FANTASTIC FLOOR

Frequently Asked Questions: What Wood Can Be Installed Over Concrete?

2012-01-25T13:13:00.000-08:00

Q: What kind of hardwood flooring can I install over a concrete slab?

A: In the old days of hardwood flooring, concrete slabs did not make a suitable sub-floor. Even today most manufacturers do not recommend using solid hardwood floors over a concrete slab. However, most engineered and longstrip engineered plank floors can be used over concrete. Hooray!

Engineered planks and strip wood floors can be glued directly to a clean, dry, well-cured concrete floor. Certain types of engineered hardwood flooring can be glued at the tongue/groove intersection and floated over concrete, provided there is a special padding in place. There are even new varieties of hybrid engineered flooring that can be floated over a concrete floor without glue - the tongue-and-groove locking system holds the planks in place.

Of course, it's important to talk with the manufacturer of the specific engineered hardwood flooring you're using. It's also important to note that concrete slabs need to be fully cured for at least 60 days before installing hardwood flooring over them. Additionally, your flooring should be properly acclimated before you begin the installation process.

To learn more about installing engineered hardwood flooring over concrete slabs visit our Frequently Asked Questions page, or call one of our flooring professionals at 1-888-448-9663.

Engineered flooring such as this engineered Amendoim hardwood flooring. can be easily installed over an existing concrete slab.

Fantastic Floor Presents: Brazilian Cherry

2012-01-09T11:16:00.000-08:00

This week's installment of Fantastic Floor Presents features a very popular species we have on sale right now: Brazilian Cherry!

Also known as Jatoba, Brazilian Cherry is the most popular exotic hardwood species in America, and for good reason. It is beautiful, tough, and if acclimated and installed properly, can last a lifetime.

The first thing that attracts people to Brazilian Cherry hardwood flooring is its appearance. Brazilian Cherry features gorgeous reddish-brown heartwood that is streaked with dark black striking, giving the wood amazing contrast and depth without sacrificing versatility. The wood's color and striping complement many interior design schemes, from a more classic, lighter decor to a darker, more sophisticated style.

Brazilian Cherry hardwood flooring is also very durable. It has a Janka hardness rating of 2,350 pounds, almost twice that of Red Oak, and it has a density of 800 KG/m3. It is also one of the most dimensionally stable exotic hardwoods you can find, meaning there is less chance of the floor boards bending or warping if properly acclimated and installed.

Yes, we love Brazilian Cherry, and we want you to love it too! That's why we've lowered prices on some of our most popular varieties of Brazilian Cherry hardwood flooring, with certain styles as low as $2.99/SF! Visit our website to view all of our outstanding Brazilian Cherry lines, or give us a call at 888-448-9663 today!

Fantastic Floor Presents: Galaxy Mars Fumed White Oak

2011-12-20T11:41:00.000-08:00

'Tis the season for holiday cheer, and our new white oak flooring product is as cheery as they come!

The Galaxy Mars Fumed White Oak Flooring from Allwood is one of the most unique, attention-grabbing flooring products available at Fantastic Floor. Drenched in rich browns and burgundies and flecked with light red glitter, this product is perfect for rec rooms, dining rooms, and swanky commercial purposes.

The look of this white oak flooring variety is just one of its great qualities - it is also one of the most durable domestic woods we carry. It has a Janka hardness of 1,360 pounds and comes with a 25 year finish warranty. And because it is an engineered product it has enhanced dimensional stability over traditional solid oak flooring.

Learn more about Galaxy Mars Fumed White Oak Flooring at www.Fantastic-Floor.com or by giving us a call at 1-888-448-9663.

Frequently Asked Questions: Unfinished, or Prefinished?

2011-12-12T16:45:00.000-08:00

Q: I am remodeling my house and am considering refinishing parts of my hardwood floor. Should I use prefinished or unfinished hardwood flooring?

A: Both prefinished and unfinished hardwood flooring have their advantages and disadvantages. The answer to this question really depends on what kind of flooring you currently have in your home and how much access you want in the room(s) being remodeled.

If you are trying to match an existing hardwood floor, your best bet is unfinished. This allows you to stain the new boards to match the current floor exactly. However, onsite finishing results in a lot of dust, dirt, and noise, and you may not have access to that area of your home during the finishing process.

Choosing prefinished flooring means you get to avoid the hassles that come from onsite finishing. However, it also means your new boards are less likely to match your current floor. This isn't a big deal if you are only replacing a few boards, but if you need to replace half a room the mismatch could be distracting.

Unfinished Amendoim hardwood flooring available at www.Fantastic-Floor.com.

Learn more about prefinished and unfinished hardwood flooring by calling 1-888-448-9663.

This Just In! White Oak French Connection (ooh, la la!)

2011-12-07T12:28:00.001-08:00

Earlier in the week we ran a post espousing the virtues of oak flooring - it's strength, durability, versatility, etc - and now we have a beautiful new line of white oak flooring in stock! What timing!

The French Connection is a beautiful new line of white oak flooring that has a wire-brushed texture and a beautiful oil finish, giving it a bold and aged appearance. The dark colors and tight grain pattern make this oak flooring a distinctive addition to any room in your home. The boards are available in a number of different sizes, and for a limited time Fantastic Floor is offering this amazing new product line at a great price.

Learn more about the new White Oak French Connection line by visiting www.Fantastic-Floor.com

We're Solid As Oak - But How Solid Is Oak, Anyway?

2011-12-05T12:41:00.001-08:00

If you've been on the Fantastic Floor website lately, you may have noticed one of our catchphrases: "We're solid as oak". And if you're familiar with oak flooring already, you probably know why we take pride in that statement. But we also understand that not everyone is familiar with the ins-and-outs of the hardwood flooring industry. That's why we decided to explain just exactly what makes oak flooring so solid, and why we're confident in drawing the comparison.

Hardness:
Oak has been a domestic flooring standard in the U.S. for years, and for good reason: It is strong enough to withstand years of heavy foot traffic and still look great. One of the reasons for this is its Janka hardness rating. Janka hardness is a way to measure how much pressure a species of wood can withstand before denting or giving in to the weight. The Janka hardness rating of oak flooring is between 1,290 lbs and 1,360 lbs, depending on whether you are using red oak flooring or white oak flooring. This hardness has served as the industry standard for years.

Dependability:
Not only is oak flooring hard, it is also very durable. It is one of the densest domestic hardwoods you can buy, and if properly acclimated, it will resist bending and warping for years. This means you can count on a new oak floor to be around for as long as you and your family need it.

Versatility:
Not only is oak flooring strong and long-lasting, but it also is a beautiful complement to almost every design scheme. You can choose from red oak, which has subtle red and brown heartwood and a consistent grain, or white oak, which is full of white and yellow tones that give it a crisp, clean feel. Both varieties nicely match almost any existing decor and are perfect for homeowners who are expecting to change their home design scheme sometime in the future.

Combined, the versatility, dependability, and strength of oak flooring makes it a solid choice for any homeowner. Likewise, Fantastic Floor offers versatile flooring choices, dependable products, and the strongest customer service team you can find online. Visit www.Fantastic-Floor.com and you'll see why we pride ourselves in being as solid as oak.

Frequently Asked Questions: When Should I Install New Hardwood Floors?

2011-11-28T13:40:00.001-08:00

When building a new home or remodeling an existing one, there is a certain order your project must take in order to be successful. After all, you wouldn't want to put up the walls before you pour the foundation, would you? Well, installing hardwood flooring also has a place in the construction or remodeling process.

Unfortunately, builders or contractors will often rush through the hardwood flooring installation process without regard to the negative consequences the homeowner could face in the future. If you're a regular reader of this blog, you'll know that hardwood flooring has to be installed correctly to avoid such future problems as bending, warping, end checking, and others. If installed too early in a construction process, flooring can be exposed to moisture, dents, scrapes, stains, and other project-related problems. Hardwood flooring installation should be saved for the end of a construction project to minimize these risks.

Hardwood flooring installation should be one of the last home building
or remodeling projects you complete.

Visit Fantastic-Floor.com to learn more about hardwood flooring installation, or give us a call at 888-448-9663.

Fantastic Floor - Your Design Experts!

2011-11-16T08:07:00.001-08:00

You wouldn't go see a butcher if you needed a haircut, right? Of course not! You'd go to someone that has a passion for hair, has studied it for years, and has made it their life's work. The same goes for hardwood flooring. When it's time to install a new wood floor in your home, you want to turn to a company that has years of experience with hardwood and is passionate about quality, design, and customer satisfaction. In short, you want Fantastic Floor!

Knowledgeable Staff
The Fantastic Floor staff has been buying and selling hardwood flooring for years. Our unique selection of products represents the finest hardwood from only the most innovative manufacturers, and our knowledgeable staff have been trained to help you pick the perfect floor for whatever design scheme you have in mind.

Online Ease
With our detailed information and beautiful product photos, we've made buying hardwood flooring online easy and fun. But did you know we also have an array of design tools and information on our website? That's right - from room measuring tips to product comparison galleries to our useful interactive Room Designer Tool, we've made picking the perfect floor as easy as clicking a mouse.

