Hardwood notes
Spec guides + trade tips
from the showroom.
What we've learned shipping hardwood across Chicagoland for three decades. New post every Monday + Thursday — install notes, spec gotchas, brand comparisons, contractor process.
- SpecAugust 18, 2026 · 5 min read
The best hardwood species for Chicago's humidity swings
Chicago runs muggy in July and bone-dry in January. That swing is what moves floors. The species and cuts that hold tightest — and the ones to spec carefully.
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- GuideAugust 14, 2026 · 4 min read
What to expect at a Chicago hardwood flooring showroom
Photos flatten wood. See the grain in daylight, feel the finish, take samples home. What's on the floor at our Schiller Park and Bridgeview showrooms.
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- SpecAugust 11, 2026 · 5 min read
Hardwood floor refinishing in Chicago — the grit sequence that actually works
Skip a grit and you leave swirl the stain magnifies. The full drum → edger → screen sequence Chicago floor pros use, and the abrasives to pull for each pass.
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- SpecJune 29, 2026 · 7 min read
Stairs, Moldings, and Transitions: The Final 5% That Makes or Breaks a Chicago Install
A floor is only as good as its edges. From T-molds to stair nosing, here is how to spec the finishing touches for a built-in look.
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- GuideJune 28, 2026 · 7 min read
Choosing Hardwood Floors: A No-Nonsense Guide for Chicago Homeowners
Most homeowners start with color, but the wrong construction choice can ruin a floor in a Chicago basement. Here is the correct order of operations.
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- GuideJune 27, 2026 · 6 min read
Prefinished vs. site-finished hardwood: Which is right for your job?
Prefinished floors offer UV-cured durability and zero on-site dust. Site-finished floors offer custom stains and seamless joints. Here is how to choose.
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- IndustryJune 26, 2026 · 7 min read
Commercial hardwood for Chicago restaurants and banquet halls: Specs that actually last
A restaurant floor isn't a living room. From winter salt to 200+ guests in heels, commercial-grade specs are the only way to avoid a full replacement in 24 months.
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- SpecJune 25, 2026 · 7 min read
Subfloor prep and moisture barriers: The details that ruin Chicago floors
A high-end floor from Lauzon or Mirage is only as good as the slab beneath it. If your moisture readings are off, the brand doesn't matter.
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- GuideJune 24, 2026 · 6 min read
Hardwood in Chicago basements: Why solid fails and engineered wins
Putting solid hardwood in a Chicago basement is a recipe for cupping. Here is the technical breakdown of why engineered plywood-core is the standard for below-grade installs.
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- GuideJune 5, 2026 · 6 min read
Hardwood vs luxury vinyl plank — when each actually wins
LVP is genuinely good at some things, and worse at others. Here's the honest hardwood-vs-vinyl breakdown by room, budget, and resale — from a hardwood shop.
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- SpecJune 3, 2026 · 6 min read
Wide-plank white oak in Chicago — what to know before you spec
Wide-plank white oak is the most-spec'd look in Chicago right now. Here's what changes at 7 inches and wider — and how to keep it flat through a Chicago winter.
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- GuideJune 1, 2026 · 5 min read
Unfinished hardwood grades — Select & Better to Common #3
Select & Better, Common #1, #2, #3 — mill grade controls knots and color, not durability. Here's how to pick the right unfinished grade for your job.
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- GuideMay 28, 2026 · 6 min read
Engineered vs solid hardwood — what actually works in Chicago
Chicago humidity swings 70% in summer to 20% in winter. Engineered hardwood handles that better than solid in 80% of installs we ship — here's why.
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- SpecMay 26, 2026 · 5 min read
Hardwood + radiant heat — the spec guide most installers skip
5/8" engineered, hard-wax oil, surface temp under 80°F, RH 35–55%. Get any of those wrong and the floor cups in year one. Spec checklist inside.
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- TradeMay 24, 2026 · 4 min read
Opening a trade account at TQF — what changes for your jobs
15–22% off list, dedicated rep, jobsite delivery. Plus the resale cert workflow that keeps you tax-exempt on every order.
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More posts incoming
We're publishing fresh hardwood guides twice a week. Bookmark this page, or call (847) 233-6300 if you have a spec question we should write about.