Welcome to Surface, a blog by Carlisle Wide Plank Floors. Join us in discussion about hardwood flooring wood grains & styles, home decor, green building products, trends and more.
As a proud member of Carlisle’s marketing team, I wanted to share my most recent do-it-yourself project—the installation of my very first Carlisle floor! I chose Walnut because of its beautiful brown tones with highlights of golden honey and the nice figuring in the grain patterns.
I began my project in September 2007 when my boyfriend Dan and I first decided to embark on the demolition of our current bathroom. We knew straight off that it was going to be a fairly large undertaking, but we also knew it had to be done. After two days of destroying, hauling pieces of old sheetrock, insulation and tile out by the truckload we were finally down to the rafters.
As we have delicately built the bathroom back up we decided to make our project as custom as we could afford. Firstly, we’ve done the entire project ourselves: plumbing, electrical, everything! (We did have the extra hands of our dads helping out, which is great.) Dan invented his own radiant heat system—it’s a built-in subfloor unit with PEX tubing (which we purchased on EBay inexpensively). We were able to install our Carlisle floor directly on top of our radiant heat system. We also did a tile inlay underneath our toilet and in front of our bathtub, and it was really easy to make both the tile and the walnut work nicely together during the installation—we had zero hiccups.
One of the best parts during our renovation was applying the tung oil to our floor. We thought the wood was stunning before we started the finishing process, but as we added the coats of tung oil we were amazed at how it heightens the swirling grains and warm chocolaty tones.
A few holidays, snowmobile season and a litter of Weimaraner puppies later and we are still working on our bathroom! We are hand making our vanity and that’s our current stage of the process. Stay tuned for the vanity and completion of my bathroom
Reclaimed wood floors are a popular option for homeowners and for public buildings as well. The floors give a sense of history to any building. We understand the importance of maintaining that history. A good example of this is the flooring that we have reclaimed from the Guerrant Family Plantation and Algoma Apple Packing Farm. Two hundred and fifty years ago the 3,000-acre plantation and farm was the site of 100 buildings. The apples grown on this land near Boones Mill, Va., were harvested and shipped to England and played a role in the nourishment of soldiers from the Civil War to the Second World War. Today only a few buildings made from the plantation trees almost three centuries ago remain, but the wood from these structures are still playing vital roles in today’s construction. It’s the story of the Many Lives of An Apple Farm Tree and the Green alternatives it provides for your home.
Their first lifetime was spent as majestic trees providing shelter and shade for forest animals as an integral part in the eco-system. They grew to great proportions and were likely more than 200 to 300 years old before being harvested.
Their second lifetime was spent as components of the Apple Farm’s many buildings: the large packing barn where apples were prepared for shipment to England was built of chestnut; the farmhand’s quarters were constructed of heart pine; and the main building was oak.
In the spirit of Earth Day, Carlisle has challenged its employees to commit to greening one aspect of their personal lives. We figure that, over the course of 365 days, our 150+ employees will reduce the drain on natural resources in over 55,000 ways!
Some of the suggestions we made are:
Bring in a coffee mug and stop using the paper/styrofoam cups
Buy reusable bags instead of using paper or plastic at the store
Switch from incandescent to compact fluorescent light bulbs
Walk or take public transportation instead of driving once a week
Support local business to cut back on transportation demands
Buy organic - you'll reduce the amount of pesticides in our food chain
Step up your recycling
If you are having a baby, consider cloth diapers
Bank online - stop your paper statements
Remove yourself from mailing lists
Do any of you plan on participating in a similar commitment? Do you have any other suggestions of simple ways to make a difference?
It's a warm, sunny day in Seneca, South Carolina. The gentle breeze is wafting off of Lake Keowee and the air is thick with the sound of birds, the rustling leaves, and...the landscapers? Are they cutting down that tree over the walkway?! Ronda Ringo just finished a conference call when I gave her a call, and amidst the hustle and bustle of her daily life as a Solutions Principal for EMC Software, she now feared that her yard was going to be treeless. Thankfully, everything was under control, and I got to learn of the fateful way that Ronda and Carlisle Wide Plank Floors were united.
Outside of her day job, Ronda loves interior design. Over the years, she's assembled an extensive portfolio of things that have caught her eye - carpet samples, paint colors, design ideas, and supply companies. A long-time subscriber of Coastal Living magazine, Ronda had seen an advertisement for Carlisle Wide Plank Floors years ago, and knew that was what she wanted to have in her home someday. She tucked the clipping into her portfolio without too much thought at the time. When it came time for her to design her own home from scratch years later, the light went on and she remembered that little clipping as she discussed her flooring options with her contractor.
