Kiln dried
A dual kiln process for wood flooring refers to a manufacturer's method of drying wood twice to achieve a more consistent and lower final moisture content. While standard kiln-drying is a crucial step for producing stable lumber, a dual kiln approach goes further to minimize future warping, cupping, and shrinkage, especially for wide-plank flooring.
Our desription reads; KILN dried, tongue and groove with relief grooves for stability, it is standard specification for wood floors. But what does it mean to be KILN dried, and why is it so important?
Kiln drying is important because it stabilizes the wood by removing excess moisture, which prevents warping, cracking, and shrinking over time, making it ideal for indoor projects and furniture. It also sterilizes the wood by killing insects, eggs, larvae, mold, and fungi, increasing its durability and lifespan.
KILN drying makes install easy
Our dual kiln process uses state of the art technology that monitors each board. This insures each piece moisture content is brought down to the proper level for that species. This makes installation easy, and allows your floor to perform much better over time.
Southern Yellow Pine Direct minimizes the amount of time between the kiln and the jobsite. What does this mean for the pine wood floor installation? Kiln drying is a standard practice in wood production mills and serves to efficiently bring green lumber moisture levels down to “workable” range–moisture content levels that will not end in the myriad of problems that can be caused by excess moisture levels in wood.
Dual Kiln Drying
Southern Yellow Pine uses a dual kiln process, which is just what is sounds like, we utilize both air and heat. A dual kiln process for wood flooring refers to a manufacturer's method of drying wood twice to achieve a more consistent and lower final moisture content. While standard kiln-drying is a crucial step for producing stable lumber, a dual kiln approach goes further to minimize future warping, cupping, and shrinkage, especially for wide-plank flooring.
The standard single kiln process
In a standard process, wood is placed in a kiln, and heated air is circulated to reduce its moisture content. The goal is to reach an equilibrium moisture content (EMC), typically between 6% and 10% for hardwood flooring. However, especially with wider planks, some variation can remain between individual boards.
The dual kiln difference
Some flooring manufacturers perform a second drying process after the initial kiln drying. For example, one company uses the following method:
Initial kiln-drying: The wood is first dried to a typical flooring moisture content of 6–10%.
Second drying: It then goes through a second kiln-drying stage, which is more carefully controlled. This step reduces the moisture even further and helps to equalize any remaining variation between planks.
Benefits of the dual kiln process
Enhanced stability: A lower and more uniform moisture content makes the wood less prone to shrinkage and expansion when subjected to changes in humidity in its final installation environment.
Reduced defects: A more consistent moisture level across all planks minimizes the risk of cupping and warping after installation.
Better for wide planks: The process is particularly beneficial for wide-plank flooring, which is more susceptible to moisture-related issues than narrower boards.
Improved durability: By preventing excessive movement in the wood, a dual kiln process contributes to a more durable and long-lasting floor.
The best way to buy real wood floors.
The best way to buy real wood floors, mill direct. In fact, it is the only way to buy real wood; when the boards are still long. Once you see 1-7’ lengths, the middleman has his hands on the floors. Mass marketing them by choosing your color options 2 years in advance.
Why buy real wood floors from SYP Direct?
The relationship we build with homeowners and builders is the key to our success, as 75% of business are referrals. This relationship was built one job at time and we make sure we take care of each customer no matter what the order size. Southern Yellow Pine Direct was founded in 2012 specializing in Knotty Pine. Today we manufacture our own flooring in both unfinished and prefinished forms. Customer service with 100% customer satisfaction. We are the online retailer of unfinished and prefinished real wood flooring with a A + BBB rating, and over 50 reviews direct from homeowners. We do not sell composit floors, real wood is the only floor we would put a family members house, and you are no different.
Buy from a source you can trust.
The truth behind our A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and our 60 plus positive reviews is simple, we sell our flooring way too cheap. When that is combined with our amazing customer service, we rarely lose a fair fight. We are polite and operate with a transparency that shocks most first-time callers, “we seem to good to be true” has been said on many occasions.
One house, One Floor.
We approach with a ‘one house one floor’ attitude where repeat business happens when customers add on or move. We are the homeowners advocate for solid wood floors, including hardwoods. Many times callers ask about White Oak prices, and then “does pine make good floors”? We tell the truth, get you the most your money can buy and in marketplace dominated by single use floor covers, we sell floors. Real wood takes time and since time is money, most floor covering companies choose to sell floor coverings because every seven years they get repeat business. We do not think that way, One House-One Floor. We have a network of professionals all over the United States with specialties ranging from installation to off site custom work, and all in between.
