging the proper strategies for lowering humidity in-home can prevent more serious problems in the future. Ultimately, investing in a proper dehumidifier and ventilation will be the most effective solutions and provide a more comfortable environment for you to live in.

Your hardwood floors may cup with high humidity, but they should return to their flat surface when your home returns to a normal range. If you have more severe damage or question, please contact us .

New 3 1/2" Width Choices

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Mon, 20 May 2019 03:25:27 GMT

With design trends constantly changing, it’s hard to know what’s here to stay and what is yesterday’s news. Wood floors are at the top of the design trend list and are not going anywhere anytime soon. One of the decisions you'll face when shopping for your hardwood floors is what width to buy. Do you want narrow planks, wide planks, or something in between? Below are new choices from Bella Cera and Anderson. This new 3 1/2" width gives a versatility while still retaining a modern look.

Bella Cera - Lugano

Nestled snuggly between Italy and Switzerland the city of Lugano renders scenic vistas of the beauty of nature with its breathtaking lakes and mountains. With this inspiration in mind, we created the Lugano collection which is built with 3.5” wide planks to fit elegantly and comfortably for all size rooms and spaces. The collection features beautiful on-trend designer colors for traditional as well as modern décor. With an upscale super matte low gloss finish and an elegantly wire brushed surface with hand rolled edges and ends the Lugano Collection is exquisite and all at a price within reach. Discover Lugano today and transform your home into a sight to behold that will impress your guests for many years to come.

Elegantly wire brushed surface with hand rolled edges and ends.
Beautiful on-trend designer colors for modern or traditional decor.
Designer and upscale collection featured at a price within reach.
Super low gloss finish for durability and protection.
Featuring 3/8" thick, 3 1/2" wide, 15" to 60" long planks-perfect for all size rooms and spaces.
Sqft/Carton: 32.55

Anderson - Raw 3

There’s a reason artists return again and again to nature for their work. There is no man-made design that can match the flawless detail of real wood grain. The award-winning Raw series is meant to look exactly that––raw, like it just came off the tree. Our artisans use an oxidation process to capture the transitions that naturally occur when wood is exposed to the elements. This process creates truly unique color and detail in either a light, medium or dark finish.

White Oak, Engineered, Wirebrushed
Width: 3.50"
Length: Random, Thickness: 1/2"
Uv Aluminum Oxide Finish
Micro Bevel Edge

Come in and take a look at all the options available. The bottom line is you can use classic hardwood flooring in interesting ways to keep your home feeling modern and relevant for your lifestyle.

What Texture Is Right For Your Harwood Floor?

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Tue, 23 Apr 2019 03:13:01 GMT

The texture of a hardwood floor can add and element of contrast to your room. It can accentuate the elegance, add character in its unique grain or warmth in the distressed look. There are a variety of hardwood flooring textures available, we are featuring four in this post: Smooth, hand scraped, wire brushed and distressed.

Smooth

This texture is available in both solid and engineered hardwood flooring. The planks are sanded to a silky flat texture that will highlight the grain of the wood. This can create an elegant room when stained with a darker finish. It can also highlight a unique grain of the wood. This is a timeless texture that is still the most popular in hardwood flooring.

Hand scraped

Hand scraped texture can be subtle to extreme depending on the method used and the desired result. Pictured below is a moderate hand scraped engineered hardwood floor Coventry from Anderson. As you can see it has several indentations in a wave pattern created by wood scrapers. Hand scraped hardwood brings a more casual look to a room, creating warmth, comfort and a lived-in ambiance. The more texture a floor has, the more it will hide scratches and dents. This can be ideal for active families with pets and children,

Wire Brushed

Wire brushing opens the grain by removing the soft springwood, leaving the harder summerwood with some slightly sunken knots. Before sanding, wire brushing gives the flooring rich texture that accentuates the grain and gives the floor a distinct look. After hand sanding planks are left relatively smooth but with intriguing textures. The Bella Cera floor below is a beautiful example.