A History of Success
This post isn't just about tooting our own horn. We have a long history of satisfied customers to back up our claim of being your hardwood flooring experts. But don't take our word for it - read some of our customer feedback for yourself!

Call us today at 1-888-448-9663

Still not convinced that the design experts at Fantastic Floor can answer all of your hardwood flooring questions? Give us a call - we'd love to help you pick the perfect floor! Call us today at 1-888-448-9663, or visit us at www.Fantastic-Floor.com.

This Just In! Maple Emmerbier - Gasthaus Series

2011-10-31T16:29:00.000-07:00

Fantastic Floor has just received an exciting new product from Shamrock Flooring: Maple Emmerbier from the Gasthaus Series!

Maple hardwood flooring is an attractive and complementary hardwood that accents the light of any room, simultaneously brightening it and making it appear more expansive. Our new Maple products are part of the Gasthaus series from Shamrock flooring, a style of hand-scraped hardwood flooring that invokes charm and warmth of a traditional German brew house. The wood is side- and end-matched for simple installation and come in 5" widths.

In addition to being gorgeous, Maple flooring from the Shamrock Gasthaus Series is incredibly tough and durable. It is naturally shock resistant, with particular resistance to abrasion and everyday wear. Install our new Maple hardwood flooring and you're guaranteed a beautiful floor that you can enjoy for years to come.

Maple Emmerbier hardwood flooring from the Shamrock Gasthaus Series.
Wie schön!

Visit Fantastic-Floor.com today to learn more about these beautiful new Maple hardwood flooring products from the Shamrock Gasthaus Series. Not a fan of the interwebz? Give us a call at 888-448-9663 instead!

Fantastic Floor Presents: Hickory

2011-10-26T10:55:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to Fantastic Floor Presents! This installment features Hickory hardwood flooring, one of the most eye-catching species available today!

The numerous and varied shades of brown in Hickory hardwood flooring create remarkable contrasts that are at the same time distinctive and complementary. Each board seems to have been cut from a different species of tree, but somehow the multi-color floor comes together as a cohesive mosaic, adding visual interest to any room. Hickory flooring also features an intricate grain pattern that nicely complements its many shades.

Not only is hickory hardwood flooring beautiful, it is also the hardest of all North American hardwoods. It has many common uses, both in the US and abroad, including flooring, decorative paneling, furniture veneer, tool handles, and pallets. It's combination of durability and powerful color contrasts has made Hickory a versatile and a popular flooring choice for years.

Hickory hardwood flooring is a beautiful, durable material
perfect for almost any room in your home.

Curious about Hickory hardwood flooring? Call the professionals at Fantastic Floor at 888-448-9663!

Frequently Asked Questions: Do I Need To Leave An Expansion Gap When Installing Solid Wood Flooring?

2011-10-24T15:46:00.000-07:00

Yes! For the love of hardwood flooring, yes! Expansion gaps are vital to the life of your floor. Without them, the chances of buckling, bending, and warping are very, very high.

Hardwood flooring is a natural material, and as such it tends to shrink and expand when it experiences changes in temperature and humidity. If this expansion isn't accounted for in the installation process, the wood is much more likely to warp or buckle over time.

So how big of a gap should you leave? Well, professional flooring installers suggest a minimum of 3/4" around the perimeter of the room and around all obstructions. The size of the gap depends on a number of factors, including geographical region, temperature, interior moisture, and the time of the year you are doing the installation. The best way to know the necessary expansion gap is to contact the manufacturer and ask.

Without an expansion gap, this Ash hardwood flooring could
possibly buckle from changes in temperature and humidity.

Still have questions about expansion gaps and hardwood flooring installation? Call Fantastic Floor today at 888-448-9663!

Engineered Flooring - Is It Right For You?

2011-10-19T16:40:00.000-07:00

More and more homeowners are choosing engineered hardwoodflooring over the more traditional solid wood flooring of yesteryear. But manyhomeowners are still unaware of what engineered flooring is, exactly, and whyit might be a better choice for their specific flooring needs. This post willtake a look at a few of the benefits of installing engineered flooring insteadof solid wood. Enjoy!

Room Versatility

Solid wood flooring has its limitations when it comes to where it can beinstalled. Solid products should not be installed below grade – that is, in anyroom below the first floor, such as a basement. When a homeowner wants tofinish a basement room they have no choice but to turn to engineered flooring.

Ease of Installation

Engineered flooring is one of the easiest types of wood flooring to install.Where solid wood flooring must be either nailed or glued down, engineeredflooring can be installed in whatever manner you see fit – nailed, stapled,glued, etc. Some engineered floors can even be floated over existing floors orsubfloors, making the installation process that much easier.

Moisture Resistance

Engineered flooring is also much more resistant to moisture than solid woodflooring. This makes engineered flooring perfect for damp basements, bathrooms,kitchens, or any other room that experiences a lot of moisture.

Resale Value

A high-quality engineered floor has approximately the same resale value as a ¾”solid wood flooring, making it a popular choice among real estate agents andinterior designers. Engineered flooring is available in almost any woodspecies, so you can easily match it to an existing home décor.

Engineered flooring, such as this smoked oak variety,
adds beauty and value to any room of your home.

If you’re considering a new hardwood floor for your home –and if you’re reading this blog, you probably are – call the professionals atFantastic Floor at 888-448-9663 to find out if engineered flooring might be the affordableflooring material you’ve been looking for.

Fantastic Floor Presents: Patagonian Rosewood

2011-10-17T17:00:00.000-07:00

Also known as Curupau, Patagonian Rosewood hardwood flooring originates in the forests of Paraguay. It has quickly become one of the most sought-after hardwood flooring materials in the country. Why? We thought you'd never ask.
One of the best features Patagonian Rosewood or Curupau hardwood flooring possess is its versatility. This material has shades of pink, yellow, burgundy, and brown, and occasional black streaking. This creates a pleasant contrast of shades that makes the flooring complementary to almost any home decor or color scheme. In addition to the wood's shades and streaking, the species' crossed grain pattern also matches nicely with many design schemes.
But Patagonian Rosewood hardwood flooring isn't just another pretty face. It is also incredibly durable. It has a Janka hardness rating of 3,850 pounds and a density of 1,020 (KG/m3), making it naturally resilient against wear-and-tear, impacts, fungus, and wood-boring insects.

This beautiful Patagonian hardwood floor is just one of the many
varieties featured at Fantastic-Floor.com.

Visit Fantastic Floor to learn more about Patagonian Rosewood/Curupau hardwood flooring.

Frequently Asked Questions: What Is A Random Width Floor?

2011-10-12T15:08:00.000-07:00

If you've spent any time researching the different types of hardwood flooring available, you've probably come across the term random width floor. What does this term mean, exactly? Glad you asked.

A random width floor has planks with varying widths, from 3" to 4" to 5". Most homeowners use random width floors when they want a rustic, turn-of-the-century look.

Until recently, all hardwood floors were random width. It wasn't until the late 19th century that flooring standards evolved to today's standard: same width.

There are a few considerations you should keep in mind if choosing random width flooring. Make sure you purchase all the flooring you will be using from the same manufacturer. This ensures that the milling will match. Some manufacturers only produce random width flooring, since it enables them to get the greatest yield from kiln dried lumber that is naturally random width. Because of this, random width flooring is generally more reasonably priced and more readily available.

Visit Fantastic-Floor.com to learn more about random width hardwood flooring and see all the beautiful varieties we carry. Not sure what you'll be looking for? Give us a call at 888-448-9663!

Order Now! Why October Is the Time to Order Hardwood Floors

2011-10-07T16:57:00.000-07:00

The beginning of the holiday season is right around the corner, and that means holiday preparations are in order! Unfortunately, one major home renovation project is often put off to the last minute - flooring.

Most home-owners think hardwood flooring installation is a relatively quick and easy process. That can be true - but only to a point. In reality, the whole process of ordering, shipping, acclimating, and installing wood flooring can be quite lengthy. You should really order in October if you want to Wow! your friends and family with new floors this holiday season.

What is so time-consuming about flooring your home? Good question! Here are just 3 parts of the flooring process that require some time:

Ordering/Shipping
You might be surprised at how long it takes for you to pick out a flooring material. There are dozens of types to choose from, and if you have never bought flooring before the selection can be overwhelming. Once you have chosen the right floor, it will most likely need to be shipped to your city and home. That takes time, too. Check with the flooring professional you're buying from to find out how long you should expect to wait.
Acclimation
If you're a fan of the Fantastic Floor blog, you'll remember we talked about hardwood flooring acclimation back in June. You'll also remember that we said the worst part of the acclimation process is the waiting. Hardwood flooring needs to acclimate for one to two weeks at the very least. Installing wood flooring before it is properly acclimated can result in buckling, warping, cracking, splitting, and many other nasty problems. We know it's annoying, but just wait it out.
Installation
Finally! The moment you've been waiting for. But don't get too excited! Installation itself can take some time. Depending on the time of wood you're dealing with (prefinished vs. finish-on-site), installation for a single room can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Multiply that by the number of rooms you have to floor and you have a pretty accurate estimate as to the length of the installation process.

