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What is best pine finish

Home - What is best pine finish

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. 

 

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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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
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
Southern Pine Durability
02 Apr

Southern Pine Durability

Misconceptions, Misdirections and Misinformation, Wood Floor Shopping

Southern Pine durability should not have to be in question, look around and find out the price for reclaimed heart pine, locally. Southern Pine handles moisture and temperature changes better than most species, we build decks and docks out of it!

Southern Pine Durability is legendary.

You have probably seen the evidence of Southern Pine durability, such as Antique Reclaimed Heart Pine. Ever seen a 100-year-old house with pine floors? What about the price and beauty of Antique Reclaimed Heart Pine. Think about it, Antique Oak looks a lot like new oak in that, unlike pine, it does not get better looking with age. Southern Pine purchased today will outlive the house, only to be reclaimed one day and sold for triple today’s price. From an investment standpoint, that ain’t bad.

Southern Pine Durability is the reason we build everything with it!

Is pine would too be soft to be a floor? Are you asking if pine is durable? I guess so I just hear a lot about pine denting and scratching very easily. That really depends more so up on the finish than it does the wood unless you are talking about something extremely hard like Walnut. But the thing about mature pine, the character and color variations hide the imperfections. It’s part of its appeal, without a doubt, the ease of finish and ease of fixing kid tracks.

Southern Pine durability

Is pine to soft?

The Janka Hardness of Caribbean Heart pine is 1280, Heart Pine 1250 and Southern Yellow Pine 690. Now those numbers, two of them anyway are very misleading. The 690 score of Southern Yellow Pine takes in all the species (11) within, what is, really a description and not a species. Time, climate, and time; that is what makes pine hard durable and gorgeous. Buyer beware. Ask the question; “does your 50% heart content ad mean 50% or better, 50% is max or does it mean, and this is happening today that 50% of the boards will have heart content.

Pinterest

Janka Rating & Southern Pine Durability

If you are measuring Southern Pine durability remember not all pine is created equal, furthermore, the durability doesn’t depend on the Janka Rating. And this rating only rates Yellow Pine, i.e., Southern Yellow Pine, not the (standalone) species. A dozen species make up the description, Southern Yellow Pine. And for the record, Eastern White Pine is not one of them. Durability is about handling stress such as temperature and humidity, moisture is the killer for wood floors.

Moisture and wood flooring

Moisture and wood are not friends. However, real wood flooring can go through a flood and dry out, the same cannot be said for laminate or LVT. Forget about this “waterproof” term you see when shopping at boxes and liquidation stores. Waterproof, really, it is proof not resistant?  Real wood with the right finish creates longevity and durability only ‘engineered by mother nature. For the record and to repeat again, Southern Pine, on the microscopic level, is more porous than most hardwoods which allows moisture to “come and go” without swelling, for example.

Engineered floors opposite of durable

Does anyone remember when the words engineered and flooring were put together? Probably not, but engineered flooring has long been a product, or bi product of solid wood or prefinished solid wood. Originally, it was the veneers or leftovers that mill works shops used to create engineered flooring. Today, it is the direct opposite in our industry. Crazy warranties claim to be waterproof and have fueled the single use floor cover craze. We ship of timber to Asia which returns as slivers, furthermore all of it ends up in a landfill.

Southern Pine durability and the finish

What is the best finish for your pine floors? The question was asked so often early on we decided we needed to test them all, or it seemed like it. We love clear and simple, but if you need color – go Monocoat and you cannot go wrong. We keep it simple, Monocoat by Rubio. Directions, sand, apply, dry.  Beware of local installers who claim to be pine professionals, in Maine for example. No offense ME, and shout out to clients but you guys are not a hot bed of Southern Yellow Pine experts. The best pine finish for you may not be the same as mine! What are our goals? Protection, maintaining finish, aesthetics or all of the above, of course we want it all. Monocoat has won our loyalty not exclusively but when you “gotta pick one sizes fits all”.

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
04 Jun

Monocoat wood floor finishes

Our favorite Finishes, Finish and Install

Our favorite finish products allow a true custom color blend finish using their 2-C process, Monocoat wood floor finishes are also eco-friendly with a zero VOC rating. Manufactured by Rubio, offering unique blends designed as effects such as fumed or smoke. Instructions for finish are simple to say the least. Day one clean, wipe on oil, remove excess. Day two let dry, ready in 24-48 hours. Easy to  maintain, Monocoat provides a simple way to fix scratches, as well. Visit their site, but come back quick. 

Monocoat one of best Southern Pine flooring finishes

Our customers created some of the finishes for our pine using the 2-C process from Monocoat. We have customers using 2-3 colors and rumors of one in New England, used 5.  Monocoat bonding technology allows local touch up of damaged areas or scratches, because only the free wood fibers will take the touch up coating. The finished margins next to the scratched or damaged area will not accept new finish. After 10 minutes, just wipe away superfluous oil, furthermore there is no overlapping. Check out the color samples from Monocoat.

