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Southern Pine

Home - Southern Pine

What is Knotty Pine?
17 May

What is Knotty Pine?

Knotty Pine

What is #2 Knotty Pine

What is “Knotty pine”? Simple, it is a generic term for pine with knots, not a big surprise. What may surprise you, Knotty Pine is not a grade. #2 SYP is not a true grade and differs from mill to mill, i.e. floors or lumber. Lumber mills sort based on defects, knots included. But when a mill produces flooring, Heart Pine flooring, it is sorted based on the amount of visible heartwood, not defects. Age creates not only gorgeous colors and character, it creates stability. When comparing your local #2 SYP with our floors, get samples and ask for local customers. Comparisons reveal the facts, one is plain and void of character, while the other defines character.

What is Knotty Pine and what it is not!

Knotty pine should be used with the #2, as in #2 Southern Yellow “knotty” pine. #2 is not a defect grade, it fact at SYP Direct is simply means the board does not contain more than 50% heartwood. Heartwood is better known as character, defined by colors including brown and red.  Heart content is measured in sap and heartwood, color (variance in colors); many times in wide planks you see the heartwood running right down the middle.

What is knotty Pine- it is not full holes.

Knots are not holes at SYP Direct. However, at the publicly traded liquidation store, the descriptions tell you that select southern pine has holes, as all knotty pine will have holes. I tell you one thing, be careful of floors that are shorter than 30″ with holes that is the garbage from the garbage. (see examples on our Pinterest Page)

Questions such as What is Knotty Pine are fine when you are researching, but when are shopping it opens you up to misinformation.

Get samples, get references and most importantly, get the grade specifications in writing. Some of our “competitors” offer a #2 Knotty Pine, with the word Select added in front. Now in the real world that means ‘hand selected’, not machine selected but by hand. What they use if for is to up the price for no reason. How do we know? Read the fine print, the “sort out almost all the cracks and defects”? If you are paying for Select Knotty Pine, or any grade (in any species) it should be a perfect representation of that grade.…at the very least.

What is Knotty Pine? – It is 1 of our most frequently asked questions.

Personal Service and Customer Service are a common theme in our online review and those kept private, i.e. emails to office. When you do business with Southern Yellow Pine Direct, you are doing business with one of our founders/owners. Customer service during the sales process is great, but the support during, shipping, delivery and installation always get the most praise.

Heart Pine

About Southern Yellow Pine Direct

With an A+ rating from the BBB, it is no surprise that we never misrepresent our floors in any way shape or form. #2 Knotty Pine, the perfect example of telling the 100% truth about the grade. We have no surprise cost, nor do we ever want a customer disappointed in quality.  It is today, and our business  will continue to be dependent on word of mouth and repeat business. Without quality, we have nothing.  Email the real owner

What is “Knotty pine”? Simple, it is a generic term for pine with knots, not a big surprise. What may surprise you, Knotty Pine is not a grade. #2 SYP is not a true grade and differs from mill to mill, i.e. floors or lumber. Lumber mills sort based on defects, knots included. But when a mill produces flooring, Heart Pine flooring, it is sorted based on the amount of visible heartwood, not defects. Age creates not only gorgeous colors and character, it creates stability. When comparing your local #2 SYP with our floors, get samples and ask for local customers. Comparisons reveal the facts, one is plain and void of character, while the other defines character.

What is Knotty Pine and what it is not!

Get samples, get references and most importantly, get the grade specifications in writing. Some of our “competitors” offer a #2 Knotty Pine, with the word Select added in front. Now in the real world that means ‘hand selected’, not machine selected but by hand. What they use if for is to up the price for no reason. How do we know? Read the fine print, the “sort out almost all the cracks and defects”?

What is Knotty Pine Select?

If you are paying for Select Knotty Pine, or any grade (in any species) it should be a perfect representation of that grade.…at the very least. At SYP Direct, our #2 Knotty Pine grade is our best seller, and we stand at 3 mm square feet and counting, with an A+ BBB rating. And finally, ask for references and real reviews, as in people you can talk to you, local to you would be nice.

IN A HURRY- TEXT much faster 601 826 1296
Text us now 601 826 1296
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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Red Lodge Montana Southern Yellow Pine Direct
03 Apr

Red Lodge Montana

Walls and Other

Southern Yellow Pine Direct Welcomes Red Lodge Montana to our list of cities in Big Sky Country. 

Montana is a western state defined by its diverse terrain ranging from the Rocky Mountains to the Great Plains. Its wide-open spaces include Glacier National Park, a vast wilderness preserve that passes into Canada. The park’s many snow-capped peaks, lakes and alpine hiking trails are showcased along its famed Going-to-the-Sun Road, stretching 50 miles. Montana is also home to one of our favorite customers, check their photos out and you will see why! Pioneer Log and Timber of MT has been using SYP Direct for new pine since 2017 and we have been using their photos and bragging since day one. Check out the site by clicking on the photo to  the right and you will understand why we are proud to call them a customer.