Check out our latest newsletter for more information on why October is the best time to order hardwood flooring for the holidays. Curious about our top sellers? Give us a call! 888-448-9663

Fantastic Floor Presents: Bacana/Copaiba Chestnut

2011-10-03T16:22:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to Fantastic Floor Presents! If you like deep reds, rich browns, and dark striping, you won't want to miss this week's featured product: Bacana/Copaiba Chesnut!

Bacana hardwood flooring features layers of colors, ranging from rich brown to deep burgundy to light red. It also features dark striping, adding a striking visual element not found in some other hardwood flooring choices. Despite its attention-grabbing details, Bacana is also a very versatile and complementary flooring material. It matches many different design styles, from traditional to modern to rustic.

Bacana is also a very durable flooring material. It has a Janka hardness rating comparable to Red Oak and we only offer it in Select & Better grade, the highest grade available in flooring. The Bacana we ship is 100% heartwood and is free of breaks, splits, and cracks.

Bacana/Copaiba Chestnut hardwood flooring is currently on sale for an amazing $2.19/SF (limited to 3/8" x 3" x 4' S&B 1.6mm wear engineered). Visit us online at www.Fantastic-Floor.com to learn more. Want to talk with a human? Call us direct at 1-888-448-9663!

Bacana/Copaiba Chestnut hardwood flooring, now on sale for $2.19/SF.

Frequently Asked Questions: Can I Install a Hardwood Floor Over an Existing Vinyl Floor?

2011-09-27T10:32:00.000-07:00

This is a tricky one. The answer depends on the type of vinyl floor you're dealing with and how it is secured to the subfloor. A thick, cushioned vinyl flooring material can't handle having a hardwood floor installed over it. If the vinyl floor is thin and secured tightly to the subfloor, you may be able to float hardwood flooring over it. In some cases you may even be able to nail/staple the wood floor down, as long as the wood subfloor is solid.

Of course, you should always consult a hardwood flooring professional before attempting any sort of installation. Make sure to check the manufacturer's installation procedures for going over an existing vinyl floor to see if there are any special considerations. You should also check if this type of installation is covered by the manufacturer's warranty.

Questions about installing hardwood flooring over a vinyl floor? Call the professionals at Fantastic Floor today at 888-448-9663.

Make sure to call a hardwood flooring professional before attempting any installation project.

Frequently Asked Questions: How Do We Stop A Wood Floor From Gapping?

2011-09-12T15:23:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, gapping in solid floors can't be completely stopped or prevented. Wood expands and contracts naturally with changes in temperature and humidity, so slight floor gapping is an inevitability. However, there are a few things you can do to minimize the gapping. Try using a humidifier during the cold months. This will help keep the wood dry and the temperature regulated while you're using your heater.

Some wood species expand and contract more than others. If you're concerned about floor gapping, talk to a professional at Fantastic Floor about which species is right for you. You can also choose engineered hardwood flooring, which shows little to no gaps between planks.

For more information about avoiding gapping in your solid wood floors, visit www.Fantastic-Floor.com or call us today at 888-448-9663.

Choosing the right hardwood flooring material can mean the difference between tight boards and gaps like these.

Fantastic Floor Presents: Bamboo Flooring

2011-09-09T15:57:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to another exciting installment of Fantastic Floor Presents! This week we're taking a look at a material that has gained popularity over the years: Bamboo hardwood flooring.

Bamboo hardwood flooring is a versatile flooring material that features distinctive grain patterns and bright, crisp tones. The vertical grain bamboo flooring offered at Fantastic Floor is oriented on-edge, which reduces the appearance of grain "knuckles" and gives an overall cleaner, brighter look. Mosaic bamboo flooring, however, is oriented to display its end-grain, creating a much more intricate patchwork appearance. Both varieties are visually striking and nicely complement many different home decors.

Not only is bamboo an affordable and attractive flooring option, it is also a very environmentally-friendly product. Bamboo is a very fast-growing plant, meaning it can easily be harvested and regrown in a short amount of time. It is also relatively light-weight, making it easier to transport.

Visit Fantastic-Floor.com to learn more about bamboo hardwood flooring, or call one of our knowledgeable sales representatives at 888-448-9663.

Fantastic Floor Presents: Brazilian Cherry

2011-09-02T11:35:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the first installment of what we hope will be a very helpful and informative blog series, "Fantastic Floor Presents:" ! Each week we'll provide you with all the information you could ever need on one of our beautiful hardwood flooring products. Have a question? Call one of our knowledgeable customer service reps and ask away!

This week's installment is one of our favorites: Brazilian Cherry. Enjoy!

Brazilian Cherry hardwood flooring, otherwise know as Jatoba, is the most popular exotic hardwood flooring in the United States, mainly due to its strength, durability, and beauty. This species features reddish-brown heartwood and a striking black grain pattern, creating amazing contrast and depth. It is one of the most versatile hardwood flooring materials, complementing many different design schemes, from bright and modern to dark and rustic.

Our Brazilian Cherry is sourced from Central America, the West Indies, Northern Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, and Southern Mexico. We make sure to deal with manufacturers that follow sustainable-harvesting practices.

Our Brazilian Cherry hardwood flooring is available in many popular formats, including unfinished, engineered, and prefinished. It is available in four different grades: Clear, Select, No. 1 Common, or Mountain. It has an impressive Janka hardness rating of 2,350 pounds and a density of 800 KG/m3.

Don't worry if the color of your new Brazilian Cherry floor changes over time. Brazilian Cherry tends to darken to a deeper shade of red when exposed to light. This usually happens for the first three months, after which the color will remain constant.

Visit our Brazilian Cherry Hardwood Flooring page for more information on this beautiful hardwood species, or call us direct at 888-448-9663.

A New Spin On The Common Tree-House

2011-08-30T11:37:00.000-07:00

If you ever had, had access to, or dreamed of having access to a tree-house when you were a kid, then forester/architect Roald Gundersen should be your hero. Gundersen is pioneering a new style of green architecture that the New York Times has said could "revolutionize the building industry". The concept? Using whole trees as structural elements in residential and agricultural buildings.

According to an article on HardwoodFloorsMag.com, Gundersen and his organization Whole Trees Architecture & Structures use roundwood pieces to build homes and buildings without milling. According to Gundersen, the resulting wood structures are much stronger than sawn wood.

Take a look at an example of their work:

"Trees have an engineering structure developed over a very long time," Gundersen told Hardwood Floors Magazine. "We have a lot we can learn from them."

What do you think of this building style? Is it something to keep an eye on, or is it just a fad? Leave a comment below and let us know.

What's Hot In August? Sweet, Sweet Maple

2011-08-22T10:14:00.000-07:00

What's the hottest new product at Fantastic Floor this month? Why, Maple, of course!

Maple flooring is a bright, attractive hardwood that has been a standard in homes across the country for years. It is the state tree of Wisconsin, Vermont, West Virginia, and New York. Its bright tones lighten up any room, making your home feel more open and expansive. Maple is also a very durable species, and with basic maintenance will last for years.

Take a look at a few of our beautiful new Maple hardwood flooring products:

Visit us online at www.Fantastic-Floor.com for more information, or call us at 888-448-9663.

Give To Us Your Leather, Take From Us Our Lace...

2011-08-16T14:46:00.000-07:00

..wood flooring, that is!

Hi everyone! Thirteen-time Grammy award nominee Stevie Nicks here, and I'm here to talk to you about an amazing hardwood flooring product just in at Fantastic-Floor.com: Lacewood.

Many people know me as much for my personal fashion style as they do my prolific music career. I've always chosen sheer, silky, flowing garments to accent my spiritual and ethereal approach to music. One of my favorite clothing materials, naturally, is lace. That's why when I heard Fantastic Floor was featuring delicate, visually-striking Lacewood hardwood flooring, I couldn't wait to talk about it.

Like me, Lacewood is attractive, versatile, and unique. The wood's conspicuous flecking is what gives it its name. The intricate flecking patterns create an eye-catching, delicate appearance that you will just love. It can be used to complement a simple, bare room decor, or be integrated into a complex, wild design scheme. The possibilities are endless.

If you have questions about Lacewood hardwood flooring, call me personally at 1-800-STE-V-NIX. If someone other than me answers, hang up immediately and call the good folks over at Fantastic Floor at 888-448-9663. You can also view all their beautiful Lacewood products at www.Fantastic-Floor.com.

This playful fictionalization of Stevie Nicks is in no way intended to be an accurate representation of the artist's feelings about Lacewood hardwood flooring or Fantastic-Floor.com. We heart you, Stevie.

Thirsty? Grab A Kaltes Bier!

2011-08-11T15:51:00.000-07:00

Is there anything quite as refreshing as the first sip of a tall, cold beer? We don't think so. And nobody makes a refreshing beer quite like the Germans. Well, now you can have that same feeling of refreshment every time you step into your home!

