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Finish and Install

Home - Finish and Install

Knotty Southern Yellow Pine floors MI lake
27 Jun

Glue down Southern Pine

Finish and Install, Knotty Pine, Unique and or Cheap

In reality, you can glue down Southern Pine in standard 3/4 thickness. No problem, you want to glue down Southern Pine you use Bostiks Best. It has a built in moisture barrier and is urethane based so that is allows movement like a nail. But today, in this blog glue down Southern Pine is 1/2 inch, with the long lengths up to 14′ an option. SYP Direct does not sell anything but real wood and this 1/2 glue southern pine is perfect for new construction or a remodel. See more on Pinterest or Houzz.

Glue down Southern Pine don’t buy engineered and pay more for a veneer.

Installing a southern pine floor unfinished waiting to finish with durable stain
Wide plank 1/2 inch
Glue down southern pine
Glue down

We have 1/2 inch glue down Southern Pine

So if you want to glue down Southern Pine, the 3/4 thick type; it is not a problem, just use the proper adhesive which is Bostiks Best. Bostiks is polymer based and allows microscopic movement, just like a nail. Plus it has a built in moisture barrier, the stuff is marine grade and truly an amazing product. For more information on our products and Bostiks, including customers that have done it already, some 10 years ago.

More about buying Southern Pine from us

Southern Yellow Pine Direct is the homeowners’ resource for the best pine flooring on the market. However, we are so much more than just flooring.  In fact, SYP Direct works with your contractor if you are purchasing your own materials. Do not get stuck with ‘bundled’ services, finish and installation does not have to include the floors. Why should you be held captive? To find out more about SYP Direct- contact us now.

Pine Flooring Experts– is another reason to buy from SYP Direct.  Southern Pine represents about 5% of the flooring market, and unfinished pine is a small piece market. It is heavy, long and unprofitable compared to engineered and LVT floors. Very few flooring installation professionals understand Southern Pine or Heart pine. We do, and with over 3 million square feet delivered to homeowners our experience is unmatched when talking about pine floors. 

Southern yellow pine direct flooring

SYP Direct offers 1000 square feet of 3/4 x 3 1/8 clear pine (no knots) finished as seen with Aluminum Oxide top coat.

Glue down 3/4 prefinished Clear Pine with Blue “Fungus”
Blue magic prefinished pine
Blue magic
Prefinished southern yellow pine
3/4 x 3 1/8 all 10′ tongue and groove with ends matched
Southern Yellow Pine Direct offer homeowners the reliability of an A+ rated BBB company; the best quality, pricing and service bar none. We operate under an “old school” philosophy that the customer is always right. We make sure you are just that by educating and dispelling myths about Southern Pine and Heart Pine flooring.
Remember we are a mill to order manufacturer of unfinished and prefinished Southern Pine, including our speciality Heart Pine. Our lead times are normally about two weeks, with Hardwoods and Imports the lead times vary and that is an understatement. 2 days -2 months has bee the answer since COVID. But things are imporving, as White Oak prices continue to fall. (Jason Howard 9/9/2022)
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SYP Direct sells White Oak solid hardwood flooring
28 May

North Carolina

Our favorite Finishes

In 2018 SYP Direct was named Houzz Hardwood flooring dealer of the year in South Carolina, but North Carolina was the #1 state for sales. In fact, the two Carolina’s have both been in our top 5 states by sales volume for 14 years in a row. The reasons are not all about style and taste because when are talking about North Carolina and ‘her’ sister to the south, the population varies dramatically from coastal to mountain with everything in between. One of our first big trips was to the Raleigh area where we visited our floor. (The Mercantile Antique Mall). Photo

North carolina mercantile antique mall

Lye treatment

North Carolina finish to order Heart Pine

https://premierefinishingandcoating.com/Reidsville, North Carolina is the home of Premiere Finish & Coating. Please visit their site, the technology is state of the art. “If you can dream it, we can create it”. SYP Direct specializes in unfinished Southern Pine and Heart Pine, but our premium services include ‘finish to order’ flooring.

