Joined: Wed Jun 09, 2010 8:39 pm
Posts: 43
I hate installing the "5 size" only flooring. Some times your lucky and you get the "3 size" flooring. Wow what a treat. Racking it sucks. All shorts. And I always get a plank 1/8" too thin on every sinlge job. Of course I don't notice till my whole row is done. I installed a "birch" and I was literally able to snap a board in half over my leg. It's weak, soft wood. Some of the "ashes" and "oaks" are not terrible. All their finishes smell horrible. Some times I get a board that is still wet with stain.I think it's safe to say that 90% of our jobs where a customer has already purchased the wood are chinese floors, because they found them on sale at Home Depot.It's a shame they are permitted to sell these woods as birch, oak, ash etc., when they are a chinese species. If they had the word "chinese" in front of them, I'm sure alot of people would think twice before purchasing it. Some times I cannot help but show them where it came from when they ask me if it's a good product. When I point out the "made in china" sticker they usually shake their heads.The thing that makes it difficult is when you have a brand new staircase ready to be stained to the same color and the red oak stairs don't look anything like the oak floors. The grain is different so it looks like crap.