No, we're not offering you a beer. We are, however, offering you amazing savings on a flooring product inspired by the ancient art of German beer brewing. Shamrock Flooring's Gasthaus Series (or, "German Pub Series") features products with brilliant stains inspired by German beers. The Dunkel, Maibock, and Pilsner products are rich, beautiful hardwood flooring options available for rock-bottom prices until the end of August. Check them out:

These amazing sale prices won't last for long. Visit www.Fantastic-Floor.com today to learn more, or give us a call at 1-888-448-9663.

This Hickory Gasthaus Dunkel is sure to satisfy your thirst for high-quality hardwood flooring!

Frequently Asked Questions: What is the difference between Clear, Select and Better, and Common / Rustic grades?

2011-08-09T10:16:00.000-07:00

The difference between the various grades is the amount of character marks, color variation, sap allowance, and open or closed defects allowed. For example, you'll find the most amount of character (knots, mineral streaks, pin holes, etc.) in the Common / Rustic Grades. As you step up in grade, color is more uniform in appearance and fewer character marks are allowed. The clear and select grades are hand selected for uniformity, and the pricing generally increases with those grades.

This Maple hardwood flooring is a good example of the uniformity common with clear-grade flooring products:

This character-grade Maple hardwood flooring features more color variation and a rustic look:

Exotic Purpleheart Flooring Will Leave You Breathless

2011-08-05T10:19:00.000-07:00

It's not often a new flooring product comes along that takes our breath away. The new line of Purpleheart hardwood flooring we recently received, however, is just that kind of product.

Purpleheart is world-renowned for being one of - if not the - most exotic-looking species of wood flooring available. The wood gets its unique color when its freshly cut heartwood is exposed to air, rapidly turning from a rich brown to a deep purple. Over time, prolonged exposure to light will cause the color to deepen even more until it has reached an incredibly rich, dark purple-brown shade. Purpleheart is also a very stable and durable wood, so you can forget having to replace boards year after year.

Most online flooring stores have Purpleheart hardwood flooring priced at $6 - $7/SF. At Fantastic Floor, we're offering our beautiful Purpleheart flooring line for the amazing price of only $4.20/SF. That's 40% off the average retail price!

Visit www.Fantastic-Floor.com for more information on Purpleheart hardwood flooring, or give us a call at 1-888-448-9663.

Summer Blowout Sale from Fantastic Floor!

2011-08-03T10:07:00.000-07:00

Fantastic Floor is featuring an amazing Summer Blowout Sale this month only, with 99 products on sale till the end of August.

We've cut prices on almost all of our well-known and well-loved hardwood flooring species, from Acacia to Ipe to White Oak. Check out some of these great deals:

Acacia - was $5.59/SF, now $3.15/SF!

Para Rosewood - was $6.59/SF, now $5.15/SF!

Santos Mahogany - was $7.69/SF, now $6.70/SF!

Visit our Sale Items page to view all of the 99 products available during the Fantastic Floor Summer Blowout Sale.

Questions? Call us direct at 1-888-448-9663, or visit us online at www.Fantastic-Floor.com.

I Heart Pine! (Reclaimed Floors, That Is)

2011-07-25T14:13:00.000-07:00

Fantastic Floor is excited to announce the addition of Authentic Pine brand reclaimed Heart Pine flooring to our extensive hardwood flooring line.

Also known as Yellow Pine, American Pitch Pine, and Antique Pine, this rare, highly sought after wood has a gorgeous orange-brown complexion, a tight, vertical grain, and hints of soft yellow tones. It also has a rich historical background, serving as a prominent building material for construction in the U.S. during the Industrial Revolution.

Due to its scarcity, we use Heart Pine that has been reclaimed from older sources. This not only encourages the preservation of the species, it also adds an element of history and character to your new floor. Who knows what amazing uses your flooring had before it made its way to your home? The possibilities are endless!

For more information on reclaimed Heart Pine, call us today at 888-448-9663, or visit us online at www.fantastic-floor.com.

Frequently Asked Questions: Can I Install Hardwood Flooring in the Basement?

2011-07-19T13:35:00.000-07:00

No. It is highly recommended that you do not install solid hardwood flooring below grade - that is, below the ground floor of a building. Solid hardwood is very sensitive to changes in moisture and temperature, and most basement environments are not adequately controlled to minimize the damages these changes can cause.

That isn't to say that you can't have wood flooring in your basement. It is possible to install engineered or laminate flooring in these situations. Both of these products work well as basement flooring options, and Fantastic Floor is your premiere supplier of both! Visit us at www.Fantastic-Floor.com/Engineered for more information.

While solid hardwood flooring can't be installed in a basement, engineered varieties such as this Bacana Chestnut engineered flooring make a beautiful alternative.

Fantastic Floor Incentives: Rewarding Our Wholesale Customers

2011-07-12T17:09:00.000-07:00

We love our wholesale customers. We get excited just thinking about all the great projects our hardwood flooring materials could be used in. To show our appreciation for your business, Fantastic Floor offers a wide range of products at discounted prices. But our appreciation doesn’t stop there! We also feature incentive programs that continue to reward your buying loyalty. Here are just a few:

Referral Incentives:
Sometimes customers want to be in control. They want to choose and buy their hardwood flooring themselves. That’s understandable. Here at Fantastic Floor, we want to reward you for referring your customers to our site. Here’s how we do that:
As a member of our wholesale program, you’ll be assigned a special referral code that is unique to you. When your customers order materials at our retail list price we will cut you a check for 3% of the gross sale. You heard right – we pay you for your referral! Your customer simply needs to write your unique referral code in the designated box when placing their order and we’ll send you a check. It’s that simple!

Rebate Incentives
Fantastic Floor issues rebate checks to our wholesale customers based on their quarterly sales volumes. Once certain sales benchmarks are reached, we’ll cut you a rebate check. That’s extra money in your pocket just for buying from us. Call 888-448-9663 for more information.

Installers & Contractor Incentives
Not all of our incentives come in dollars and cents. One of the biggest perks of being a Fantastic Floor registered wholesale customer is our Installers & Contractors Referral program. When customers ask us for contractor or installer recommendations, the first ones we suggest are our registered wholesale customers. We want your business to succeed, and we’ll do everything we can to connect our customers with your installation expertise.

For more information on our wholesale customer incentive programs, or to sign up, visit www.Fantastic-Floor.com/discount-program. You can also call us at 888-448-9663 – we’ll be happy to create an account for you.

Frequently Asked Questions: What Is the Most Durable Hardwood Floor Available?

2011-07-08T10:50:00.000-07:00

There are two main factors that come into play when discussing the durability of hardwood flooring. The first is finish. A factory prefinished floor will certainly be more durable than an unfinished floor, but there are many high-quality finishes you can apply onsite that will help protect the wood for years.

The real indication of durability is the wood's hardness. Wood species are given a Janka Hardness rating based on their resistance to indentation. The harder the floor, the more resistant it will be to scrapes, dents, and everyday wear-and-tear.

The top five hardest wood species are:

Patagonian Rosewood
Kurupayra
Lapacho
Ipe
Tiete Rosewood

Tiete Rosewood hardwood flooring (above) is one of the hardest flooring materials you can buy.

The five wood species with the lowest Janka hardness ratings are:

Western Red Cedar
Douglas Fir
Exotic Hickory
Cherry
Walnut

Don't get us wrong - even the softest of hardwoods will still make a beautiful, durable floor. In fact, two of the most common and trusted hardwood flooring materials - Oak flooring and Birch flooring - also have two of the lowest Janka hardness ratings. Ipe is one of the hardest flooring materials and is certainly durable, but red or white oak flooring is a great option as well.

Fantastic Floor Ipe: As Seen On TV

2011-07-01T13:16:00.000-07:00

We know you're excited. We sure are.

As dedicated followers well know, Fantastic Floor's Ipe hardwood flooring was recently used in the filming of one of DIY Network's new hit shows, Bath Crashers. In it, host Matt Muenster helps homeowners turn their dank and drab bathrooms into funky, functional living spaces. Well, the director called a wrap and the episode, appropriately titled "The Ultimate Crash", is waiting to be aired. Here's the schedule:

Saturday, July 2nd, 2 PM, HGTV
Sunday, July 3rd, 8 PM, DIY Network

Don't miss it!

Don't miss Fantastic Floor's Ipe hardwood flooring on the DIY Network's hit new show, Bath Crashers!

Frequently Asked Questions: Can Engineered Wood Floor Be Refinished?

2011-06-28T12:51:00.000-07:00

A. Some of the better quality engineered wood floors have a 3mm or thicker real wood top layer and can be sanded and refinished one or more times. The sanding and refinishing of an engineered wood floor is best done by an experienced hardwood flooring refinisher. If you have heat vents in your floor you can remove a heat cover to get a side view of your wood floor. This will help you check to see how thick you finish layer is.
Always consult with the manufacturer to see if they recommend sanding and refinishing of your engineered wood floor.

Not all engineered flooring varieties can be refinished. Check with the flooring manufacturer to find out if your flooring can be refinished.

It's Almost Here...

2011-06-24T14:22:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't heard, our Ipe hardwood flooring is going to be on TV! That's right - the good folks over at DIY Network asked for some of our Ipe to use in their hit new show, Bath Crashers, and we were more than happy to oblige. The episode airs on Saturday, July 2nd, and we couldn't be happier.