Green Building Programs and Standards are emerging everywhere. While many are casually compiled and branded, there are a lot of strong programs out there. Two of the leading programs are LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and EnergyStar.
The LEED Program is a product of the USGBC (United States Green Building Council). I think the LEED is strong for two reasons: 1) it takes into consideration different building types - there are different LEED programs for Homes, Schools, Retail, Healthcare, and more; and 2) it considers a broad scope of Green Building objectives - including Materials & Resources, Water Efficiency, Site Sustainability, and Indoor Environmental Quality. In contrast, the LEED program has been criticized for 1) having limited emphasis on lifecycle analysis; and 2) demanding a higher implementation cost.
Energy Star, on the other hand, is a residential program that focuses primarily on energy efficiency and indoor air quality. This program appeals to homeowners because it evaluates and makes recommendations on improving the heating, cooling, and water systems within a home - all of these improvements will translate into savings on the energy bill. This government program also offers tax benefits to subscribers - another popular and tangible enhancement. Unfortunately, this program does not consider other Green Building objectives, like Material or Site Selection.
Have any of you been a part of one of these or another Green Building program? What was your experience like?
We're excited to introduce a new type of blog post that we'll be offering to you regularly here on Surface - "True Hardwood Stories" - real stories and feedback from actual Carlisle customers!
Flipping through our books full of heartfelt, handmade customer letters and photographs, we thought it would be a shame to keep that to ourselves and not let others see what wonderful and different ways Carlisle has been impacting the lives of our customers over the years. We'll be conducting interviews and featuring customers on the blog to help tell their story and hopefully inspire you to do the same.
As always, feel free to share your questions and concerns. Are you a previous or current customer with your own story to tell? We'd love to feature you! Just leave us a comment expressing your interest and we'll be in touch with you right away. Maybe you'll get to feel like a celebrity and see your story on the blog someday! What's your True Hardwood Story?
Author's Name: Lesley Anderson
Posted Date: at 11:00 AM
Filed under: True Hardwood Story
I just returned from the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in Chicago—what a great show! The venue is in such a beautiful place, bordering Lake Michigan and large enough to fill three exhibit halls worth of kitchen and bathroom products/services. Carlisle’s booth was in the Lakeside Center. Our 200 square foot booth had two of our signature wood floors: 12-16” Eastern White Pine with Plymouth Pumpkin stain and 7-10” Hickory with our Tung Oil finish. Both floors and sample panels were show stoppers and attracted DIY homeowners and architects/designers alike. Our sales staff had a nice time chatting with clients and really enjoyed the high number of people walking KBIS this year. Gary and Erin especially liked answering questions and educating booth visitors about our new Custom Coat™ Pre-Finished floors—our latest product to launch. Brian and Eric, members of our sales staff from our new Chicago design center commented that dispelling common myths about wood floors was one of their favorite topics to speak about.
As I walked the show, I did see some neat products. The latest kitchen and bathroom counters that peaked my interest are of recycled glass and I saw some neat handmade pullware for kitchen or bathroom cabinets, designed to match any style or decor. Lastly, radiant heat—which has become a popular heating source, is a luxury underfoot in bathrooms. Before the show ended I was able to listen to Home Magazine Live, a radio program hosted by Alan Taylor—he interviewed our very own Gary Ryer for a short segment on our wide plank floors.
Author's Name: Megan Sprague
Posted Date: April 16, 2008 at 4:38 PM
Filed under: Megan Sprague
Hi everyone. I’m Sara Fritz and I am the Human Resources Manager here at Carlisle Wide Plank Floors. It’s hard for me to believe but I have been part of the Carlisle family for just over 7 years now and what a great time it has been. As a Carlisle customer myself, I’m ready to share my take on the installation process, four-legged animal distressing (I have two dogs) and the overall experience of living on a Carlisle floor. As the HR Manager I don’t get to spend much time educating our customers so this may be my chance, but other than that I’m hoping that my blog additions will help you to get the inside scoop on what makes Carlisle tick.
One thing I will share with you is an intimate look into the Carlisle employee culture. I’m proud to say that we have a unique bunch of people working here and by sharing some of our experiences you may see just how special our company is. Be it though different volunteer projects we participate in, how we celebrate each other’s personal/professional successes or the companies charitable giving initiatives you will have a unique window into what makes Carlisle, well, Carlisle.