Our partnership with Premiere centers on finishing our authentic long gorgeous pine, with one caveat. We ship our unfinished pine from our mill in Alabama, sometimes we have floors waiting to be ‘finished to order’. That is a fancy way of saying, not sold yet; and or if the timing is right we can share a ride from Alabama for your pick up. Call us today to find out what we have in Reidsville. 1-888-286-2057

Premiere Finishing & Coating has expanded its capabilities in a significant way by installing two new production lines with enhanced finishing capacity for cabinetry, doors, frames, moldings, panels, and other mill-work.

North Carolina the best deal in Heart Pine- Bona Natural Traffic on 1 x 8 x 12 Mill Run Heart Pine

The photo below or of samples of our finished order bona natural traffic on our 1 x 8 mill run heart pine those floors are finished tongue in groove and left in all 12 foot boards quite unique and available for pickup in Reidsville North Carolina

Bona Traffic for commercial and residential along with Monocoat by Rubio are our two go to finish products. For more information send us an email requesting information about the process of ‘finish to order’, and or follow the links.

Mill run heart pine finish to order bona traffic natural
Finish to order

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Box store pine floors are short and this are 14 feet long
03 May

Box Store Pine Floors

Wood Floor Shopping, Misconceptions, Misdirections and Misinformation, Our favorite Finishes

Box store pine floors are not as good as ours and they are more expensive. Let me repeat, apples to apples they way more expensive. And even their cheaper stuff is stupid expensive for what it is, or certainly what it is not. In world where laminate and hardwood are regularly used to market some floor cover, you might want to use a healthy skepticism when floor shopping. Rule number 1- or at least the question to ask when promised a lifetime transferable warranty; so forever?

My name is Jason and this is about box store pine floors

Why is this guy putting his name is the heading? Great question. The same reason you are going to see the term ‘box store pine floors’ over and over; we do not pay for advertising. Much easier said than done, if you are not on the first page its tough. So my great Do It Yourself project has been this website. I wrote every word and am responsible for every typo; but nowhere on this site will I lie or show you a picture that is not our floor and client (client proxy, i.e. builders). Welcome to SYP Direct

Box Store Pine Floors are short, by definition they are not select.

“Select” Knotty Pine and assume it means ‘the best’. No, not all. Select, by definition, indicates ‘hand selected’ during the sorting process. Only problem, it is all ‘hand sorted’ unless you are keeping defects in the grade. Lumber Liquidators does sell select pine, it was selected to be sold for pulp or thrown away, but still selected.

Select is hand selected

Select, or hand select wood floors all come from the same mill. Wait Jason, all box store pine comes from the same mill, right? Think about that for a minute- what size mill, what mill would be willing to sell size at “discount”- not in the real world. Sounds good in sales pitch, but Southern Pine Flooring mills do no business directly with any of box stores. Lumber mills, yes but that is part of the problem- read What is Southern Pine.

The mercantile antique mall
The mercantile antique mall
Display the colors and character of the knots in our rustic southern pine floors
Prefinished wide plank heart pine
Southern yellow pine direct the best prices per square foot
Antiqued southern pine
Box store pine floors
Compare to box store pine

Box stores are great, box store pine floors are not even good compared to YOUR options.

Did you know that we can take our 12′ boards and finish them based on your specifications. Yup, finished to order. Not to be confused with prefinished box store pine floors. A factory or flat line finish is not something that becomes affordable without some volume, so sometimes smaller projects will not work, for people with budgets. In fact, you can finish your cabinets, stairs and trim, all in the same place.

3/4 x 6 7/8 (1 x 8) Mill Run Heart Pine- What is Mill Run?

Our Mill Run Heart Pine, might also be seen in our photos as Character Grade which we had to change a few years back because it is not character grade pine. It is Heart Pine, in 12′ boards sorting with same concept as Euro Character White Oak, we took out the Euro of course. However, Character Pine is now being used to define tavern and cabin grade which a finish. My cousin Bub would call that lipstick on a pig.

Box store pine floors priced over $6.00 check these out

All of these floors were less than than anything you find shopping through box store pine floors. Long boards- Amazing Character.

Wide plank southern pine flooring
Box store pine floors
Box store pine floors
Box store pine floors
Finished and yet un-named
The real milk paint coat 1 of 2 after sanding
Compare these 12′ boards to box store pine

 

In conclusion, we love Home Depot and Lowes- but their prefinished solid pine floors are a mass produced product.