To celebrate our Ipe's rise to stardom we're throwing a Bath Crashers Blowout Sale on Ipe throughout the entire month of July! We have Ipe flooring starting at $3.99/SF and a friendly, knowledgeable sales staff ready to answer all your flooring questions.

Visit our website to learn more about Ipe hardwood flooring, and don't forget to tune in to Bath Crashers next Saturday!

Frequently Asked Questions: Prefinished VS Unfinished

2011-06-23T16:20:00.000-07:00

Q: What's the difference between prefinished hardwood flooring and unfinished hardwood flooring?

A. Prefinished hardwood flooring is end- and edge-matched with a small micro-beveled edge and has up to 8 coats of finish, including several coats which contain aluminum oxide. The aluminum oxide in the finish is what gives the factory finish its hardness. Prefinished flooring typically has a 25 year finish warranty.
Unfinished flooring is also end- and edge-matched with a tongue and groove pattern but features a square upper edge rather than a microbevel. Unfinished flooring must be sanded and finished on site, after installation. After sanding and finishing, a site-finished floor will be completely flat. One can use either an oil-based or water-based finish when installing unfinished flooring. Oil-based products typically have a darker initial appearance and show more depth of grain;. Water-based finishes are safer for the environment and have been improved recently to offer similar durability as oil-based finishes.

White Line Syndrome - Hardwood Conspiracy or Common Finish Problem?

2011-06-21T10:56:00.000-07:00

HardwoodFloorsMag.com, the official magazine of the National Wood Flooring Association, put up a really interesting article recently titled "What is Really Causing White Line Syndrome?"

Now, unless you're a hardwood flooring contractor, you probably aren't familiar with the term. White line syndrome, or WLS, is the term used to describe white lines that show up between boards in a wood floor. As the article explains, many contractors are seeing more instances of WLS and are placing the blame on finish manufacturers:

"[White line syndrome] seems to be so much more prevalent in recent years, particularly about the last five years. Some contractors who have never had issues with white lines before report suddenly having to redo floors, even though they’re doing everything the exact same way—with the same products they always have used.
This has all led to suspicions directed at the finish manufacturers: They’re changing product, using cheaper ingredients, messing up the finishes to comply with VOC laws, etc., etc. Contractors feel they are being thrown under the proverbial bus."

White line syndrome can occur when finish starts to peel away from the board edge.

As the article points out, however, the answer may not be as easy as blaming the finish manufacturers. Trends in consumer preferences and installation techniques also play a role:

"Trends in recent years toward exotic floors, dark floors and plank floors all make WLS more visible. A white line between boards may not even be noticeable on a maple floor, but it will be front and center on a walnut, padauk or dark-stained floor. Plank flooring expands and contracts more than strip, stretching the finish more, and many exotic species are also known for their volatile expansion and contraction on the job site.
Today’s more urgent job sites also may play into WLS. In the olden days, wood floors were installed and sat on a job site for a while before they were sanded and finished. Today, jobs tend to be more rushed than ever, and the wood may still be settling in—in particular, shrinking—while the finish is still flexible and drying.
Finally, customers’ expectations are ever-increasing. As they become more demanding, fewer imperfections are seen as normal, making life more difficult for everyone."

Like most hardwood flooring problems, the chances of experiencing white line syndrome drop dramatically when the floors are properly installed and maintained. Visit the Maintenance Links and Resources page on the Fantastic Floor site for more information.

Ipe Flooring: Your Best Bet for Bathrooms

2011-06-20T16:51:00.000-07:00

As we mentioned last week, Fantastic Floor donated some of our beautiful and durable Ipe hardwood flooring to the DIY Network’s latest hit show, Bath Crashers. For those of you not familiar with the show, here is a brief synopsis taken from DIYNetwork.com:

Produced similarly to the popular House Crashers and Yard Crashers series, crasher Matt Muenster ambushes homeowners while they're home improvement shopping. When he identifies the ultimate bathroom challenge, he follows the lucky homeowner home and totally overhauls a bathroom in need of repair.

We know what you’re thinking: Hardwood flooring in the bathroom? That’s right. Certain species of wood, like Ipe, make great flooring choices for the bathroom. What makes Ipe so great? Glad you asked. Here are just a few of the reasons Ipe hardwood flooring is the perfect choice for any bathroom remodeling project.

Ipe hardwood flooring isn't just for the dining room anymore. More and more homeowners are enjoying exotic Ipe in their bathrooms as well!

Water-resistance
Ipe is one of the most durable hardwoods available. Its dense cell structure acts as a natural deterrent against water damage and mold. Combine that with a high-quality sealant and you’ve got a bathroom floor that’s ready for the day-to-day wear of an active family.

Fire-resistance
The same dense cell structure that makes Ipe water-resistant also makes it fire-resistant. In fact, Ipe flooring has a Class A fire rating – the same class of fire-retardant material as steel. Is it unlikely that your bathroom is going to catch fire? Perhaps. But if you use a curling iron or hair dryer often, a Class A fire rating isn’t the worst feature to have in a bathroom floor.

Longevity
Because of its natural resilience to insects, decay and mold, Ipe flooring has a very long lifespan. This can even be extended with proper care and a high-quality sealant. If you’re looking for a bathroom floor that will last for generations, Ipe is a good choice for you.

Easy to clean
Much like a tile or linoleum floor, Ipe hardwood is very easy to clean. Simply use a high-quality wood cleaner and mop as you would any other type of floor. Remember to mop up any standing water, though – leaving puddles on your floor can cause stains and discoloration.

Appearance
Probably the biggest reason people choose Ipe flooring for their bathrooms is the appearance. Ipe hardwood flooring is one of the most eye-catching wood varieties available today. It features dark shades of black and brown, dark striping, and white or yellow sapwood. The grain pattern runs from straight to very irregular, and the texture is usually fine to medium.

Learn more about Ipe hardwood flooring on our website, and don’t forget to tune in to Bath Crashers on Saturday, July 2, on the DIY Network.

NWFA Announces 2012 Convention Details

2011-06-17T11:28:00.000-07:00

2012 may seem like a ways off yet, but it's never too early to start planning for the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) Convention.

Yesterday, the NWFA announced the dates and location for the 2012 Convention. Here are the details:

When: April 10 - 13, 2012
Where: Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center, Orlando, FL

The annual NWFA convention is a chance for industry professionals and hardwood flooring enthusiasts to network with other professionals, learn about new products, and promote their own businesses.

"We are committed to hosting a show that offers real and tangible value to our members and industry,” NWFA CEO Michael Martin said in a press release. “Our board of directors surveyed our exhibitors and past attendees after this year’s event, and we learned that late Spring is the perfect time to hold this meeting. Our exhibitors tend to roll out new products in the first quarter of the year and want to showcase them at this event."

This year's convention will feature a rockin' party on Tuesday night, trade show hours Wednesday and Thursday, and many educational and networking opportunities throughout the week.

"It’s a huge plus to have everyone under one roof for all events at the Gaylord facility, which increases our networking opportunities," Martin said.

For more information about the convention, contact the NWFA at 800-422-4556 (USA & Canada), 636-519-9663 (local and international), or visit them online at www.nwfa.org.

Solid Flooring Installation – Part 3: Moisture Testing

2011-06-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to the Fantastic Floor exclusive blog series, Solid Flooring Installation. Last week we made sure your new hardwood flooring was properly acclimated to the environment in which it will be installed. This week we’re digging deeper – literally – and discussing moisture testing.

We discussed moisture testing briefly earlier in the series as part of the acclimation process, but it is important enough to touch on again. Installers must know the moisture content of not only the flooring, but also the subfloor and the concrete slab below it, if there is one. Installation cannot occur if the moisture content isn’t just right. The following are basic tips for checking the moisture content of the sub-floor.

Remember: Hardwood flooring installation should be left to professionals or very experienced DIY-ers. If you have little to no experience with the process, call a professional.

1. Have the Right Equipment
Having the right moisture meter is a very important part of moisture testing. Working with an improperly-calibrated meter, or not using one at all, is a very irresponsible flooring installation practice. The two main types of moisture meters are probe and pinless.
Probe meters are an older style of moisture testing, but they are still a fast and effective testing technique. These meters measure the electrical resistance across opposed sets of pins that have been pushed into the wood. The lower the resistance, the higher the moisture content.
Pinless meters, also called “non-destructive” meters, use electro-magnetic waves to measure the density of the area below the instrument. While many professionals prefer pinless meters because they don’t leave any pin holes, the machines do require a smooth surface and a flat measuring area.

2. Test the Right Area
Getting an accurate reading for the sub-floor moisture level means testing the right area and testing in the right intervals. As a general rule of thumb, test approximately 2 locations for every hundred feet and then take the mean average of all the readings. The acceptable moisture level for most areas of the country is 12% or less. Make note of any areas with unusually high moisture content – this could be a sign of some sort of leak or water damage.