Distressed

When a hardwood floor is distressed there are many different techniques used to age the floor. The distress marks can include dents, saw marks, burns or blackened edges. The goal is to make the hardwood floor look lived in and beaten up. This flooring is perfect for heavy traffic households. The distressing can help camouflage any actual dents and scratches.

As you can see texture can add a wide variety of new appearance options. You can add sophisticated depth or capture the essence of reclaimed wood. With addition of even mild texture like wire brushing, you can mask the effects of daily traffic, pets and life in general.

What Is Real Wood Flooring?

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 16:00:00 GMT

We often have customers come in with a request to see our real wood floors. Many flooring options today emulate the look of wood flooring, causing confusion on what product is being purchased. As the authority for the wood flooring industry, the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) felt it was necessary to establish a clear definition of what comprises a true hardwood floor. Their official release was: "Any flooring product that contains real wood as the top-most, wearable surface of the floor."

So when customers come to see the real hardwood we explain the definitions of Solid and Engineered below.

Engineered

Hardwood planks classified as “engineered” feature multiple layers (typically three to five) bonded together under extreme heat and pressure. You're still getting real hardwood floors; they're just made differently.

The layers typically include a top veneer of hardwood backed by less expensive layers of plywood—although some manufacturers use substrates made from recycled wood fibers mixed for improved durability and stability.

Because of the way engineered hardwood is processed, it is not as affected by humidity as solid wood planks are. Therefore, the product is often the preferred choice for kitchens and bathrooms or in areas where the humidity level can vary—like in a basement or a part of the house below grade, as long as a moisture barrier is placed between the subfloor and the hardwood planks.

They are also better suited for installing over in-floor heating systems.

Engineered hardwood floors are suitable for installation on all levels of the home and over plywood, wood, OSB and concrete subfloors.

Solid Hardwood flooring

As the name implies, it is solid wood from top to bottom. Each board of solid hardwood flooring is made from a single piece of hardwood that is about 3/4" thick. The thickness allows it to be sanded and refinished many times throughout the life of the floor.

Because the plank is a solid piece of wood, it will expand and contract in accordance with the home’s relative humidity. To prevent warping, the home’s interior relative humidity needs to remain between 35% and 50% all year round.

Solid hardwood flooring is available in a wide array of wood species—including oak, maple, and black walnut as well as regional-specific choices like pecan, mesquite and others. The market also sometimes offers exotic species of hardwood from Brazil, Africa and elsewhere.

A solid hardwood floor is permanently nailed to the subfloor. Because of the expansion and contraction issues, installers will normally leave a gap between the wall and the floor to accommodate swelling. This type of hardwood flooring should only be installed in parts of the home above grade and only over plywood, wood or oriented strand board (OSB) subfloors.

Real hardwood flooring, both solid and engineered, is a superior product that can withstand a busy family's lifestyles and provide great long-term value.

Hardwood Floor Designs: 7 Steps to the Hardwood Floors of Your Dreams

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 16:00:00 GMT

There are so many decisions to make when designing your hardwood floors that it can be overwhelming. We have talked about trends, wood species, the differences between solid hardwood and engineered wood floors and finishes in previous blogs . We want to add to that information and use a guide created by the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) to help focus on your choice.

1. Determine where your hardwood floors will be.

Before looking at hardwood floor designs, first consider the type of subfloor currently down in the rooms that you want to install your hardwood flooring. Above-ground rooms with a plywood subfloor can typically utilize both solid and engineered hardwoods. However, rooms below ground level typically have a concrete subfloor and require an engineered hardwood.

Additionally, you'll want to consider the characteristics of the specific hardwood style you want to install. Each wood species has a different density and hardness rating , but these differences are less important when you consider other factors such as construction – solid or engineered, texture and finish. Choosing the right construction, texture and finish for the traffic level of your room will make all the difference in your floor’s overall performance.