On a personal note, my passions include cooking/baking, softball and the Boston Red Sox. I absolutely love to bake and decorate birthday cakes for fellow employees (and their families) and I hope to one day make it a more formal business for myself. And yes, I do share recipes. I have also been a Boston Red Sox fan for over 35 years now, so I guess you could call me gluten for punishment who finally knows the sweet taste of success. Yes, I survived the Bucky Dent home run of 1978 and the Bill Buckner event in 1986 but lady luck has been shining on us as of late. Two World Series wins in 3 years is pretty cool, I must say. I actually attended Opening Day at Fenway Park on April 8th and to see the team receive their World Series rings was a personal dream come true. Not to mention the public display of forgiveness for Bill Buckner as he threw out the first pitch. So if any of you ever want to talk Boston baseball, I’m your gal.
Well, I look forward to chatting with you and I’m sure we will share lots of thoughts, ideas and passions. Until then!
Sara
Author's Name: Sara Fritz
Posted Date: at 12:58 PM
Filed under: Sara Fritz
Longleaf Yellow Pine used to be the dominate species in Southeastern United States. It was the Driving force behind the South’s post Civil War industrial revolution Established the social status of hard wood floors Primary wood used in early 1900s Southern homes, mills, and factories. Not to be confused with Shortleaf Yellow Pine, a fast growing timber that is used today for plywood, pulp and pressure treated lumber.
What makes Longleaf Heart Pine so special and prized by our customers is the deep amber-colored patina which darkens and becomes more beautiful as the wood ages. If a floor rich in history, family tradition, and color is your idea of the perfect surface for your home, ask for a sample of Carlisle's Old Growth Heart Pine today. It will be a floor that grows with your family for generations.
John Crosby and Don Carlisle on the Crosby Alabama plantation.
For more than 40 years, Carlisle Heart Pine has come from a 30,000-acre plantation in Alabama, owned and operated by the Crosby famliy.
This is the first in an on going video series we are calling All About Wood, highlighting the history, facts and thoughts about our most popular wide plank hard wood flooring.
Can’t buy a home with the kitchen of your dreams…then remodel your current home and express your personal style in every design element! According to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, business is booming for contractors and others in home improvement businesses. In fact, a recent study conducted by Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies estimates Americans will spend $160 billion on repairs and home improvements in 2007, a 3.2 percent increase over the previous year. The five most popular remodeling projects will be kitchens and bathrooms, additions, and changing the paint, floor and wall coverings.
As green initiatives are implemented into our communities, I think we'll see more and more unexpected contradictions. In this case, we are talking about the tree vs. the solar panel. The New York Times recently reported on an incident in California, in which one neighbor's treasured redwoods block the direct sunlight from hitting another neighbor's solar panels. The battle culminated in a courtroom and a judge ordered that the tree growing neighbors must ensure that no more than 10% of the panels are blocked - risking fines of $1000/day for infringement.
Not too long ago, I read about a similar issue in local Denver. Have any of you come across your own versions of this impending dilemma?
The AIA, American Institute of Architects, is a coalition of over 83,000 members - including licensed architects, designers, corporate sponsors, and government representatives. The organization is multi-faceted; however one of the foremost initiatives is ongoing education.
For us, the opportunity to present is about getting the chance to educate key decision makers on the application of our products. Currently, we offer three approved courses - each at 1.5 (CEU) Continuing Education Units and 1 Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) unit:
Wide Plank Wood Floors Over Radiant Heat: Yes You Can!
Antique Woods: Reclaiming the Past
Building Green: One Plank at a Time
Are any of you architects interested in learning more about our AIA-CEU program? For the rest of you, don't you think it's critical that our architects stay update on available products and applications? What other seminar topics do you think we should consider covering?
Wood over concrete? Yes, it can be done! For the longest time, homeowners were warned that wide plank wood floors installed over concrete would result in moisture problems. But that’s not so anymore. A concrete sub-floor is no reason to deny yourself beautiful wood floors. Nowadays, they can go virtually anywhere.
It is true that wood is affected by climate change: wood fibers expand and contract with fluctuations in relative humidity. However, this movement and the resulting moisture problems can be controlled with proper installation techniques and the use of high quality wood products. If you’re going to be installing over concrete, it becomes even more critical that you understand what part of the tree the boards are cut from and the manner in which the boards were processed; both of these factors are vital to your overall satisfaction with the floor. Wood cut from the center of a tree contains a higher percentage of vertical grain, which makes it less susceptible to movement and thus a higher quality material.