3. Check the Concrete, Too
Testing moisture levels in wood sub-floors is relatively easy, but that is not the only part of the room that needs testing. Concrete slabs below the sub-floor can also cause problems if they don’t have the correct moisture content. Acceptable moisture content for concrete slabs during solid hardwood flooring installation is 60% or less, or, less than 5.0 on a concrete moisture counter.

That’s it for this week’s installment of Solid Flooring Installation. Tune in next week when we dive into the exciting world of vapor barriers. See you then!

Our Ipe Flooring Is Going To Be A Star!

2011-06-15T11:08:00.000-07:00

Exciting news, dear reader!

The always entertaining DIY Network asked for some of our beautiful Ipe hardwood flooring to use in their exciting home remodeling show, Bath Crashers, and we were more than happy to oblige!

Bath Crashers is a reality show on the DIY Network in which professional contractor Matt Muenster ambushes homeowners while they’re home improvement shopping and transforms their hum-drum bathrooms into stunning, functional, and modern living spaces.

The episode airs the first week of July, and to celebrate our worldwide television debut we've come up with a sale that's just as exciting: It's our Bath Crashers Blowout!

• Ipe flooring starting at just $3.99/square foot!
• Rush delivery on every order!
• Tremendously tax free, no matter where you live!
• Running from July 1st to July 31st – all month long!

Stay tuned for the latest news on our Bath Crashers Blowout. Learn more about Ipe flooring on our website, or give us a call today at 1-888-448-9663.

Not to Toot Our Own Horn, But...

2011-06-14T16:43:00.000-07:00

We love our customers. That's a FACT. It makes sense, then, that we're always excited to hear how our hardwood flooring products have helped them build or remodel the home of their dreams.

Here is one of our more recent customer reviews:

"I have attached some photos of the finished floor for you. It looks better in person than the photos. Thanks for your help with the flooring. I will be looking for flooring in our addition in about 2 to 3 months.
Thanks, Allan"

No, thank YOU, Allan! We always appreciate a nice word (and a repeat customer, of course!). We look forward to helping you with your next flooring project!

Get the Facts: Sustainable Forestry in North America

2011-06-08T11:16:00.000-07:00

Welcome back, dear readers! As you probably know, Fantastic Floor is dedicated to only working with hardwood flooring suppliers that our certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, observe local and international timber harvesting laws, and keep up-to-date on the latest sustainable forestry trends. That’s why we’re always interested whenever new information about sustainable forestry comes forth.

Today, the Wood Products Council, a cooperative of major wood associations and research organizations in North America, released a document titled Sustainable Forestry in North America. This eight-page document provides interesting new statistics regarding modern day forestry practices in North America and how they relate to the environment.

Photo courtesy of www.woodworks.org.

It’s true – many of the species of wood we carry are exotic, meaning they are imported from overseas logging operations. But we do carry an extensive line of domestic hardwoods as well, such as oak, fir, and ash. For those interested in learning more about the timber harvesting practices that go into obtaining these fine hardwood species, read the full report here or take a look at the following excerpts:

Wood is the only building material that has third-party certification programs in place to demonstrate that products being sold have come from a sustainably managed resource. North America has more certified forests than any other jurisdiction.

Up until the early 20th century, settlers coming to North America cleared an average of 2.1 acres of forest per person to survive and grow food. The establishment of industrial agriculture and other changes in land use have mitigated forest clearing in North America since that time, and forest acreage has been stable for over a century. The rate of deforestation in the U.S. and Canada has been virtually zero for many decades. The U.S. reported an annual increase in forest area of 0.12 percent in the 1990s and 0.05 percent from 2000 to 2005, while Canada reported no change.

Providing it comes from a sustainably managed resource, wood has many attributes that make it an inherently ‘green’ building material. Life cycle assessment (LCA) studies show that wood requires less energy across its life cycle than other structural building products, and is better for the environment in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, air and water pollution, and other impact indicators.

Visit our website for more information on Fantastic Floor’s environmental practices.

Solid Flooring Installation – Part 2: Proper Acclimation Techniques

2011-06-06T11:55:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to our exclusive blog series, Solid Flooring Installation. This week we’ll be taking a look at an important part of the installation process: acclimation. Hardwood flooring acclimation is a process that helps prevent boards from bending, warping, and buckling in their new home. This post will walk you through the basics of properly acclimating your hardwood floor.

Remember: Hardwood flooring installation should be left to professionals or very experienced DIY-ers. If you have little to no experience with the process, call a professional.

1. Check Moisture Contents – Boards and Sub-Floors
Moisture content is key when acclimating hardwood flooring. If the board moisture content and the sub-floors aren’t within a specific range of each other your boards won’t acclimate properly. That range of moisture content varies depending on the size of the boards, but it tends to stay within a 2%-4% range. If you are attempting to install your own hardwood floors and don’t know the proper moisture content for the type of boards you’re using, chances are you shouldn’t be installing your own flooring at all.

2. Rack the Boards
Remove your new flooring from the box and rack it in the room in which it will be installed. This lets the wood properly adjust to the room’s humidity and temperature – a critical part of the acclimation process.

Appropriately acclimated hardwood flooring will last much longer than flooring that is hastily installed.

3. Maintain Appropriate Temperatures
Keeping your new flooring at an appropriate temperature during the acclimation process is crucial. The wood should be warm, but not at a temperature significantly higher than the normal temperature of the room. Maintaining appropriate temperatures will make the acclimation process much more effective and will lead to a more stable floor.

4. Wait
For some, this step in the acclimation process can be the hardest of them all. It’s not unusual to want to install your new hardwood floors as soon as they arrive, but proper acclimation takes at least one to two weeks. The waiting period is all dependent on the boards’ moisture content, but most species don’t take less than seven days.

Neglecting to acclimate your new hardwood flooring can lead to buckling, bending, warping, and other major floor problems. Repairing or replacing a hardwood floor can get very expensive. If you aren’t installing your floors yourself, make sure the installation company you hired observes these basic acclimation techniques.

And the (Green) Winner Is...

2011-06-01T08:58:00.000-07:00

At Fantastic Floor, we take environmental practices very seriously. After all, we only have one Earth, right? That's why we're happy to congratulate this year's National Wood Flooring Association's Environmental Craftsmanship Award winner, the Woodwright Hardwood Floor Company of Dallas, TX.

A fast-growing species like bamboo is a great environmentally friendly hardwood flooring option.

Every year, NWFA bestows the Environmental Craftsmanship Award on one professionally installed hardwood floor that "most exhibits creative and responsible environmental stewardship in its method of installation, raw material sources and/or contribution to human well being in the indoor build environment."

All wood floor installations are eligible for the award, but NWFA looks specifically for ones that meet and exceed criteria based on the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED format and help raise awareness about the flooring industry's roll in protecting the environment.

This year's winner, Woodwright Wood, is a great example of the sustainable hardwood flooring industry. Woodwright uses resourced, recycled, and regional hardwood species, as well as fast-growing species like bamboo.

For more information on the NWFA Environmental Craftsmanship Award, or to enter next year's contest, visit the NWFA contest page.

FCICA Chairman Steps Down

2011-05-25T11:09:00.001-07:00

Christopher Capobianco announced yesterday that he is stepping down as Chairman of the Flooring Contractors Association Board of Directors, a position he has held for the past six years.

Capobianco's elected successor, Gerry Swift of Potomac Floor Covering, says he is excited to fill the position that Capobianco has held "unselfishly and honorably" since 2005.

"During the worst economy in decades, [Capobianco] successfully kept our membership base unified and strong, while being FCICA's ambassador to the commercial floor covering industry," Swift said in a press release. "I realize that I have some big shoes to fill and challenges ahead as I prepare to take over as FCICA's chairman on July 1st."

Capobianco will continue to work on the FCICA Board of Directors as immediate Past Chairman.

The FCICA is headquartered in West Bloomingfield, MI, and provides expertise and networking opportunities to members of the commercial flooring industry. For more information about FCICA, call the main office at 877-863-2422.

New Home Sales Rise in April - Come Celebrate with Fantastic Floor!

2011-05-24T10:44:00.000-07:00

According to the US Census Bureau and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, sales of new single-family homes increased last month, making April the second straight month of gains and price increases for the otherwise stagnant housing market.

According to a report from Reuters.com, the Commerce Department said sales increased 7.3 percent, the highest rate since December of last year. While all four regions of the country saw an increase in new home sales, the West reported the highest rise - a whopping 15.1 percent.

We're excited about these promising statistics, and we want to celebrate with you!

New home sales often mean new remodeling projects, and to help families get the most out of their new remodeling ventures Fantastic Floor is offering a 5% discount on all remodeling purchases of 500 square feet or more!

Simply enter coupon code "r11" when finalizing your online purchase at www.fantastic-floor.com, or mention the code to your sales representative if ordering by phone.

This offer expires on June 1, 2011, so visit www.fantastic-floor.com today or call one of our qualified representatives at 1-888-448-9663.

Have You Seen the Fantastic Floor Website Lately?

2011-05-16T09:35:00.000-07:00

We are proud to announce the complete redesign of our website, www.fantastic-floor.com.

With the help of the talented crew over at RAIN Agency, the new Fantastic Floor website has burst onto the scene with more power than a steaming locomotive.