Caveat’ to that statement, we need lead time and you need to be doing more than one room. I wish it were different but this process is not off the shelf, custom is the proper description. Luxury flooring that beats box store pine prices, no kidding. Not to mention we can finish wide planks and 12′ boards, ask them that at lumber liquidators or whatever they call themselves now. Mill Run Heart Pine, finished clear or tint with topcoat, plus aluminum oxide UV protection- the price depends upon volume, call us now. 888 286 2057 or fill out the contact form.

MORE FROM SOUTHERN YELLOW PINE DIRECT- Our Houzz Pages

White/Blue/Gray- Beach Floors

Made in America- Southern Pine & Alabama Heart Pine

Caribbean Heart Pine

Southern Yellow Pine Direct offer homeowners the reliability of an A+ rated BBB company; the best quality, pricing and service bar none. We operate under an “old school” philosophy that the customer is always right. We make sure you are just that by educating and dispelling myths about Southern Pine and Heart Pine flooring.
Remember we are a mill to order manufacturer of unfinished and prefinished Southern Pine, including our speciality Heart Pine. Our lead times are normally about two weeks, with Hardwoods and Imports the lead times vary and that is an understatement. 2 days -2 months has bee the answer since COVID. But things are imporving, as White Oak prices continue to fall. (Jason Howard 9/9/2022)
Read More
14 Apr

Dog Friendly

Finish and Install, Misconceptions, Misdirections and Misinformation

2024 Dog Friendly Floors Update

Dog friendly floors are all about the finish. Of course, you will here that real wood is not good for big dogs or even dogs in general. This is simply not true, at all. However, before we talk about the finish, we should address the question of Southern Pine and if it is a dog friendly floor.  There is so much confusion regarding pine because there are so many variations of this versatile and durable species. First and foremost, not all pine is created equal. Dimensional lumber (2×4) and New Heart Pine are not from the same species, or age of pine but unfortunately this is not common knowledge.

Dog friendly floors from syp direct owner and dog

Dog Friendly floors need dog friendly people; while the content below is about dog friendly floors, the aim is to introduce CARA and two special dogs. Our company, and the writer believe passionately about the work the employees and volunteers do at CARA as well as other No Kill Shelters. If you can help you local shelter, we urge you to do so. Every little bit helps, from blankets to kitty litter. Beware of visits, you might find one hard to leave, we sure did.

Community Animal Rescue and Adoption

Community Animal Rescue and Adoption of Jackson Mississippi, or CARA is one of 4000 No Kill Shelters in the United States. A community shelter is considered no-kill when every brick-and-mortar shelter serving and/or located in that community has reached a ‘save rate’ of 90% or higher. Estimates put the total number of entities deemed animal rescue groups with or without brick and mortar over 14,000. Those numbers were eye opening when you put them into the context of the total number of animals involved. For more information search your local animal shelter or visit CARA of Jackson and adopt a new best friend.  

Our reasons to support CARA

Tank- What is he is usually the first question when inquiring about Tank. Our answer or guess, Tank is a Plott Hound or at least part one. The AKC tells us that the breed is “noted for stamina, endurance, agility, determination and aggressiveness when hunting” which Tank does very little of today unless he losses a dog treat. Tank was adopted and then returned to CARA by the owners which is heart breaking. He was love at first sight, we brought him home in 2013 where he remained an only child until 2016 and the Moo arrived.

One the best dog friendly floors and finsh

Thank you CARA

Ellie
Ellie "Moo"

Ellie Moo – After being saved from the city animal shelter by a dedicated employee Ellie spent almost two years in CARA. When she arrived her hair patchy and her neck marked from the chain, there was not much hope of adoption. If you did not realize, Ellie is a pit bull and in some places illegal to own. Our assertion has always been that the problem lies with the breeders and owners not the dogs, Ellie Moo was just confirmation. Today her life is much different,  she has custom dog bed a big yard, daily walks and her buddy Tank. In case you wonder Ellie Mae became Ellie Moo, now really just the Moo for her close friends.