Finally, keep in mind that hardwood is organic; it naturally wants to absorb moisture. Though you can install hardwood in kitchens and bathrooms, you need to determine if any additional considerations should be made during your selection process to help you make the perfect choice.

2. Establish a budget

Once you set your budget, we can show you all the choices you have. There are choices within solid wood, such as grade or species, that change the price. Most of the engineered products also have a good price range depending on the finish, plank width/length and wood species.

3. Choose the type of wood, design and color you need.

There are more than 50 domestic and imported species of wood flooring available to achieve the look you want. Oak has been a recent popular choice due to being durable and versatile.

There are other woods that have a more distinctive wood grain such as hickory and maple.

The design of the floor can include several things. Do you prefer strip, plank or parquet? What appeals the most a smooth sleek surface or added texture such as hand scraping? There are also choices in how you lay the flooring. There are patterns such as herringbone and log cabin to add detail.

With color a general rule is light woods make a room appear more open and airier, medium woods make a room feel warm and cozy, and dark wood can give a room a more formal and sophisticated look. You can look through our Products/Brands page to see all the engineered flooring available. Most sites have an inspiration or design page to help you decide what look you prefer.

4. Contact us to help selecting/ordering your product and installation.

We have many years of experience and can answer questions you may have. There are several types of solid and engineered hardwood floors displayed and samples of many engineered hardwood products to view.

After we will help you choose the right hardwood floor, we can discuss the installation process.

5. Plan the timing to have the work completed.

Once you have chosen the hardwood floor you want, we order the product and schedule a time to complete your installation. The timeline will depend on the hardwood floor you select. Solid hardwood will need to be installed, sanded and finished. It also needs time to dry once the process is complete. Engineered is a quicker process since the finish is factory finished.

6. Discuss the maintenance requirements with us.

Today’s hardwood floors are designed to last a lifetime with the proper maintenance.

Just a few tips to help keep your floor lasting longer:

Wipe up spills immediately.

Use products designed to clean hardwood floors such as Bona .

Use breathable rugs to protect debris from being tracked in.

Sweep with a microfiber mop and only use vacuums without a beater bar.

Do not use steam cleaners on your hardwood floors.

7. Enjoy your beautiful new hardwood floors.

New Year's Resolutions For Hardwood Floors

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 16:00:00 GMT

Starting a new year has many people exercising, dieting and cleaning up their homes as a part of their New Years resolutions. We would like to provide some resolutions for maintaining your hardwood floors. Hardwood flooring is an investment that can last for many years and add value to your home. Below are things you can avoid and things that you should do.

Maintaining Wood Floors – Things to Avoid

Steam Cleaners

We’ve all seen our share of television commercials where using steam cleaner’s results in completely shiny, disinfected and sanitized wooden floors. But here is what most people don’t know: steam cleaners are not good for your wood floors. The pictures above are floors that have had damage from steam cleaners. Not only will you destroy your floors with continued usage of steam cleaners, but you will also make them instantly dull and cloudy. A steam cleaner will gradually peel off your floor’s finish and will leave you with a drab and dull wooden floor. In short, steam cleaners are not recommended for maintaining wood floors.

Home Cleaning Liquids

Some people have a completely opposite approach than traditional cleaners. They would not touch any commercially marketed cleaners and/or mops. Instead, they opt to use homemade cleaning liquids made with vinegar and water, especially those made with red wine vinegar and apple cider vinegar. Once again, there is no evidence to show that this is an effective cleaning solution. In fact, vinegar is acidic in nature and will most likely damage the finish of your wood floor.

Using Wet Mops without Removing Dust

Another common method of cleaning that is highly promoted these days is to use a wet mop on your wood floor. They go as far saying that it doesn’t require dust-removal before usage. These product manufacturers claim that the mop is designed to attract and hold dust, while cleaning your floors. This is absolutely the worst way to manage your wood floors. First, you don’t want to leave dust on your floor before you mop it. That will not only give your floor a haze, but will also result in an accumulation of dirt and debris. Basically, all it does is spread and smear the dust and dirt everywhere on the floor. Never use any cleaning liquid or wet mop on your floor without sweeping up the dust and dirt first.