Featuring a streamlined user-interface, beautiful product photos, and a clever new online identity, the new site is a fun, easy-to-use work of art. Visit us at www.fantastic-floor.com to see how we're still Saving the World From High Prices.

Solid Flooring Installation – Part 1: Pre-Installation Concerns

2011-05-03T15:07:00.000-07:00

Installing solid hardwood flooring isn’t for beginners. If you have no previous experience with hardwood flooring installation you should call a professional. Also, hardwood flooring manufacturers include detailed installation instructional materials with their products. All manufacturer instructional materials should be followed exactly and take precedence over this or any installation guide.

That being said, hardwood flooring installation can be an exciting and rewarding project for the experienced DIYer. This series will take a look at the many steps involved in solid flooring installation. This week we will focus on all the preparations you will need to take before you begin your project.

1. Inspect the wood.
Most flooring materials undergo a rigorous inspection process before they ever wind up in your home. So why should you inspect the wood before installation? Good question. Hardwood flooring is a natural product, meaning there are natural color, tone, and grain variations. It also means that products can warp, bend, or change appearance after they leave the factory. Never install defective flooring materials – not only will it be a pain to remove or replace, it may even void certain warranties.

2. Gather the tools.
There are a number of tools you will need to successfully install new hardwood flooring. They include:

• Blue tape
• A broom
• Chalk
• Power nailer
• Pry bar
• Square
• Table saw
• Tape measure
• Towels
• Hardwood cleaner
• Hand saw
• Flooring nails (check manufacturer’s instructions for the correct size)

Remember to check with the manufacturer's instructions for a complete list of tools and supplies you will need.

3. Save the best for last.
Construction projects often come in groups. If you find yourself doing other renovations other than new floors, install your flooring last. This ensures that no damage is done to the wood during other construction work. If your flooring is acclimating in the same area as other construction projects, make sure to cover the materials so they don’t get scratched, scraped, or dirty.

That’s it for this segment of our Solid Flooring Installation series. Come back next week when we will discuss proper acclimation techniques, crawl space vapor barriers, and securing wood sub-floors. If you just can't wait, visit our website for more information on solid hardwood flooring installation.

Celebrate Earth Day With Fantastic Floor!

2011-04-19T15:05:00.000-07:00

Earth Day is almost here – April 22, to be precise – and we here at Fantastic Floor invite you to take a look at the many ways we are committed to the environment. The following is a summary of our environmental practices, examples of articles from our blogs that touch on eco-friendly topics, and links to important industry resources regarding the environment. Enjoy!

Fantastic Floor Standard Environmental Practices
We pride ourselves in selecting only legally harvested wood products. We require our suppliers to be Forest Stewardship Council certified or to be certified under the source country's laws.
We offer more certified flooring than any other retailer on the web. Both our Paraguay Collection and our Engineered Collections are certified.
Our Brazil Collection is certified by government rules through the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and National Parks (IBAMA). The Brazilian government has made enormous strides in the fight against illegal logging. And now with recent passage of The Lacey Act by the US government, all imported products must have proof that they came from legal sources.

The following are articles from our sister blog, EngineeredFlooring.org:

Green Certified Hardwoods
You love the look of cherry or oak flooring, but how can you be sure that the material you’ve chosen isn’t harming the environment? Luckily, there are certain certifications that wood flooring materials can receive to prove that they have been grown, harvested and distributed in eco-friendly ways.
The Forest Stewardship Council, along with third-party conservation organizations and local governments, help ensure the sustainability of many types of wood species. The following are the top five “green-certified” wood flooring materials. Go Earth!

How Buying Local Can Help Save the Economy and the Environment
There is a lot of talk about sustainable forestry and responsible timber harvesting techniques, but how can you determine just how green wood flooring material is? Buying locally-sources varieties such as oak flooring can help lessen the environmental impact your new floors will have on the world. How? Glad you asked. Here are the top three ways locally-sourced products help you go green.

Aiming for That NWFA Seal of Approval
Think all hardwood flooring distributors are the same? Think again! According to a recent press release, the National Wood Flooring Association has started offering what’s called the Accepted Product Seal Program. This completely voluntary program will help manufacturers and distributors earn recognition for meeting certain industry performance standards. It will also help consumers identify companies that meet these standards and, most likely, offer high quality hardwood products.

Have questions about the impact hardwood flooring has on the environment? Call Fantastic Floor at 888-448-9663 today!

Hardwood Flooring Maintenance – 5 Quick Tips You Can’t Afford to Miss

2011-04-15T16:04:00.000-07:00

Most home owners install hardwood flooring because they know it will add aesthetic as well as financial value to their home. With this in mind, many people go crazy trying to keep their newly installed floors looking brand new. Unfortunately, this can lead to a stressed mind and a distressed floor. The solution? Keep it simple! The following are five quick tips you can’t afford to miss if you want to keep your hardwood flooring in tip-top shape.'

1. Clean spills immediately.
Uh-oh. Aunt Lucy just finished her third glass of red wine and is refilling her glass when – CRASH! She spills, she cries, and red wine runs all over your new oak flooring. But Auntie’s tears won’t clean up that spill. You should, however, and as quickly as possible. The best way to avoid a nasty stain on your new flooring is to clean it up as quickly as you can. Use a soft, slightly dampened cloth and pat, don’t wipe.

2. Vacuum often.
Vacuuming is the best way to get rid of dirt, gravel, sand, and stones that can build up over time and cause major damage to your finished hardwood flooring. Use a vacuum with a soft-bristle brush and vacuum as often as you need to keep your floors free of debris.

3. Use the right cleaner.
Many people think that when it comes to washing or mopping hardwood flooring, any ol’ cleaning solution will do. This is not true. Many common floor soaps are oil-based and can dull or damage your floor’s finish. If you have to mop (and you should do so as infrequently as possible), use a water-based surface cleaner or whatever type the manufacturer recommends.

4. Wax on, wax off…your finish?
Polyurethane finishes don’t mix well with paste waxes. In fact, waxing a polyurethane-finished floor can create a sticky film that will attract dirt and debris. If you’re unsure what your floor’s finish is made of, contact the flooring manufacturer or installation company.

5. More cushion, less pushin’.
Big, heavy furnishings or appliances can wreak havoc on hardwood flooring. The best way to avoid this is to place small felt glides under heavy furnishings. This includes tables, chairs, sofas, pianos, cabinets, refrigerators, and much more. Putting glides under your furnishings may seem like a hassle, but it is much less of a hassle than getting your entire floor refinished.

Spot Refinishing - Is It Possible?

2011-02-15T14:01:00.000-08:00

Sometimes bad things happen to good hardwood floors. Stains, scrapes, and scratches are all a very real possibility, especially in high-traffic areas. One relatively quick and inexpensive way of avoiding having to replace your hardwood flooring is to simply refinish it. But what if only a portion of your floor is damaged? Is it possible to spot refinish the damaged area without ruining the rest of the flooring? The following are some FAQ about spot refinishing damaged hardwood flooring.

Q:
1) Is it possible to refinish only a portion of my hardwood floors, or will I have to do the whole room?
2) Is spot refinishing a DIY project, or should I get a professional?
3) Is there any risk that the refinish will look worse than the original floor looks now?
4) Is there any type of finish you'd recommend?

A:
1.) It is definitely possible to refinish only a portion of a room. However, there is a good chance that the floor stain won't match the color of the original floors, especially if you weren't responsible for installing or finishing them.
2.) While spot refinishing can be a DIY project, we recommend you go to professional for the same reason you'd go to a professional to re-shingle your roof. You can probably do it, but that doesn't mean you will be able to do it well.
3.) This is THE BIG risk of refinishing partial floors. The good news is that if you try to spot refinish and it doesn't look good, you can just refinish the rest of the boards and it will look fine.
4.) There isn't any one finish that works "the best" - each type has its own pros and cons. Oil-based urethanes are the easiest to work with since they are slow-drying, but they can amber significantly. Water-based urethanes won't amber quite so much, but they are fast-drying and therefore often leave brush marks if you're not careful. Solvent-based finishes are somewhat dangerous; if you're using a solvent-based finish, get a professional to do the work.

Essentially, there's little harm in trying to do spot refinishing yourself. The worst that can happen is you will ruin the part of the floor that is already damaged and you will have wasted your time and resources. If you have any questions, or don't feel comfortable with the project, call a professional.

Acacia Flooring - The Modern Choice for a Rustic Look

2009-09-09T10:18:00.001-07:00

Contradictory, you say, the modern/rustic coupling? Pish-tosh; true tastemakers break all the rules, and that's what we do here at FF every day when it comes to tracking down new, gorgeous looks for homes, offices, palaces, lairs, and what-have-you. Acacia flooring has become incredibly popular as a dynamic rustic floor, both in smooth and handscraped varieties. There are a million things to like about this wood, which is why keeping it in stock is always a bit of a challenge, so here are just a few: First of all, it's got striking coloring, ranging from rich, dark browns to light russets, all intermingled in dramatic streaks and radiating waves. Take a look:

Our Acacia hardwood flooring is also available in a variety of stains. The bronze blend stain amps up the golden browns and yellows of the wood, while the fruitwood stain tones it down to a rich red-brown.

