Hardwood notes
Spec guides + trade tips
from the showroom.
Install notes, spec details, brand comparisons and the contractor process — for Chicago homeowners and pros.
- 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.
Read post →
- 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 to expect at our Schiller Park showroom.
Read post →
- 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.
Read post →
- 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.
Read post →
- 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.
Read post →
- 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.
Read post →
- 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.
Read post →
- 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.
Read post →
- 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.
Read post →
- 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.
Read post →
- SpecJune 3, 2026 · 6 min read
Wide-plank white oak in Chicago — what to know before you spec
Wide-plank white oak is a popular look in Chicago right now. Here's what changes at 7 inches and wider — and how to keep it flat through a Chicago winter.
Read post →
- 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.
Read post →
- 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 often handles that better than solid — here's why.
Read post →
- 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.
Read post →
- TradeMay 24, 2026 · 4 min read
Opening a trade account at TQF — what changes for your jobs
Tax-exempt buying with your Illinois resale certificate, kept on file — plus how waiting time and pricing work for your jobs.
Read post →
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.