 

The finish is 10x more important than the type of floor, all woods scratches and scuffs with kids and dogs. For the DIY, ease of repair is my first choice followed by ease of application which includes time.

Dog Friendly floors

In the days when everything was toxic, the term dog friendly meant sap and knots, character for lack of better word because this allows scratches to be easily hidden. Today dog friendly can be about the allergens or aluminum dust, but good or bad the that terminology is everywhere. So, to be clear we are talking about the best finishes hiding and or fixing damages and we have a 100% zero VOC option, too.

A dog will be a dog- so dog friendly includes being easy to fix

Any UV coated finish can protect against normal (not large) dog wear and tear. The problem occurs when fixing an issue is necessary. As far as we know, only Monocoat by Rubio allows to “topically repair only the affected area” and better yet there is no sanding or ripping out entire rooms because of an entryway. It is no secret that Monocoat is our favorite DIY finish product for a number of reasons, including a true zero VOC product that requires ‘one coat’.

Homemade Scratch Repair- Olive oil and vinegar

Mix equal parts water and Vinegar which creates a natural wood filler perfect for tiny scratches. Mix the solution together & apply to with a clean rag, done.

Lemon juice and oil. Mix together equal parts fresh lemon juice and oil—canola oil, vegetable oil, or olive oil would all work. Apply to the scratch with a microfiber cloth, being sure to wipe in the direction of the wood grain, done.

Walnuts or Brazil Nuts. The natural oils Simply rub the nut over the scratch and let the natural oils fill in the dent. Because of their texture, walnuts and Brazil nuts work the best.  We have no 1st hand knowledge; however, trusted sources swear by this one. 

 

Southern Yellow Pine Direct offer homeowners the reliability of an A+ rated BBB company; the best quality, pricing and service bar none. We operate under an "old school" philosophy that the customer is always right. We make sure you are just that by educating and dispelling myths about Southern Pine and Heart Pine flooring.
Remember we are a mill to order manufacturer of unfinished and prefinished Southern Pine, including our speciality Heart Pine. Our lead times are normally about two weeks, with Hardwoods and Imports the lead times vary and that is an understatement. 2 days -2 months has bee the answer since COVID. But things are imporving, as White Oak prices continue to fall. (Jason Howard 9/9/2022)
Read More
#1 grade antique reclaimed heart pine
11 Dec

Historic Restorations

Finish and Install

Historic Restorations

If you are part of a historic restoration, please give us a call. Let us explain how ‘outsourcing’ the creation of your matching floor will save money, “a bunch of it”, but more than that it gives you creative control, 100%. Find out how. [/vc_message]

Historic Restorations might require 500 or 50,000 square feet  Park Terrace, is an example of a very large job. One that was about getting the floor exactly right, requiring multiple drafts; and, no surprise the savings we provided landed us the job.

Historic Restorations are more common than ever

Historic Restorations, rehabilitation, and updating save some of our most amazing properties. Our first post looks at 3 organizations dedicated to preserving historic properties of all types. Mississippi. Louisiana and North Carolina, the states we will visit first; to the volunteers, board members and donors we say thank you. Thanks so much for keeping these amazing properties a part of their community and neighborhoods.

Restorations versus historic restorations

Restoration focuses on preserving and utilizing as much material as possible from the most significant point in the home’s history.  Think of Restore versus rehabilitate as historically accurate restorations specific to a time period, versus simply “keeping the overall feel of a property”. Rehabilitation repairs the historic materials when possible but “new” materials are acceptable, i.e. matching an old floor.

Don’t pay for age, create it!

Faux Age
Mississippi heritage 10 most endangered historic restoration sites

Preservation North Carolina

Preservation North Carolina is known as “the animal shelter for old houses,” awesome nickname derived from their mission. Factory mills, commercial buildings, schools, churches, general stores, and post office are all part of the Endangered Properties Program. Since inception this 4500-member strong organization has rescued over 800 historic properties.

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New Orleans Historic Districts

In Louisiana, the Preservation Reservation Resource Center of New Orleans has been the architect of some amazing historic restorations.  “The PRC preserves New Orleans’ historic architecture, neighborhoods and cultural identity through collaboration, empowerment and service to our community.”  PRCNO.org (2020). From the Garden District to Bourbon street without organizations such as the PRNCO we lose history.