Oh, and did we mention Acacia was the wood they used for the Ark of the Covenant? Just thought we'd throw that in there. That's right: Who else can name drop GOD when it comes to how awesome their products are? Count it.

This is a wood that is very well worth checking out, not only because of its dramatic beauty and rustic good looks, but also for the affordable price, starting at just $4.99/sf!

Prices like that are why being an e-tailer is nice: You don't have to feel bad about people getting violent outside your locked store front right before a big sale. So play nice out there in cyberspace, but do what you have to to come see our Acacia! We've got samples available for order, too!

Kempas - A Little Known but Incredibly Beautiful Exotic

2009-06-22T15:16:00.000-07:00

I think part of the fun of running a blog that has to do with your field is being able to introduce new and interesting products to readers who might not otherwise have been aware they even existed. Today, I want to highlight a favorite of mine, a yellowish-orange wood that is native to Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia called Kempas.

Kempas hardwood flooring brings a lot to the table in terms of being an all around great hardwood choice. First of all, its gorgeous. Don't take my word for it, take a look at the photo: You won't find many domestic species that feature such striking color and distinctive graining. That vertical strand-like grain combined with the light coloring of Kempas help any room to appear brighter, warmer, and expansive.

Kempas goes great with any light colored decorum, particularly those that choose yellowish accents along with browns. It's also fairly hard, coming in at 1,700lbs on the Janka Hardness scale, a little over 300lbs higher than Red Oak, which is often used as the standard "average hardness" species.

On top of it all, Kempas is wonderfully affordable. We offer Kempas in both 3.6" and 4.8" widths, with the 3.6" priced at $3.79/sf and the 4.8" at $3.99/sf! Stop by the site and check them out!

Brazilian Cherry Floors - Brazilian Cherry Flooring

2009-02-22T07:16:00.000-08:00

Brazilian Cherry Flooring Aged to Perfection? Homeowners Find Aged Brazilian Cherry Floors

Even More Beautiful Years After Installation.

Brazilian Cherry Flooring, like many other exotic flooring species from South America, is known to be photosensitive and to darken with age. Many consumers find the prospect of a floor changing color somewhat disconcerting. Often, homeowners are attempting to incorporate the coloring of their Brazilian Cherry Floors into the overall color scheme of their home, so the prospect of a shift in pigment makes them uneasy.

However, unlike many other hardwoods, Brazilian Cherry resists damage during these years of service when it is darkening, so it does not show damage like some other less photosensitive but also less hard woods, such as Maple or Oak. Additionally, Brazilian Cherry ages to a darker, richer red-brown after installation, which has its own unique beauty to lend to any color scheme.

For the particular homeowner, it would probably be wise to consider color coordinating their home with tones that are present in aged Brazilian Cherry rather than the immediate colors they see on fresh samples. This way, the color scheme's continuity will be much more consistent over a longer period of time. Or, should the homeowner prefer a more perennial approach, decorum could be shifted along with the shifting tones of the Brazilian Cherry flooring itself.

Apart from photosensitivity, Brazilian Cherry is a particularly stable exotic hardwood flooring specie. Movement (expansion and contraction) in service is minimal in comparison to other more dimensionally dynamic species. As a result, homeowners don't have to worry about Brazilian Cherry cupping, gapping, or bowing.

Photosensitivity need not be the terror that some perceive it to be. Brazilian Cherry will not suddenly turn chartreuse all of the sudden, it simply requires a bit of foresight with regard to color coordinating with the tones it will eventually achieve.

Tarara Amarilla The floor that says “WOW”

2009-01-22T21:39:00.000-08:00

Unusual, Beautiful, Striking and NOT the floor that your neighbor will have! That is the beautiful Tarara Amarilla also known as Canary Wood.

This extraordinary species is colorful, exotic and definitely makes the statement – WOW! Found in the forests of Brazil and Bolivia this wood is not your typical brown or red. With colors that are different from most woods this specie offers bright yellows and oranges with long distinctive streaks of purple, red and black. Its grain is irregular and interlocked, and has a lustrous surface with a medium and uniform texture.

Without a doubt this affluent species of hardwood flooring proclaims vibrancy and richness. Canary wood needs no stains or distressing to make it stand out in a crowd, it is perfect as a natural prefinished floor. Solid prefinished flooring is ideal because it is easy to install AND can refinished several times to last generations.

Canary wood, like most of its exotic cousins is also extremely durable, making it a perfect solid hardwood floor for the active household. Stand out, be different, be BOLD… ChooseTarara Amarilla for your hardwood floor!

Prefinished Ipe Floors Are a Popular Choice

2009-01-14T20:32:00.000-08:00

In recent years the North American market has seen an increase in exotic imported flooring. As opposed to traditional domestic species such as oak and maple, home owners prefer imported woods because they are much harder and offer a more diverse grain and color pallet.

In the flooring industry, no other wood beats Brazilian walnut flooring in terms of outright hardness. With an unmatched 3680 Janka rating, Brazilian walnut, also known as Ipe, is famous for its durability. The perfect high traffic floor. In fact it has a long history of use in the industrial world as the ideal product for railway ties and heavy truck bedding for just this reason. Most daily traffic would have a hard time leaving a scratch on this floor, making it the perfect choice for homes with large dogs or rough kids. Whether you choose Ipe prefinished floors or Ipe unfinished flooring you cannot go wrong.

Its dark brown, chocolate color is breathtaking and is certain to provide any ambience with a wonderful warm, rich feeling. Ipe offers a wide range of tones, combining dark reds, yellowish tans, browns, and nearly black hues. Like most hardwoods, Ipe will darken over time to a smooth medium to dark brown color. Graining varies greatly, adding a dash of character to your floors. All of these characteristics combined have made Ipe flooring one of the top selling imported species for flooring in North America.

This species of prefinished hardwood flooring is the perfect choice for the DIY homeowner with kids and dogs. The aluminum oxide factory finish makes this incredibly durable species even more indestructible. Ipe hardwood even has a Class A fire rating, it occupies the same class of fire-retardant materials as steel. For durability, safety, and beauty, Ipe prefinished floors make an excellent choice.

CRAZY Week!! Holiday is OVER!

2009-01-09T17:22:00.000-08:00

You know that old saying "be careful what you wish for"? So very true! I've envisioned this dream of a successful business on a national level for so long and now that it is a reality--- HOLD ON! It's all good though-- Actually GREAT! The new web site is really taking off! It's just Friday and I'm exhausted... reminds me of another saying "Thank GOD it's Friday"!!

Accomplished a lot this week! FINALLY got the copy written for the wholesale trade discount program. I'm really excited about this. We offer GREAT discounts that really will help the little guy who owns a small show room, or the installer who has to travel a distance to get to his closest distributor. We've come up with incentive programs too that will help and drive business back to the customer! I really see this program taking off a win / win situation for everyone.

We also put the new laminate line of products on the site. This is a great alternative to hardwood floors and a great price point!

Site continues get over 100 hits a day! Really excited about the prospect! ONLY IN AMERICA!

New Wood Floor for the New Year??

2009-01-03T10:49:00.000-08:00

Was there a home improvement project that went undone in 2008? Tackle 2009 with a new Fantastic Floor. But which to choose imported or domestic? Prefinished or Unfinished?? So many choices and educating yourself about the wood floor industry has a steep learning curve. What grade to choose? Which width appeals to you and is functional for your climate? So many questions.

First let's decide if you want a prefinished or unfinished floor. What is the difference you might ask??? Well... a prefinished floor has a factory finish that is generally stronger than a site sand and finished unfinished floor. However, a prefinished floor generally has micro bevels. The reason for micro bevels are that no floor is perfectly flat and without sanding the floor you will have instances of overwood which if your picky you will notice with a square edge prefinished product. With micro bevels this helps avoid the situation as it camouflages the height variations. Other reason is simply design. With a bevel each strip or plank is accented and it is a different look. Any difference in maintenance would be extremely negligible. So if you don't mind the lines in a prefinished micro beveled floor than you just simply install and there is no need to evacuate the home for the finish process like a unfinished floor mandates.

If the lines are something that don't appeal to you, then unfinished is recommended. This mandates site sanding and finishing for a flat smooth floor. Installation costs are generally a little more for an unfinished floor, however the materials are less expensive than the prefinished alternative.

Either way you choose a prefinished or an unfinished wood floor is a FANTASTIC way to start the New Year!

Fantastic Floor

2008-11-06T23:25:00.000-08:00

A fantastic floor, like this one made from Brazilian Cherry, also known as Jatoba, is one of the most popular exotic woods. It is also a naturally durable and extremely high density hardwood, one of the many hardwood flooring offerings from fantastic-floor.

Brazilian cherry has reddish-brown heartwood, lined with dark black streaks, which gives amazing contrast and very unique streaking. Jatoba flooring will deepen in color and become richer over time. Aside from its beauty, this Brazilian heartwood is also strong, making it a really fantastic-floor.