Maintaining Wood Floors – Things to Do

Cleaning Liquids Recommended by Wood Floor Manufacturers

You should know that most wood floors today have a urethane-type finish. The most effective way of finding the right solution for your wood floor is to check your warranty or manufacturer site. We sell and use Bona products with great success. By using the right cleaner, you will ensure that your wood floor remains spick and span without any dulling.

Vacuum Your Wood Floors

We do not believe in this new approach of simply wet mopping your floor and voila, all is done. Vacuuming is essential for proper cleaning and maintenance of your wood floors. Vacuum your floors as often as possible as this will increase the life of your floor, maintain its finish and keep it nice and clean. Just make sure you don’t use a vacuum with a beater bar as this can often damage the finish.

Use Area Rugs

Area rugs are great to catch dirt and moisture from the outside at entrances. They also add another way to add color or definition to a room. Just be sure to move your rugs periodically. The reason is that wood changes color when it is exposed to light. This will avoid the risk of any color difference. It is also a good idea to avoid using area rugs that have plasticizers as they can damage the finish of the wood floor. It may also create lines and patterns on your floor which can really damage the look of your floor.

Conclusion

In short, the secret to keeping your wood floors clean and well- maintained is to ensure you use a cleaner that is recommended by your wood floor manufacturer or a local wood floor retailer that you trust. You should never use home-made solutions or multipurpose cleaners on your wood floor. Also, avoid using wood polish/conditioners as most of the time, these are not even recommended for wood floors. If you use the wrong type, you might end up with a sticky and dirty wood floor. Use area rugs, and walk-off mats to increase the life of your floors. Use floor protectors for any furniture items that are likely to run on the floor. Always clean up spills immediately. Naturally, spills left unattended will damage the finish of your floors.

For any additional queries or concerns regarding the cleaning and maintenance of your wood floor contact us or stop by our showroom. We want to make sure our customers get the best wood floors and are able to maintain and sustain the life of the wood floor for as long as possible. Our staff is well-versed in the maintenance of wood floors.

Make Your Hardwood Floors Sparkle For The Holidays

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 16:00:00 GMT

There are may options to help your hardwood floor look new again. It can be as simple as a routine cleaning. The type of finish you have will dictate the clean-up procedures. Many times the dull look on your floor is using the wrong product to clean with or even how clean your mop or cloth is. Routine cleaning involves sweeping, dust mopping, or vacuuming using the bare floor setting to remove dust and dirt. Clean spills immediately with a dry or slightly damp cloth. Don’t use wet mops or steam mops, which will damage the finish or even the wood over long periods of time. It’s best to use a cleaner made specifically for the finish on the floor, which is something we can either provide or recommend to you when the job is completed.

Over time, when your wood floors start to look a little dull, they can be renewed through recoating. This involves applying new finish to renew luster. To keep wood floors looking and performing well for generations, follow our recommended guidelines. Individual maintenance schedules will vary depending on use, wear and tear, and lifestyle.

Makeovers are easy with our professionals. We can transform the look of your wood floors through the process of sanding and refinishing. Sand and refinish is recommended when there is damage to the wood floor like deep scratches, dents, and other flooring damage. It is also recommended when the finish has worn away and the bare wood is exposed. You can even change the color of the floor if sand and refinish.

Please contact us with any questions or advice on your hardwood floor.

Why Choose Hardwood Floors?

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Mon, 19 Nov 2018 16:00:00 GMT

There are many good reasons to invest in a hardwood floors, but we have narrowed it down to four in this blog. The environmental benefit, health benefits, competitive benefit and durabilty benefits shown below tell why you should chose hardwood floors.