Historic restorations properties available in nc from prenc

Mississippi

Mississippi Heritage Trust: 10 most endangered

The Mississippi Heritage Trust list the ’10 Most Endangered Historic sites’, which offers us the chance to rescue history.  Since 1992, the Mississippi Heritage Trust helps raised money and grants funding to projects all over the state. We love the larger project such as the Sun and Sand located in downtown Jackson, but the 10 most endangered historic sites list is just cool!

Save historic sites

What a great idea, allowing local residents to nominate those places less prominent, to others.  The MHT may be the most important of any statewide organization, saving small towns and projects which otherwise would have vanished. For example, In Mississippi, these small rural projects have no private or municipal funding locally, MHT is the net.

Substituting for expensive reclaimed materials

Can Historic Restorations use substitute floors?

Substitutes are rarely accepted and never the first choice of an historic restoration, as they want accuracy. Homeowners desire to all thing ‘reclaimed’ created a thriving market. With this market came a huge range of prices. What defines the way these materials are marketed to the homeowner? 

Do not pay too much

People pay $15.00 when $5.00 was fair, happens everyday. Don’t believe that could happen to you? In every picture at least one or all but one of the boards are reclaimed or salvaged, the other new.

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Historic restorations using reclaimed heart pine
Antique reclaimed
Restoration projects in virginia prescott construction
Prescott construction project
Syp direct flooring is all about heart pine
Can you find the reclaimed board

Visit our Pinterest Page for more Projects

Read More
How long does it take to acclimate pine, how long does acclimation take depends upon moisture content.
04 Dec

Acclimation in six steps

Finish and Install, Wood Floor Shopping

If the flooring material being installed does not have specific acclimation and conditioning instructions, here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Make sure that the heating and air conditioning units are in operation at least five days before delivery of the flooring, during installation and after the flooring is installed. If it is not possible for permanent HVAC to be operating before, during and after installation, a temporary system that mimics normal living conditions may enable installation to proceed.

Step 2: Once the facility has been confirmed to be at the expected living condition, proceed with delivery of flooring material. Check the moisture content of the wood flooring as soon as it is received at the job site. Southern Pine and Heart Pine should be at 10%- with a consistent sub floor differential. 

Acclimation about moisture differential

Step 3: Check the moisture content of the sub-floor. The moisture content of the sub-floor should coincide with the temperature and relative humidity of the job-site, based on the temperature, relative humidity and average moisture content chart shown below. This moisture content reading will give you a good idea of where the conditions in the facility are being maintained and allow you to compare to the expected “in-use” conditions.

Step 4: Ensure the flooring material is exposed to the “normal” conditions of the environment in which it is being installed. To accomplish this, break the flooring units into small lots and/or open the flooring packages. Cross-stack the material with spacers between each layer to allow air circulation on all sides of all boards. Start stacking elevated from the subfloor. 

Acclimation is not about time

Acclimate to equilibrium moisture content for as long as it takes. Some species will take much longer to reach equilibrium moisture content than others. It is never a good idea to base acclimation on time alone, but rather on actual moisture content. 

Step 5: If the flooring material cannot be delivered to an adequate jobsite, pre-acclimation, an off-site location can work. The site must be set to mimic the expected conditions of the jobsite. Then deliver the acclimated materials to the jobsite; this is common custom floors. Again, refer to the temperature, relative humidity and moisture content chart to determine ideal conditions.

Step 6: Finally, make sure the flooring and wood subfloor moisture content is within the acceptable range for the jobsite. The subfloor should be within 4 percent for strip and 2 percent for plank wood flooring.

Equilibrium floor and sub floor.

Wood is only acclimated or conditioned once it reaches its equilibrium moisture content for the space in which it is expected to perform. Equilibrium moisture content is based on an “unchanging” environment. After a wood floor has been installed, changing conditions within the environment will change the equilibrium moisture content of the wood floor, ultimately resulting in dimensional change.

https://www.pinterest.com/sypdirect/

SYP Direct offers amazing prices with an A+ BBB rating; one in which we have held for 8 years in an industry where very few companies are even members of their local chapter. Call us today for custom prices based on your project, the location and scope. Truckload pricing available on #2 Knotty and Clear Pine, only. New Heart Pine and Caribbean Heart Pine prices will not change (as much) based strictly on volume.

