Acclimation When you receive your flooring, we suggest that you let the wood acclimate to the moisture in your home for 10-14 days before installation begins. Longer periods are required for dryer areas. Atmospheric conditions cause all wood to expand and contract to a certain degree. It is also critical that your sub-flooring be quite dry before installation. In new structures, windows and doors should be closed in the evenings and during fog or rain. All sheet rock and masonry work should be completed and dry. These steps insure the least amount of shrinkage which causes cracks to develop. The point of acclimating wood flooring before installing it is to allow the moisture content of the wood to adjust to “normal living conditions” at the site – that is, the temperature and humidity conditions that will typically be experienced once the structure is occupied. Thus, it does no good at all – in fact, it is likely harmful – to store wood flooring at the jobsite under conditions that don’t reflect those normal environmental conditions. The wood flooring industry has done a good job in recent years communicating the message that wood flooring is a dynamic material subject to changes in dimension as a result of changes in humidity in the surrounding environment. That has led to increasing awareness of the need to acclimate wood flooring before installation. Unfortunately, some installers have heard the message as, “Leaving wood flooring at the jobsite for two weeks will properly acclimate the wood, no matter what the conditions are.” In truth, some wood flooring may already be at the proper moisture content when it’s delivered. To allow it to sit at the job site under excessively humid conditions will only cause the flooring to absorb unwanted moisture. So, the key message is not that acclimation is good, and that’s all you need to know. Rather, installers need to understand the dynamics of water and wood and make educated judgments about when and how much acclimation is required. To do so requires knowing what the moisture content of the flooring is at the time of delivery and what its expected moisture content will be “in use.” Acclimating the Wood... If flooring is delivered on a damp day or during rain, the boards will absorb moisture. If installed in this condition, the flooring will shrink a few months later and show cracks. Wood flooring should not be delivered to the jobsite until plastering and painting are completed and dried. Moisture evaporates from damp walls into the air within the house, and the flooring will absorb some of it. Another condition that causes flooring to pick up moisture during construction is less obvious, but more common: If the heating or air conditioning is not operating from the time the floor is installed until the house occupied, the humidity may be higher than it would be if the house were occupied. Only after getting satisfactory moisture measurements from the concrete slab and the sub floor, and only after wood has acclimatized to the jobsite, is the installer ready to install. When installation is completed, good practice calls for a delay of one or more weeks for further acclimation before beginning the sanding and finishing part of the job. Acclimating the Wood at the Jobsite... Before wood is delivered, the jobsite must be checked to determine if it is ready. Wood should not be delivered if jobsite moisture conditions are excessive. Otherwise, one will absorb moisture from the other. The structure should be fully enclosed, with doors and windows in place, and interior climate controls should be operating for at least 48 hours to stabilize the jobsite, the wood should be set indoors on sticks up off the floor. About one week should pass before the flooring installation is started. Moisture contents of both the flooring and the sub floor must be checked and recorded before any work begins.

It was a pleasure working with you. You were very friendly and polite and we felt that you had our best interests in mind. It’s refreshing to deal with someone like you in a world where how a customer feels isn’t important anymore. - Ed Lock Emmetsburg, Iowa

Have a Question? Call an Authentic Pine Floors Expert at 1-800-283-6038

Our Pine Flooring

Heart Pine

Solid Site Finish Flooring

Like heart pine of the 18th century, today’s vintage promises to be the masterpieces of tomorrow ...

Heart pine flooring has been used since America was founded, in homes all along the Eastern coast, across the country and abroad because of its strength, durability and beauty. Our heart pine is produced from American managed plantations and sustainable forests using the highest quality material and state of the art milling. Heart Pine is the dense, center section of the tree.

Colonial Heart Pine

Colonial Heart Pine is our premier grade, defined by high heart content, classic lines, and limited knots. Custom-finished on site, it is crafted in 4” to 12” widths.

Victorian Heart Pine

Victorian Heart Pine is part of our Southern Living® Custom Builder Program signature line and continues to be our most popular floor. Custom-finished on site and stains beautifully in 4” to 12” widths.

Country Heart Pine

Country Heart Pine appeals to a more casual lifestyle. Custom-finished on site, it is often distressed and remains most popular ‘face nailed’ in 6” and 10” random widths. This new, old look is available in 4” to 12” widths.

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Heart Pine Solid Flooring

Handscraped / Distressed

“Authentic Oil™ finish sets our Prefinished Floors Apart!”

Authentic Pine Floors has developed a four coat European oil finishing process that enhances the grain and natural beauty of heart pine. The Authentic Oil helps the floor develop a deep patina with age creating a rich, old world appeal. Unlike aluminum oxide, the oil penetrates deep into the wood so the finish does not scratch, chip or peel.

Handscraped

We’re often asked how one can make their floor look older. Authentic Pine Floors is thrilled to offer one of the only “Hand-crafted” floors on the market. Each plank is planed by hand creating the unique characteristics of old world handcraftsmanship. These floors are custom made when ordered.

Distressed

In addition to the striking grain and patina of Authentic heart pine floors, each plank of heart pine distressed floors undergoes our custom texturing process and is finished with Authentic Oil. This product wins our 2006 New Product Award.

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Wide Plank Pine

Solid Site Finish Flooring

Imagine the Possibility ...

Affordably priced, wide plank southern yellow pine can be left natural for a warm honey tone or stained as desired. In boards up to one foot in width, those looking for the look of original pine floors choose wide plank pine flooring.

Procured from American managed plantations and sustainable forests, southern yellow wide plank flooring is a renewable resource. It is twice as hard as its Northeastern white pine counterpart.

Wide Plank Pine

In boards up to one foot in width, those looking for the look of original pine floors choose Wide Plank Pine.

Vertical Grain Southern Yellow Pine

Vertical grain creates the classic look common to many Victorian homes. Today it adds beauty to exposed beam ceilings...

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Antique Heart Pine - Recycled Floors

Engineered Flooring

Handscraped/Distressed/Natural Aged Patina - Authentic Oil™ Prefinished

In our efforts to preserve our past for future generations, we have crafted antique veneers into stunning heart pine flooring.

The thick wear layer makes it comparable to solid flooring. Engineered floors are more resistant to high moisture levels than solid wood floors. Perfect for coastal and arid climates, they are showcased in Tavern grade and available in three finishes.

Natrual Aged Patina

Wide plank antique heart pine is enhanced with Authentic Oil™ finish. Should you want to add color to this floor, topcoat with one of our darker oils.

Handscraped

A work of art, there is no substitute for hand crafted, old world style. Every last plank is scraped by hand and shows the telltale markings of a talented craftsman.

Distressed

Textured to replicate the floors of old, but smooth to the touch, this wide plank floor was the “Floor of the Year” at the Southern Living Custom Home Builder™ conference.

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Wide Plank Oak

Engineered Flooring

Authentic Oil™ Prefinished - For more formal applications, wide plank 7.5”” handscraped oak works perfectly. Light in color, with the depth handscraping adds and completed with the Authentic Oil Finish™, it is easy to maintain.

Handscraped

Solid wide plank oak is not stable so rarely used, however, it performs perfectly made into veneers and manufactured into engineered wide plank flooring. This gives you the opportunity to have a very unique floor. Should you want to add color to this floor, topcoat with one of our darker oils. . .

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