Before you embark on this installation process, we recommend certain rules of thumb to manage moisture and ensure the stability of the wood:
1. Be sure the wood supplier has properly dried the wood. (We recommend 6-12 months of air drying followed by a period of kiln drying.)
2. Let the wood acclimate in the home or business for 7-10 days.
3. During acclimation in your home or business, keep relative humidity at 45 percent.
4. Make sure the wood flooring has proper stress reliefs (These ridges on the underside of the wood relieve tension in wood, reduces board movement, and provides a greater glue surface).
There are two options for installation of wide plank wood floors. Both options are driven by the height allowance between the slab and door. To determine height, measure the distance from the top of slab to the bottom of the exterior door or measure the transition to other flooring surfaces. Check accuracy by swinging door completely in both directions.
Here are some step-by-step installation guidelines once you know the height allowance:
Option One: Gluing directly to concrete -- 1/2 to 3/4 inch height allowance
Using either Bostik’s Best or Sika adhesive product, spread one layer of adhesive onto the concrete per manufacturer’s instructions and place your Carlisle planks, milled to 1/2 to 3/4 inch thickness directly onto the adhesive. Allow 12 hours drying time before finishing your floors.
Option Two-A: Concrete slab with plywood sub-floor – 1 inch height allowance Place a layer of 6mm polyethylene onto the concrete as your moisture barrier. Using a Hilti Direct fastening tool, shoot concrete nails into 1/2 inch plywood to apply directly onto concrete. Install Carlisle Wide Plank Floors, milled to 1/2 inch thickness by blind nailing and gluing.
Option Two-B: Concrete slab with plywood sub-floor – 1 1/2 inches or more height allowance Lay down 3/4 inch plywood and then follow the directions above.
The cost associated with both options for installing wood over concrete is similar. However, due to the cost of the adhesives, it can be slightly cheaper to use the plywood method. It’s also possible to install Carlisle floors over concrete slabs with radiant heat. The installation process calls for using a floating plywood sub-floor. Proof that this method of installation has gained industry acceptance is its prevalence in high end commercial applications. For instance, the Park Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C., used Carlisle White Oak wide plank wood flooring over concrete in the public space of their main level. Given the resources for high quality wood, like Carlisle Wide Plank Floors, and the variety of mastic adhesives available today, you too can install wood floors over concrete in your home.
A few weeks ago while browsing the Garden Web forums, I came across a concern we hear from time to time regarding durability.
Posted by mamadadapaige
Hi, Please help me get to the bottom of this...
We are renovating our house and putting in hardwood floors which will run continuously through several rooms, including the kitchen and butt up against some existing vertical grain fir floors.
I want something that will work harmoniously with the fir but be much more durable since this will be in the kitchen and since we have young kids in the house.
I would like to go with old growth Cherry from Carlisle (www.wideplankflooring). They have assured me that because the cherry is old growth it will be hard enough to be durable in a kitchen. The architect (albeit a young architect) also assured me of the same thing (said that if it were cherry from anyone else he would say no, but that the Carlisle cherry is denser). The contractors are saying there is no way this is hard enough to be durable in a kitchen and are STRONGLY advising me against it.
I love the look of it and really want to go with it but I also trust the contractors and am afraid.
If we don't do this, we will go with quartersawn white oak and deal with the fact that where the oak meets up with the fir the contrast is great (and probably not very pleasing to the eye). Unfortunately where they meet is very visible as you enter the house so not an ideal situation.
Anyone with specific experience with Carlisle Cherry floors?? or even if not, any advise for me?
thanks!!!
I've grown up with traditional wood floors as my parents loved them and made this there passion to bring to others to enjoy. Now I am carrying on the tradition and would love to help share some thoughts on your decision.
Its very interesting to me to see what others have said about your desire for Cherry flooring, good quality cherry will last for generations and there definitely are not any durability concerns. Pine flooring still remains in good condition in many of the Early American architecture and is a highly sought after and beautiful floor. Cherry is much harder and every bit as durable. If you aesthetically love the look of Cherry you shouldn't change this direction. Cherry has been used in homes all over the country for a long time with fantastic results. Your children will add character to the cherry, the extent to which this happens will directly correlate to the finish that is used. I am a proponent for a softer finish that allows the normal aging process and doesn't look like plastic plus maintains the beauty of the Cherry. There is no issue regarding the floors durability, yes you can use Ash or Oak but make your decision based on the look you want. The difference in the wear and durability will be negligible to you and both floors will be there for another generation to enjoy!