Girl laying on pallet while pine acclimating prior to being glued down and face nailed

Acclimation – what we hope you take away from this post; Acclimation, sometimes called conditioning, is the process of allowing wood to reach its equilibrium moisture content (EMC) within “normal living conditions.” Not properly acclimating or conditioning wood flooring may cause excessive expansion, shrinkage, dimensional distortion, or even structural damage.

Southern Yellow Pine Direct offer homeowners the reliability of an A+ rated BBB company; the best quality, pricing and service bar none. We operate under an “old school” philosophy that the customer is always right. We make sure you are just that by educating and dispelling myths about Southern Pine and Heart Pine flooring.
Remember we are a mill to order manufacturer of unfinished and prefinished Southern Pine, including our speciality Heart Pine. Our lead times are normally about two weeks, with Hardwoods and Imports the lead times vary and that is an understatement. 2 days -2 months has bee the answer since COVID. But things are imporving, as White Oak prices continue to fall. (Jason Howard 9/9/2022)
Read More
Finish to order classic rustic southern pine floors.
18 Oct

Finish to order

Finish and Install, Our favorite Finishes

Finish to order takes mill direct one step further by sending our floors to Premiere Finishing in Reidsville North Carolina where they are transformed into a luxury custom floor. Before reading any further I need to share the truth about finish to order (factory) versus site finished wood floors.

Finish to order versus Site Finished solid wood floors

The best pine finishes are the ones that create gorgeous floors. Over the years we have come to trust all of the following; Monocoat, Milk Paint, Bona , WOCA and Tung Oils. Milk Paint tung oil blends, Monocoat by Rubio, Bona High Traffic, WOCA oils are all 100% approved to finish our Southern Pine, Heart Pine and we have the pictures to prove it!

Hand finished inspiration for finish to order "tank"
Monocoat by rubio 3 colors
Finish to order custom new heart pine floors
Finished to order wide plank
Mill run heart pine finish to order bona traffic natural
Finish to order
The durability of syp using monocoat and bona finish
Monocoat and bona
Finish to order caribbean heart pine monocoat pure
Monocoat pure finish
Local installers found for diy customers
Rocky branch

Prefinished floors are created, marketed then sold; finish to order is all no choice no marketing.

Prefinished mass produced floors are based on last years best selling styles, altering it slightly and changing the name. To be clear, we are talking about the most common species found in box stores, White Oak and Red Oak. Furthermore, this has nothing to do with engineered, LVT or laminate- real wood only.

Prefinished laminate hardwood floors- the words do not belong together but just go to a box store.

Laminate is not wood, it is a form of petroleum based 100% chemicals and it certainly is not hard. So why do they use these terms? The film they use on top of the chemical based flooring “tattoo” is essentially a photo of wood. The word hardwood is used to identify Walnut, Hickory, Maple, White and Red Oak. Using it to describe laminate makes no sense whatsoever until you consider that everything box stores is for the benefit of shareholders, not you.

  • Repurpose real wood
  • Glue down Southern Pine
Southern Yellow Pine Direct offer homeowners the reliability of an A+ rated BBB company; the best quality, pricing and service bar none. We operate under an “old school” philosophy that the customer is always right. We make sure you are just that by educating and dispelling myths about Southern Pine and Heart Pine flooring.
Remember we are a mill to order manufacturer of unfinished and prefinished Southern Pine, including our speciality Heart Pine. Our lead times are normally about two weeks, with Hardwoods and Imports the lead times vary and that is an understatement. 2 days -2 months has bee the answer since COVID. But things are imporving, as White Oak prices continue to fall. (Jason Howard 9/9/2022)
Read More
Girl laying on pallet while pine acclimating prior to being glued down and face nailed
11 Oct

How long does acclimation take?

Finish and Install, Misconceptions, Misdirections and Misinformation

How long does acclimation take?

Asking how long does acclimation take has no honest answer only experience and product knowledge. Acclimation, sometimes called conditioning, is the process of allowing wood to reach its equilibrium moisture content (EMC) within “normal living conditions.” It is also one of the most important steps of hardwood floor installation.