Pioneer Log and Timber

Montana Lodge using southern yellow knotty on the walls
Red Lodge Montana travel info

Red Lodge Montana

Nestled in Montana’s magnificent Beartooth Mountains and surrounded by Custer Gallatin National Forest, Red Lodge delivers world-class outdoor recreation and access to Yellowstone National Park via the world-renowned Beartooth Highway. Cruise down Broadway Avenue as you check out the downtown locally owned shops, restaurants, and entertainment. And if snow skiing is your passion, Red Lodge Mountain is Montana skiing, pure and simple. We urge you to visit this website for more information on skiing Red Lodge and the photo to find out more about the city.

Shipping your floors

At southern yellow pine direct we do not use the phrase nationwide shipping as a marketing term. Red Lodge Montana is 1600 miles from our mill, in other words not a short trip. Furthermore, the 12’ pallets each weigh up to 3000 lbs., so they are not light either. SYP Direct has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. We take shipping very seriously, anyone can sell floors, delivering it is the problem. Great floors that arrive beat up are not really that great. Our experience and diligent customer service allow us to give you a 100% coverage promise, we protect your floors. In fact, no matter if you live Southern Yellow Pine Direct is local. For a free estimate with sample, contact us today. Lead time helps us get you exactly what you want but didn’t think you could afford.

Red Lodge Montana Southern Yellow Pine Direct

More about SYP Direct

What about SYP Direct makes us so  unique? Southern Yellow Pine  Direct aka SYP Direct is the only true online pine flooring mill. Furthermore, our mill partnership (s) allows us to manufacture using custom specifications aka milled to specs or milled to order.  Milled to order is really big deal. How so? Nothing is sitting around on a shelf waiting to be matched with another run, weeks later. Every board of your floor comes from the same timber which is milled all together creating a continuity important to the look and the ease of installation.

Southern Yellow Pine Direct is the homeowner’s resource for the best pine flooring from Red Lodge Montana to New Orleans. However, we are so much more than just a source for floors.  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.

1x8x12' Mill Run New Heart Pine

Finish to order

3/4 x 6 7/8 x 12′ unfinished Mill Run New Heart Pine. We have 3600 square feet available now; choose your finish with options such as Monocoat and Bona. 

Southern Pine Direct

Southern Pine floors from Montana and other states

Montana (2022 update)

The original Red Lodge Montana, Pioneer Log and Timber post posted in 2019, or so. As one the founders of SYP Direct, our BBB A+ rated little company has become more unique with each passing year. Unique quality, pricing and customer service, the latter of which will be un-matched. 100% satisfaction which means 100% coverage guaranteed. 

Local installers found for DIY customers

Local Pine Installers

he family was using a local installer, who assured them he had worked with Knotty Pine several times. As you will see, the local install professional is key to “non DIY” customers.

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Real wood flooring last forever

Real Wood Floors

Real Wood floors an investment that provides real returns, versus a single use floor such as laminate or engineered wood. Single-use floor covers, investment in your local floor covers and  carpet store, but not your home.

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#2 grades rustic heart pine southern yellow pine direct
12 Jul

Rustic in eye of beholder

Knotty Pine

What is #2 Southern Yellow Knotty Pine?

Simple, it is a generic term for pine with knots, not a big surprise. What may surprise you, Knotty Pine is not a grade. #2 SYP is not a true grade and differs from mill to mill, i.e., floors or lumber. Lumber mills sort based on defects; knots included. But when a mill produces flooring, Heart Pine flooring, it is sorted based on the amount of visible heartwood, not defects. An astounding 95% of pine floors are produced by dimensional lumber mills using Loblolly or similar farmed species. Age creates not only gorgeous colors and character, durability and stability.

More about Rustic #2 Southern Pine

Southern Yellow #2 Knotty Pine differs from mill to mill depending on the end product. For example, we produce Heart Pine, therefore our #2 knotty pine simply lacks the heart content. Distance from the middle of the tree, not defects, determine our #2 grade. Southern Yellow Pine Direct tells you truth about your options.

More about Rustic Flooring from SYP Direct

Rustic floors, or rustic by definition refers to simplicity, rural or country style. What about flooring? Do knots automatically indicated a “rustic” style or simplicity? The word comes from Latin Rusticus or Rus, “to be country”, or Shabby Chic as we call it today.