Environmental benefits

Wood floors offer a variety of environmental benefits. They are a renewable flooring option because trees can be replanted to replace those harvested. In the U.S., for every tree harvested, another 1.66 is planted, which means standing volume is significantly greater today than just a few decades ago. Because wood floors can last for many generations, they require fewer raw materials—and produce less landfill waste—than other flooring options. During their service lives, wood floors also sequester carbon dioxide, and when they reach the end of their service life, they can be recycled for other uses or burned as fuel.

Health benefits

Wood floors improve indoor air quality. They do not harbor allergens, microorganisms or harmful pesticides that can be tracked in from outdoors. Mold, dust and animal dander is minimal as well, which makes wood floors a healthy flooring alternative.

Competitive benefits

Homes with wood floors sell faster and for more money than homes without wood floors. Real estate agents indicate that identical homes with wood floors can sell for up to 10% more. Wood floors also offer you long-term value that other flooring options simply cannot. When maintained properly, they can last hundreds of years, providing a great long-term value. Wood floors literally can last for the lifetime of your home.

Durability benefits

Wood floors are extremely durable. They can stand up to the busy lifestyles of today’s modern family and continue to look beautiful for decades. Wood species are rated for hardness and durability. Are you part of a retired couple living alone, or a busy family with young children and pets? The Janka Scale gives a good indication of how a wood species can be expected to perform based on your lifestyle. You can learn more at http://woodfloors.org/janka.aspx . Over time, when your wood floors start to look a little dull, they can be renewed through a process called recoating. This involves applying new finish to renew luster. Small dents and scratches can be repaired after years of use as well through sanding and refinishing. Both options can make your existing floors look like new again

Contact or visit us if you have any questions. We have many products displayed in our showroom and samples from the brands that we sell.

Moisture And Your Hardwood Floor

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Sun, 21 Oct 2018 16:00:00 GMT

Wood floors are one of the rare building products that inherently showcase the natural beauty of the material itself, which is why wood has been used as a flooring material for centuries . One of the keys to ensuring a wood floor’s timeless beauty is having a fundamental understanding of the relationship between moisture and wood.

Hardwood flooring is a natural product that will respond to different humidity variations. This means that even though the wood has been dried, cut, and processed into flooring material, the hardwood may expand or contract because of moisture. A change in seasons is when these changes become especially noticeable. During warm and humid summers, hardwood flooring expands. During dry winter weather, hardwood flooring contracts. Because this seasonal movement is normal for hardwood products, the best way to reduce such movement is by installing humidity controls.

Wood is a hygroscopic material. When wood is exposed to air, it will either dry or pick up moisture until its reactions occur at equal rates with the humidity and temperature of the air. When the moisture is absorbed, the wood will swell. Wood will begin swelling as the moisture levels increase anywhere from 55%. When the moisture is lost, the wood will shrink. Shrinkage of wood begins at 25%. That means that gaps may start showing. Nearly every solid wood floor presents some separation between the individual boards – gaps– throughout the floor. In the winter months, when the air in the building is heated, the surrounding air loses moisture and relative humidity levels drop.

When this happens, moisture is lost and gaps appear between individual boards throughout the floor. This a normal phenomenon and is directly related to the

environmental conditions the wood is being exposed to. Once the interior heating systems are turned off and the indoor environment regains moisture, most

of these seasonal gaps will disappear. The only way to avoid seasonal change in wood flooring is to maintain consistent relative humidity levels throughout the year.

It is important not to fill seasonal gaps when they appear as this could cause subsequent damage to the wood flooring as it expands again in the humid seasons.

Seasonal gaps between boards are more prominent with solid wood flooring products than with engineered wood flooring products. The structural composition of engineered wood flooring allows it to be more dimensionally stable than solid wood flooring. Abnormal gaps are those that remain with seasonal change and should not be confused with normal, or

seasonal gaps.