How long does acclimation take? My installer said 2 weeks!

How long does acclimation take?  Acclimation is not about time but moisture content. For example, Southern Pine boards should acclimate to 10% and White Oak to 6%. The first thing we must understand about acclimating a wood floor. Basically, it will absorb (expand) moisture when exposed to high humidity and will expel (shrink) it in low humidity environments. So, acclimation is about getting the boards exposed to your home and stabilizing moisture content.

Acclimation matters

Girl laying on pallet while pine acclimating prior to being glued down and face nailed

Acclimation matters

How long does it take to acclimate pine, how long does acclimation take depends upon moisture content.

Why is acclimation important?

Acclimation is defined as when any organism makes ‘adjustments’ designed to improve performance or survival in response to environmental change. Same with your unfinished solid wood floors; acclimation improves performance, i.e. no warping or cupping.

How long does acclimation take & time is money

Time is money and acclimation is a process not time. Wood is only acclimated or conditioned once it reaches its equilibrium moisture content for the space in which it is expected to perform. Equilibrium moisture content is based on an “unchanging” environment. After a wood floor has been installed, changing conditions within the environment will change the equilibrium moisture content of the wood floor, ultimately resulting in dimensional change. In short, it can take some time and professional installers like stuff that takes less time and that they can tear up in 7 years, you know anything not real.

Southern Yellow Pine Direct offer homeowners the reliability of an A+ rated BBB company; the best quality, pricing and service bar none. We operate under an "old school" philosophy that the customer is always right. We make sure you are just that by educating and dispelling myths about Southern Pine and Heart Pine flooring.
Remember we are a mill to order manufacturer of unfinished and prefinished Southern Pine, including our speciality Heart Pine. Our lead times are normally about two weeks, with Hardwoods and Imports the lead times vary and that is an understatement. 2 days -2 months has bee the answer since COVID. But things are imporving, as White Oak prices continue to fall. (Jason Howard 9/9/2022)
Read More
Local installers found for DIY customers
10 Aug

Local Pine Installers

Finish and Install, Wood Floor Shopping

Local Pine Installers can be a problem if you want real wood

Do we have a local pine installers? No, we have trusted partners but no employees that install our real wood floors. Finding a local pine installer can be a problem, for a number of reasons. From Florida to Maine the question “do we have local installers” frequently opens a first inquiry, call or email.  Our flooring will not finish or install itself; they are great floors not magic floors. Furthermore, a poor finish and your great materials, not so great anymore. Employing local installation professionals nationwide, is not possible. However, promoting our local installation and site finish partners with SYP Direct materials experience.

Interior Designers

Interior Designers                                     

Does your business need an edge? A unique option for your customers which sets you apart for anything local. Do you want 7” and 8” Live Sawn White Oak finished using Bona High Traffic, no problem.

Thanks Rebecca!

Syp direct customer rd residential designs
Love the imagination
Southern Yellow Pine Direct & Local Pine Installers

Looking for local Pine installers?

Southern Yellow Pine Direct can help with your search for local pine installers.  We do not employ local installation professionals, but we work with them when our clients require their service. We realize that many do not understand the significance of this statement, but if you ask a local installer about Southern Pine, the importance becomes clear.

Holding Local Pine installers accountable

 The Bayou state holds a special place in our heart as both Heather and Jason Howard (founders) are from Louisiana. La. is known as the Sportsman’s Paradise, so lake and bayou houses are a common destination for our floors. In 2017, Kathy Jackson purchased our rustic wide plank knotty pine for her lake house in Louisiana. The family was using a local installer, who assured them he had worked with knotty pine several times. Unfortunately, Kathy did not realize this was not true until they revealed her splotchy floor with “bucket” mark in the middle.

Local pine installersInstalling Southern Pine is so easy, site finishing is, however, an art.

Ego and or an ignorance of Longleaf Pine puts most local installers on the defensive when we “interview” them for our clients. Site finishing and installing Southern Pine is not difficult. However, it requires local installers without experience follow some basic rules. We help them understand that not all pine is created equal. Furthermore, their experience may not be applicable to our floors.  Our sources include local installation professionals, contractors and custom home builders. The number of sources varies from state to state. For example, Montana has one, Pioneer Log and Timber whereas North Carolina has multiple. Colorado has no professionals but some amazing DIY floors, check this one out.  For a professional near you, contact us.