You may have noticed in our green literature that we refer to our products as "Antique Reclaimed", as opposed to using the words "antique" or "reclaimed" separately. While many of us think the terms can be used interchangeably, there is actually a distinct difference between the two.
Dictionary.com defines each word as:
Antique - any work of art, piece of furniture, decorative object, or the like, created or produced in a former period, or, according to U.S. customs laws, 100 years before date of purchase.
Reclaimed - Something brought into or returned to a suitable condition for use, as cultivation or habitation.
Just because something is reclaimed does not mean that it is antique. Think of a 20 year old basketball court: someone could salvage those boards and sell them as reclaimed but they are not considered antique. This 20 year old floor could be FSC certified as "Post-Consumer Reclaimed" but it does not have nearly the charm of our Antique Reclaimed floors.
If you are shopping other "reclaimed" products, make sure to ask if they are also Antique - as it will add patina and allure to your home.
Author's Name: Lindsay Barczuk
Posted Date: April 3, 2008 at 3:44 PM
Filed under: Wood Grains & Styles
I just wanted to take a moment during our transition into a new Operating System to note some internal changes I've seen. This new system is going to reduce our need for paper copies more than I could have expected. Our old systems got the job done, but required hard copies for checks and balances. With our new system and digital reporting, we will be more accurate and depend less on paper!
Driving to work this morning, I had an almost un-controlable urge to turn around and head back home to play hookie. Almost! Why today? To answer that question, let us go back to the last time we saw bare ground and 60 degree weather here in New Hampshire. It was late October, and I was deep in the woods scouring for deer sign, taking a vacation day with my wife while the kids were in school. We hiked areas that she had never been to, bringing a picnic lunch and a couple of cameras in case we saw anything worth shooting. The deep ravine, with the roaring brook running through it, was more spectacular to her then I described. Other then being spooked by a beautiful Great Horned Owl leaving a tree directly in front of us, it was a quiet hike.
Seeing ten deer grazing in a bare spot of an otherwise snow covered field this morning is what triggered these thoughts of delinquincy. This winter has been one of the longest in New Hampshire's history, topping over 100 inches of snow. It started in late October, and today being April 1st, it is a little discouraging to still have two feet of snow in most parts of the woods. Normally this wouldnt slow our family down, but the kids are at that age where they can't quite keep up with us snowshoeing, and late March sickness has taking over our household.
The good news is the ponds are opening up from being covered in ice, so we will be dropping the 1933 Old Town Canoe into the water very soon. And I can't wait to try out my new kayak. My wife is itching to get her hands deep into the soil, and the kids have already dusted their bikes off. Goodbye snow, hello green grass.
Author's Name: Rick Menard
Posted Date: April 1, 2008 at 8:48 AM
Filed under: Rick Menard
I began my project in September 2007 when my boyfriend Dan and I first decided to embark on the demolition of our current bathroom. We knew straight off that it was going to be a fairly large undertaking, but we also knew it had to be done. After two days of destroying, hauling pieces of old sheetrock, insulation and tile out by the truckload we were finally down to the rafters. 
As we have delicately built the bathroom back up we decided to make our project as custom as we could afford. Firstly, we’ve done the entire project ourselves: plumbing, electrical, everything! (We did have the extra hands of our dads helping out, which is great.) Dan invented his own radiant heat system—it’s a built-in subfloor unit with PEX tubing (which we purchased on EBay inexpensively). We were able to install our Carlisle floor directly on top of our radiant heat system. We also did a tile inlay underneath our toilet and in front of our bathtub, and it was really easy to make both the tile and the walnut work nicely together during the installation—we had zero hiccups. 
One of the best parts during our renovation was applying the tung oil to our floor. We thought the wood was stunning before we started the finishing process, but as we added the coats of tung oil we were amazed at how it heightens the swirling grains and warm chocolaty tones. 
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Their first lifetime was spent as majestic trees providing shelter and shade for forest animals as an integral part in the eco-system. They grew to great proportions and were likely more than 200 to 300 years old before being harvested.
Hi everyone. I’m Sara Fritz and I am the Human Resources Manager here at Carlisle Wide Plank Floors. It’s hard for me to believe but I have been part of the Carlisle family for just over 7 years now and what a great time it has been. As a Carlisle customer myself, I’m ready to share my take on the installation process, four-legged animal distressing (I have two dogs) and the overall experience of living on a Carlisle floor. As the HR Manager I don’t get to spend much time educating our customers so this may be my chance, but other than that I’m hoping that my blog additions will help you to get the inside scoop on what makes Carlisle tick. 