Owner, Jason Howard and a sample board of our Caribbean Heart Pine
Real wood is an investment, laminate, engineered, you know floor covers, all just a lease. The formula (s) are infinite, how much do Americans lease a floor cover contains variables upon variables. However, we make it simple while comparing the astonishing economic impact on homeowners.
Antique or Antiqued?
Antique reclaimed Heart Pine is very different than Antiqued Heart Pine.
‘Antiqued’ – The age a floor should reach before being called an antique has always been my first question, but this point is about the fact that Antiqued Heart Pine is not old at all, even by the marketing terms they use; if you know how to speak flooring. Antiqued is a finish style not an age description.So that little d really matters!
What is the difference between salvaged and reclaimed?
Reclaimed – Once more unless you do some research or have an honest flooring company, you might not understand the original definition. Repurposed, reclaimed means repurposed such as a beam being repurposed into flooring. It does not mean flooring turned into flooring, big difference scarcity, quality, and (should be) price.
Salvaged Flooring- Is simply old flooring taken up and sold in a variety of thickness and state of salvage. For example, along with the holes check for the nails too. Many times, the board looks 5’ but with the ends butchered much of the board will not sustain any new finish or install. 30% waste is safe in this market. Know your source, see the materials, and understand the provenance.
Antiqued floors- edges and face nailing
Caribbean Heart Pine easy to age
Caribbean Heart Pine is the great substitute, “tell them it came out of Benjamin Franklin’s boyhood home, and they will never know it”. The question: create the age or pay for it, i.e., Antiqued New or Antique Reclaimed Heart Pine. The d added to antique means a process not a declaration of age. In fact, Antiquing is the act of creating age, which becomes much easier with the right materials. Caribbean Heart Pine meets all the criteria in either grade, prime or rustic.
““I was extremely pleased with the product and service. We ordered 3,000 SQ of Caribbean heart pine, it looks gorgeous. Furthermore, the floor has held up very well to scratches from several large dogs. Jason and Heather were both extremely informative, friendly, and helpful and were amazingly effective communicators throughout the entire process — and followed up after shipment to make sure we were satisfied. I highly recommend this company and its product and have referred them to others. “(John S. 2017)
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What is the best dog floor?
For a truly dog-friendly floor, look for materials with inherent character that can disguise everyday wear and tear. Our Southern Pine is an excellent example, with its "rustic character" evident in its natural color variations and knots. Over time, these floors develop a beautiful, rich patina that only age can create.
Minor marks and accidents are easily remedied. The natural character of Southern Pine allows for simple touch-ups with a colored pencil or even a sharpie. Many customers opt for a darker stain, which not only enhances the floor's beauty but also makes minor imperfections less noticeable and easier to repair. If you're looking for solutions to existing issues, the following tips may be helpful;
The best floor for a dog
Amazing Southern Pine great fit for hiding the inevitable.
Choosing the right or best floor for your dog is more about the finish than the species. A floor with a UV cured aluminum oxide offers good protection but can be difficult to touch up. In fact, repairing scratches on UV flooring could require buffing to fix scratches. More extensive damages might even require a tear out to repair.
Prefinished floors are cured using an ultraviolet or UV curing process that uses aluminum oxide as the topcoat. These UV topcoats are protection for the wood itself, but the surface will scratch. Not a big deal if you have finished flooring, but UV can be tougher to repair. If you sand one spot the UV vanishes, and color matching becomes an issue. Customers end up having to replace much larger sections than just the damaged area.
On the other hand, a finished floor using an oil-based polyurethane may scratch more easily but it is much easier to hide or repair. Before we put “our two cents in,” readers should know that we (Bayou Rustic Flooring) sell unfinished and prefinished flooring. We have no agreement with any manufacturer or finished product. However, if you are discussing the best floor for pets, Monocoat by Rubio starts at the top for Bayou Rustic. For more information, visit our Monocoat series.
Dog friendly means easy to repair
Monocoat by Rubio
The beauty Monocoats system allows you to deal with only the area affected, not the whole floor as would be the case with a urethane topcoat system. Scratches are another “pet” issue. These, often, are unavoidable with any wood floor finish system. They are topically repairable with this oil system though. The whole floor need not be addressed, just the areas affected. Love and enjoy your pets but learn to put up with an occasional imposition. At least, with Monocat the “fixes” are easier to come by with less affect to the look of the floor.
Homemade scratch repair
Olive oil and vinegar. Mixing equal parts olive oil and vinegar creates a natural wood filler perfect for tiny scratches. Mix the solution together & apply it with a clean rag, done.
Lemon juice and oil. Mixing 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. 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.