 

Southern Yellow Pine Direct offer homeowners the reliability of an A+ rated BBB company; the best quality, pricing and service bar none. We operate under an "old school" philosophy that the customer is always right. We make sure you are just that by educating and dispelling myths about Southern Pine and Heart Pine flooring.
Remember we are a mill to order manufacturer of unfinished and prefinished Southern Pine, including our speciality Heart Pine. Our lead times are normally about two weeks, with Hardwoods and Imports the lead times vary and that is an understatement. 2 days -2 months has bee the answer since COVID. But things are imporving, as White Oak prices continue to fall. (Jason Howard 9/9/2022)
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How to match an existing pine floor versus historic restoration
01 Aug

Match an existing pine floor

Finish and Install, Heart Pine

We are going to help you match an existing pine floor, the cheapest way possible for those worried about cost. In fact, if that is not your biggest worry, tell us up front it won’t change the price but it will save time.

Match an existing pine floor

If you are attempting to match an existing pine floor, you have come to right spot. SYP Direct will give you solutions for matching your existing pine floor, starting with the correct grade. Is it heart pine, or just really old Southern Pine? The question is one that we can answer with a cell phone picture or two. We are looking underneath the finish and patina to find out a few things about the original floor. Grain patterns, coloration, condition of floor, fading, damage of course, are there any knots.

Match an existing pine floor- it requires identifying the current floor

Is it heart pine? Many times, in older homes they used locally sourced pine, even if the original floor was not heart pine, the materials came from a mature pine tree. However, in homes from the “modern era” most of what we see if Knotty Pine with a gorgeous patina.  What does all of this mean if you are trying to match you pine floor? You need to have source specializing in pine, with no agenda for one product over another.

The first question from SYP Direct, are you attempting to match the finish or the floor? Makes perfect sense when looking at the difference between the finished floor and what is under the finish. For example, a dark finish holds secrets, revealed only by removing the top layer, i.e. refinishing the existing pine floor. Matching a dark finish is easy, matching the floor a little more difficult but usually makes the sense for the homeowner.  Think about it, if you are matching an existing floor (old houses), chances are, you refinish it.

Matching Mother Nature

Matching mother nature, or time can be difficult. Finding what is underneath the finish can reveal the best course of action when price is a consideration, i.e. Antique very expensive. We offer the “best cheapest” way in which to restore or reproduce very old Heart Pine.

The homeowners resource when you need to match an existing pine floor

We get calls from folks all over the United States asking us to help them match an existing pine floor, more often than not that floor is Heart Pine. The first thing we tell callers, “congrats and welcome to the right spot”. Southern Yellow Pine Direct, Heather and Jason specifically have built an A+ Rated business by helping homeowners. That is not a marketing slogan, it is actually what we do. Want examples close to you? No problem- let us know if you would feel more comfortable talking to an customer, with our floors.

Matching a heart pine floor from pictures

When you sell southern pine and heart pine almost exclusively you recognize how to match that floor. More importantly, how to match it identical (reclaimed) or use new Heart Pine or Caribbean Heart Pine to give the illusion of age. What does that mean exactly? Distressing the face, saw marks, chain marks or just pure gorgeous Heartwood, we work for you and your goals. Homeowners get WAY more for less. Call us now.

Mother nature is tough to copy

“Time creates a priceless patina on the floors which is almost impossible to recreate. When repairs are unavoidable, the patina, wood grain, age, color and texture should be duplicated as close as possible.” (Peterson, C  2020). ‘Pine Like Wine’

The SYP Direct solution

Southern Yellow Pine Direct specializes in pine flooring; old, new or making new look old, we can help. When you spend as much time as SYP Direct talking and working with pine floors, you become an expert in the subject. SYP Direct, the homeowner’s resource, can help with finish advice, local professionals and simply telling you the truth. In our experience, roughly 75% of homeowners trying to match an existing pine floor using local sources are given misinformation and or outright lies.

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