There’s a video that shows a flooring professional (assumed) installing a plastic laminate floor over a beautifully installed much, much older red oak herringbone hardwood floor in reasonable wear condition. The comments on the post are very judgmental against the installer of this new plastic floor that simulates real wood.

If we dig deeper into the topic and place our judgement, do we side with the homeowner for not knowing what value they actually have and for just wanting change, or with the flooring installer for making a profit by giving the homeowner what they wanted?

On the other hand, lets say the homeowner knew that her floors were historically valuable by design, after-all, the French Herringbone does command a premium expense and notoriety. And we’ll also say that the flooring installing professional had an in depth discussion about why they should keep the older flooring because of its generational value as well. Okay then, if this was the case, both parties are in complete harmony through communication and created a plan for both of their benefit.

However, and I do mean however! My near 44 years this April 7th as a 3rd generation hardwood flooring contractor says that the latter example is clearly not the case, and heres why… Nobody disregards anything of value by mearly tossing it away! Through common sense we will hold on to value! In a nutshell a true hardwood flooring craftsman is rare today and he would have taken the time to explain the value of those floors and their unique historical design to the homeowner. He also would have offered a realistic solution to refinish the herringbone hardwood floors and apply a stain color choice that would have given the floors a new beautiful appeal. This offer would be a lesser cost to the homeowner than putting in this new plastic wood simulation product.

Many of the newer generation of flooring contractors don’t really have the machine skills that are required in the restoration/refinishing part of the industry. This limited craftsmanship can only install flooring and is becoming less and less engaged with the true value of hardwood and its role in home flooring design. Refinishing an existing hardwood floor restores the life of the wood for another generation and more to experience!

“Hardwood Flooring a Lifetime of Beauty”