Find your inner rustic

Knots or No Knots Email Us

Sometimes you feel like a knot, sometimes you don’t! (Anonymous with apologies)

1×8 Mill Run Heart

Our Mill-Run (rustic) Southern Pine floors might be perfect for you, if you understand real wood grades. And more importantly, when purchasing the unfinished version, experience and or a real wood professional are a firm requirement. Unless you simply buy enough it to “learn as you go”, made possible by the low price. We do not suggest the latter and the 1×8 Mill Run Heart Pine requires only 10% waste just like any other grade.

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tiny houses powerhorn resort
13 Jan

Colorado

Wood Floor Shopping

Our latest Colorado Pine customer showed off some skills with this V Groove ceiling. Literally translating to “burnt cedar board” in English, ‘shou sugi ban’ involves scorching wooden boards with a torch or controlled fire, cooling, and a wire brush and, if desired, a natural oil. In recent years, shou sugi ban has been used or interior and exterior projects such as decking and furniture. Consider us biased, but Southern Pine looks amazing using this technique, and we have the “Colorado pine V Groove” to prove it. Created by one of our favorite customers this #2 Southern Pine distressing technique ranks at the top of our list as well.

Burnt V-Groove

Burnt, torched or scorched, the terms are interchangeable for most of us, while the technique can change the style, it is all about fire. Why, when this process can be so very time consuming would anyone take on the project? Do you see the Colorado pine burnt V-groove picture? It looks amazing, with the added benefit of preventing rot, decay and insect damage while extending the life of your wood by decades. If you are skeptical of your skills, try it out. Get a blow torch and we will send you samples, with the promise of a video back from you recording the first try. Seriously, our Colorado customer, while not his first attempt at scorching wood, he is by definition a DIY. With that logic, you too can burn your V Groove Southern Pine and get this exact ceiling!

V Groove Colorado 2020

v-groove southern pine torched ceiling powderhorn Colorado

Tiny Homes, Powerhorn Colorado

Of course, SYP Direct loves the concept of the tiny homes, renting them at a ski-resort would be very cool, right? Well, the people at Powderhorn agreed and have begun building the strategically placed rentals around the resort. “Tiny Homes are comfortable, fully equipped, sustainable accommodations conveniently nestled on the mountain. Efficiently designed, each unit sleeps four to eight and has a full bath, plus its own kitchen, kitchenette, or microwave so you can relax with a hearty meal in your own great room, on your deck, or gather with others at the cozy firepit to delight in sharing adventures of the day.”

Like a Tiny Ski Lodge

Amazing walls tiny house Grand Junction Co

Colorado Discover Ability/Adaptive Center at Powderhorn

As with our most recent road trip post our highlight ends up being something, we did not see coming our way. During our research of Grand Junction, we found Powderhorn and the tiny homes which, sorry GJ, we could not resist. Powderhorn Mountain Resort is the winter home of Colorado Discover Ability (CDA). The CDA works with the Adaptive Center at Powderhorn and offers private ski and snowboard lessons for those with disabilities. Family lessons are also available as well as group lesson for agencies working with the disabled. We salute Powderhorn resort owners and management for something very cool. Any readers interested in helping the CDA visit the link above, or for the Adaptive Center at Powderhorn, here.

V Groove Colorado 2020

V-Groove ceiling with blow torch effect
Burnt T/G ceiling

More about Colorado Discover Ability

Colorado Discover Ability, (CDA), was incorporated in 1980 as the Powderhorn Handicapped Ski Program, Ltd., a non-profit corporation. CDA was initially established to provide educational and therapeutic outdoor experiences to the disabled population in western Colorado, solely through alpine skiing at Powderhorn Ski Resort. Today during the summer, CDA’s focus shifts to providing water-based recreation, such as river rafting. To find out more or to donate, click here.

Exterior Tiny Home

tiny houses powerhorn resort
IN A HURRY- TEXT much faster 601 826 1296
Text us now 601 826 1296
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
Milk Paint tung oil blend shown here with mineral spirits
11 Jul

Texas

Wood Floor Shopping

Welcome to Southern Yellow Pine Direct trip through Texas, “Goats, Wine and Heart Pine” or “Deep in the Heart Pine of Texas, we like both names. Many of you may not understand the pride which exists in residents from  Abilene to Corpus, “bigger is better and everything’s bigger in Texas”, “Don’t Mess with Texas”, it’s real. Do not take our word for it, visit the Hill Country and see what Texas is doin’ with wine. What goes good with BBQ from Rudy’s, a red  I assume but plan on  finding out.