Our streamlined process empowers homeowners with a transparent business model designed to create home equity, not commissions. Homeowners can create a floor using a state-of-the-art facility, luxury finish/stain products combined with our long, gorgeous Heart Pine. The amount of money this saves each customer is in direct correlation with their zip code. For instance, Prefinished ¾ solid New Heart Pine in Manhattan or West Palm Beach saves a considerably higher percentage than those  in Louisiana. Not a different price, but a much different value to the homeowner. 

Monocoat is definition of Green finish

A Monocoat Southern Pine floor is perfect choice for the environment, yes real wood floors are green. Real wood floors are a sustainable resource, green floors are real.  Green floors means sustainable forest– One of the many benefits of wood floors, trees are a sustainable, i.e. green flooring choice, despite the marketing attempts to prove otherwise. Under good forest management, trees are replanted before and after they are harvested replacing the timber, also known as tree farming. Not clear cutting, but a oxygen producing sustainable green choice for your next floor.

Rubio Monocoat’s revolutionary molecular bonding technology ensures workability and exemplary quality without the harmful effects or damage to the environment. Rubio Monocoat’s products have no effect on indoor air quality and do not contain:

  • Formaldehyde
  • Ammonia
  • Acetone
  • Solvents
  • Preservatives
  • Odor-masking agents
  • Chemical residuals
  • Heavy metal drying agents:
  • Arsenic
  • Beryllium
  • Chromium
  • Cadmium
  • Nickel
  • Lead

Plant Based Natural Oils

Rubio Monocoat uses a unique molecular bonding technology to adhere to the topmost fibers of the wood it is applied to. Within minutes this technology forms a durable finish that maintains the natural appearance and feel of the wood. Rubio Monocoat’s unique molecular bonding technology also allows for a one-coat finish. This means there is no need to continually apply oil or build up layers of polyurethane like with traditional finishes. 

Rubio Monocoat offers the first and the only oil that is truly a 0% VOC product. Three years before the first VOC legislation was put into effect, Rubio Monocoat had already set forth strict emission norms and committed to producing products completely free of VOCs.

Prefinished wide plank heart pine
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
SYP Direct floors offers #2 Southern pine aka #2 Knotty Pine, solid wood flooring in rustic setting and Rocky Branch Finish
30 May

Best finish for pine floors

Finish and Install

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!

Get a sample of Caribbean Heart Pine with Monocoat Ebony, Mahogony and Cherry. In March of this year, we had a project that required us to compare each of these, and blend them to match an historical restoration.

Click here for Monocoat FAQ

Monocoat 3 colors

Tank the inspiration dog for a Monocoat by Rubio finish on wide plank pine in Monroe La

Rubio Monocoat Natural Oil Finish

Monocoat is a plant-based, environmentally responsible, non polluting, single-coat, durable wood finish. Rubio Monocoat contains 0% VOC and has no effect on indoor air quality. Using a proprietary bonding technology, Monocoat essentially becomes part of the woods molecular structure. Easy to use and maintain, Monocoat also makes fixing scratches a breeze.

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Bona High Traffic

#2 Knotty Pine Prices depend upon heart content Heart Pine shown here.

“The Best” of anything is contingent upon its purpose

The best finish for pine floors is contingent upon what the homeowner values, i.e. protection versus those who want no carbon footprint. And, the best finish for pine floors depends upon the look you are attempting to achieve. One the best examples, the french bleed! If you are not familar it is an undercoating (dark) around edges which have been sanded creating the illusion of seperation and age.

New construction is easy but what if your home is a jobsite?

Are you finishing the floor while living in the house? Do you have kids or pets? We can ask all of these questions, but what we really need to decide is surface or penetrating finish, i.e. poly versus oil. Want to see an amazing Tung Oil Blend, check it out.  

Picture to right- Milk Paint 50 / 50 blend with citrus solvent 

What is the best finish for pine floors? Hard to argue Clear Poly.  

Surface finishes sit on top of the floor as opposed to penetrating the wood like oils. Lacquer, shellac, varnish and wax are some common types of surface finishes. But without question the undisputed king is polyurethane, and price is only one reason. One of the most durable finishes, ‘Poly’ is also inexpensive and easy to apply.

Bona Natural Oils

All the benefits of a natural oil finish plus the performance you expect from Bona. The elongated open time of Bona Craft Oil 2K, along with its rapid initial cure, make it easier to work with and allow for light use in just 8 hours. Bona and Monocoat are what we recommend to DIY homeonwers.

Prefinished 7″ Rustic Heart Pine in all 8′ and 10′ foot boards 

Natural Finish

Bona natural high traffic pine flooring

WOCA, Minwax and natural oils

Our customers have relayed their experiences with BONA and WOCA oils. Both are easy to apply, zero voc and east to maintain. Not to mention the gorgeous floor underneath those natural oils. For more information on a specific product, get samples and try them out with our pine.

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