This is an existing red oak floor we sanded, stained Aged Barrel, and coated with Bona Traffic HD satin finish.
I'm back at the old Steketee house in the historical district of Holland installing and finishing five custom reducers. The craftsmanship of the woodwork in this house is beautiful! Check out the scroll work.
Now, this, (along with the check) is the kind of thing that makes me love my job. :)
Applying the first coat of Bona Dryfast Oil Seal on our beechwood floor in Hudsonville. Samuel Reed and Ken Balmer helped me turn this job into a beauty.
It seems like all my jobs lately have been 800-900 square feet. Thank goodness I have had help from my helper Ken Balmer, and two of my past helpers Sam Reed and Alan Mattson. Sam and Alan each have new business of their own, but have been kind enough to help me when I need it most. They are all part of my Classic Wood Floors legacy.
I was just looking back through my posts on our Classic Wood Floors Facebook page. It's amazing how many different kinds of wood floors we get to sand, refinish and install in a single year. Although we don't post them all, we usually do about one hundred floors per year. Brazilian cherry, hickory, red and white oak, maple, ash, Douglas fir, antique heart pine, American cherry, parquet, strip and wide planks. Each has its own special characteristics and challenges. Anyway, we really enjoy and take pride in transforming these wood floors into what our clients have imagined and more. :)
While sanding on a job here in Holland this morning, I received a call from a builder who I have done some work for over the past few years. When I seen his name on the caller I D, I thought he would probably be wanting an estimate on an upcoming project, but I was mistaken. He told me that the homeowners on his job had hired one of my local competitors, and that he wished they had called me instead. Although he said that the job would be "okay", it paled by comparison to my work. He said the place was full of dust, and the sanding was "less than adequate". He told me how much he appreciates how we take care of all the details and little things - basically that we care about the quality of the work. Wow! How nice to feel appreciated for what you do! This guy made my whole day. I just wanted to share this. :)
My career as a wood floor specialist for over forty years has been a huge learning experience for me. In the first five years I learned from my skilled mentors the basics of the trade - sanding methods, custom staining, use of many types of finishes, installation, repairs, estimating and customer relations. All these things have changed and evolved over the decades, and I have done my best to keep up and master them. Needless to say, the learning never ends. One of the things I have learned is to try and see things from my client's perspective, and treat them as I would like to be treated. It seems like such a simple thing, but you might be surprised how many tradesmen fail at it. I'm not perfect, but I'm constantly working to improve. That's just one of the qualities that set us apart from other floor companies.
I'm living the life of Riley lately. Last week's job was only 2 blocks away, and this week's is literally right across the street from my house. Now wait, the next one will be in Ada or someplace. Lol :)
Judging by the amount of work I have scheduled lately, it's going to be a busy Winter season. Luckily, it's mostly local. It's nice to go home for lunch every day. :)
I have been working seven days a week to keep up with all the work I have on my calendar. It's important to me and my clients that I say what I will do, and do what I say. That's the way it has to be, when everyone has to walk on your work. :)
Here are some before and after photos of a a 1920's white oak floor with pet stains on it. We sanded, popped the grain, then stained Ebony. This is before the third coat of semi-gloss Bona Traffic HD Finish was applied.