Anything between 30 - 50% means that your hardwood flooring is dimensionally stable. Hardwood does not shrink or swell equally in all directions. A change in moisture content of a piece of hardwood flooring will increase the size of the piece approximately 0.1% along the LENGTH of the board, and 5% to 15% change in size in WIDTH.

Love a nice fire and cozying up in blankets during winter time?

Your hardwood flooring doesn’t. Because your home is normally heated during cooler months, your hardwood flooring gives up some of its moisture and contracts. Naturally, when this happens, thin gaps can appear between planks. As a homeowner, you should be prepared for this to occur. However, to try to prevent these separations, you can install a humidifier in the furnace or bring a movable humidifier into the room. If your humidity doesn’t fall lower than 30%, no gaps should appear between your hardwood flooring planks. Generally, once the weather starts to warm up for springtime, heating is turned down and humidity levels will naturally rise. In turn, most of the gaps in your hardwood flooring material will close on their own.

You may be thinking that it’s going to be impossible to avoid these seasonal issues, but that’s not the case. Just follow these steps:

Be aware of things that change humidity.
Purchase a hygrometer to keep an eye on the humidity.
Maintain a consistent relative humidity level of 30-50% throughout the year.
Use a humidifier in when the humidity is low and a dehumidifier if humidity is high.

If you have changes in your hardwood floor that do not return to normal after seasonal changes, contact us for information or possible repair .

Hardwood Floors Wood Floor Care Humidity

Which hardwood floor is right for your home?

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 16:00:00 GMT

Every space has unique needs and each individual has different tastes. It can be overwhelming looking on the internet or even coming into our store with so many choices. What is the best hardwood floor for you? Trying to match those needs and tastes, we have come up with five basic questions to help your selection process.

What wood species do you want?

The species you select will depend on your style, budget, and personal preferences. There are more than 50 domestic and imported species of hardwood floors to help create your unique look. While you narrow it down to the look that appeals to you, we can show you options within your budget and which wood wear the best for your space. We talked about Oak in our previous blog but other popular options are maple, hickory, and walnut shown here.

Check out even more options at http://woodfloors.org/gallery.aspx

What are your installation limitations?

Can your space accommodate the type of wood you have chosen? Things such as foundation, traffic on your floor, possible water spills, or even high humidity can alter choices. Solid hardwood flooring needs to be nailed down to a subfloor. Engineered hardwood flooring can be glued down. The Janka scale can show woods that are better for high traffic. There finishes for both solid and engineered that can fit your special needs.

Do you want site finish or factory-finish?

What is your time constraint and what level of customization do you want to achieve.

An on-site finish is applied at the installation job site. While it allows the most customization, you will need to allow time for the color and finish applications to dry.

A factory finish is applied at the factory, long before it reaches your home. Once the floor is installed you will able to walk on the floor.

Do you want strip, plank or parquet?

Hardwood floors are manufactured in three styles: strip, plank, and parquet. Each style is available in a variety of species, colors, and finishes. What is the style that speaks to you?

Strip flooring is less than 3" wide and creates a linear effect on the room making it appear longer. Strip has long been considered the traditional wood flooring.

Plank flooring is 3" or wider. While plank flooring is linear like strip flooring, its wider widths often create a more casual look.

Parquet flooring creates a geometric look and comes in many different patterns and sizes. It can be a very simple design, such as this herringbone

or a more complex like this.

What finish and color appeal to you?

What looks best to you, matte or glossy? The sheen of your wood floor is a matter of personal preference. Gloss finish offers the most shine and will reflect the most light, semi-gloss finishes will offer some shine while matte offers the least shine and light.

There are multiple choices of colors available in both finished and unfinished hardwood floors. We use Dura Seal and can create even more colors by mixing the shades below or wet wiping the color for a more intense look. We have several stain choices in our new showroom so you can view a larger sample.

Please contact us or come in for more information. We can help you narrow down your choices and make the best selection based on your needs.

Hardwoord