Engineered by God, Heart Pine in Texas

Texans like real wood, we only sell real wood ‘engineered by God! Since we began publishing post such as Made in America and Investment flooring, all about real wood our Texas business has taken off. And we begin our tour in Paige Texas, 90 miles from Austin as we visit a creative Texan that certainly understand real wood.  Peter M. Peter M purchased 1600 square feet of wide plank Caribbean Heart Pine flooring.  Along with the CHP, Peter bought several pallets of v joint (groove) utility grade heart pine, for the walls and ceiling. And of course, he did this knowing the challenges of installing that volume in those lengths, not to mention waste factor. So before emailing about cabin grade, please know we cannot possibility provide our coverage or satisfaction guarantee, you better buy plenty!

About Pete’s Paige Heart Pine TX project

About the project, the sub-floor is 3/4 CDX plywood treated with a Borax based mixture, for  fire and water protection. Next the sub-floor sealed using an outdoor deck finish, before covered in #15 felt, to control any noise.  Peter told us ” he could not be happier with the way they turned out and that “the installation could not have been easier because the quality of the mill work. The quality of preparations, installation and finish are evident in the finished product, we love it”. 

Is Texas in the South?

Ask most northern folks they immediately say yes. However, ask a Texan and the answers vary with one constant, nothing compares to Texas. Somewhere around 1977 the writer asked his uncle the question, to which the reply came “yes but don’t tell them cause they don’t think so”. The answer is yes Texas is a part of the South but Texas is still Texas! From diversity to  the economy no other ‘southern’ state can compare with it. However, we had a few more questions about the Longhorn state. 

Is Austin a part of Texas ? 

Many argue that Austin is to Texas as New Orleans is to Louisiana, like a “whole other state”. Of course, Austin is the state capital of Texas, an inland city bordering the Hill Country region. Home to the University of Texas flagship campus, Austin is known for its eclectic live-music scene centered around country, blues and indie rock. As for SYP Direct Austin means, Reclaimed Spaces, and their amazing custom floors. Want a Heart Pine in Texas? And certainly in Austin we urge you to check out the site and the ‘spaces’ which have been created in your area. ‘Austin is the heart of Texas’ we heard more than once during our project with Reclaimed Spaces. 

Is Austin part of The Texas Hill Country? 

The consensus seems to be that yes, Austin is in the Texas Hill Country. The Texas Hill Country is a geographic region of Central and South Texas, forming the southeast part of the Edwards Plateau. The Hill Country plays host to a diverse population across 25 counties. Austin and San Antonio are the two metropolitan areas, each worthy a visit for sure. San Antonio with a population of 1.4 million is now larger than Dallas where we end our trip through Texas. But first, wine country is our vacation stop before any more business. 

Did you know Hill Country was Wine Country? 

Texas Wine Country? SYP Direct did  the 15 things we did not know about Indiana and now we have ‘did you know the fact about Texas.’. How about that 1.7 million tourists visit wine country, every year. Not impressed, those visitors and wine sales generated over 13 billion dollars of economic impact throughout the hill country.  SYP Direct is headed to Fredericksburg. “The Burg” , a city in central Texas, is known for its wineries and B&B’s.

City on Hill at Spring Creek

During the SYP Direct “tour”  we searched for Bed and Breakfast in the area and found the City on the Hill at Spring Creek. What caught our eye? Look around their website we found our Southern Pine in the Hill Country! Seeing the pictures of the Cabins, we knew exactly where we were going to stay. Something about that place felt like home, later we found out it was the people, and the place. We met the nicest most down to earth people who made both of us feel like part of the family. We had a fantastic weekend touring the wine and sampling the wine country. Fredericksburg and the whole area is just a cool place to visit but our trip would not be the same without staying at City on the Hill at Spring Creek, 100% thumbs up. 

Toledo Bend Tung Oil & SYP Direct

And finally on the way back to the real south we find the Texas Tung Oil Finish of Toledo Bend! Thanks to Lynn and crew we have these two pictures an amazing floor. “We just kept rolling it on until it stopped soaking it in”, the recipe for this floor. Shown here, 3 cycle sand, apply and dry. Thanks for traveling with SYP Direct through Texas, we could not get to everyone and not everyone sends pictures because they want to let people think they spent a JR Ewing fortune, sorry last bad joke we promise.

Fancy Goat Boutique B & B on Main

 So why is a flooring site writing about Goats in the wine country of Texas?  Well sometimes stuff is so good that you want to tell other people about it. The Goat Milk Soap made at the Fancy Goat Boutique B&B on Main is one of those things! Not only did we  use the amazing Goat Milk Product, our dogs benefited too. Everyone is silky smooth thanks to those cute little Nigerian Dwarf Goats, which you can visit as you shop or stay over. My spouse loved the boots, and boots are very important to her, I mean us.  Southern Knotty Pine in the Texas Hill Country along with Wine & goats- you gotta love Texas. 

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