The Green Movement

The following information I find extremely intriguing... If this product is indeed what it claims to be... Behold the future in hardwood floor finishes. as brought to you by

11004 FM 969

Austin, TX 78724

877-870-8111

"Going Green"


"The Wood Experts are extremely proud to announce WOOD PROTECT, a zero VOC nano particle formula specially designed for exotic woods.WOOD PROTECT is a one of a kind invisible wood treatment that boasts an impressive 3 year life expectancy on IPE and other tropical woods with just one coat. WOOD PROTECT is so enviromentally friendly it can be sprayed on docks over public water, around fish ponds and can be walked on in bare feet in less than one hour after application."


"Uses"


"WOOD POTECT was designed specially for hard to seal tropical species like Ipe and Massaranduba but can be used on any woods with terrific results. WOOD PROTECT is truely invisible and allows the natural beauty of the wood to shine while keeping it from turning silver. Fences, docks, decks, and outdoor showers are only a few of the many uses for WOOD PROTECT"

Will My Hardwood Floor Scratch?

Ok… I have decided to start posting articles on some of the questions that people ask that just seem to defy common sense. I’m not sure what it is about spending large amounts of money that seems to employ a thought process in people’s minds that the more expensive, the more extraordinary a product performs.

I was out on an estimate last week in an upscale neighborhood in our area for an installation and refinish. The home owner was a very nice young lady with a lot of questions. Questions are good… Don’t get me wrong… But there is a measure of common sense that applies to everything… This includes hardwood flooring.

After speaking with her and giving my usual run down of what to expect, I always ask, “do you have any questions of me about this project?” Green Light! I was amazed at what was to come next. The first thing she said was, “since we are spending so much money on this floor, it’s not going to scratch, right?” How do you really answer this question? Of course a floor is going to scratch! Unless, of course, you tell me that no one and nothing is going to be on the floor. Hardwood floors scratch… It’s just the nature of what they are… Normal traffic and a variety of environmental conditions will see to it. If there were a finish out there that did not scratch, I would be all over it, and however, that’s wishful thinking.

After explaining to her that yes, the floor will scratch over time and giving her precautionary things that they can do as homeowners to minimize scratching, she said to me; “Well, if we are spending all of this money, it seems like we should not have to be as careful and the floor should take care of itself.” I guess I understand… When I buy a Mercedes, I suppose I expect it to drive me around with no effort from me! Come on folks… Really?

Two days after my visit and 3 estimates later, this same home owner called us back to book the job. Unfortunately, we respectfully declined the job. The red flags had already gone up on that one and there is a lot of truth in; “Sometimes the best jobs are the ones turned away.” Think about it like that Mercedes… You spend a lot of money on that car… You are proud of it… Show it off… BUT… YOU have to wash it… YOU have to put fuel in it… YOU change the oil… YOU take care of it!

Is an expensive hardwood floor any different?

What Cleaner Do I Use on My Hardwood Floor?

The following post is great information! I don't think I could have worded it better myself. If I had a dollar for every call that we have gotten that addresses the following issue... I wouldn't need to answer service calls anymore...

The following post is from:


Hardwood Flooring Blog - Up To Date Articles, Pictures
Articles for the hardwood flooring consumer. Included; installation techniques, popular products, styles to chose from, and problems to avoid when planning.

"Be careful out there when it comes to cleaning your new or older hardwood floors. Some cleaners may sound great by advertisements or infomercials seen on TV. However chances are the makeup of what's in the cleaner may void any warranty you may have not only prefinished floors, but site finished as well.

For a badly neglected floor you may be telling yourself, anything may be better. However if results are not up to your expectations, you may need the rescue of a professional floor finisher. What you originally applied to the floor may be more troublesome to fix than without. Why?

Some cleaners not recommended by hardwood finish manufacturers may contain residues that dull or cloud a finish appearance. Depending on how much was used, and the condition of the floor, these residues can go deeper into the actual pores of the hardwood (if bare wood is exposed) creating a potential bonding problem with any new finish being applied. In some cases floors have to be sanded to bare wood, getting rid of the harmful residues so a correct finish and proper bond is achieved.

I've seen the same commercials in the likes or Orange Glo or Glow. From a professional and more realistic standpoint I have to wonder how some consumers think such a low cost product is worth using. Ask yourself; would you use a similar product on an antique piece of furniture? That antique could be worth thousands, the same as your hardwood floor.

I have seen some complaints, but I'm not the type that will blame the manufacturer. It's likely what was on the floor originally that could have compounded the problems. It's best to follow manufacturers specifications on prefinished floors and listen to the guy that just refinished your older hardwood floors. After all he's been in business to keep people happy. A wrong suggestion is likely to lead to a failed floor and plenty or irate customers.Better products to clean hardwood floors."
Posted by The Host at 6:16 AM
Labels: Product Reviews

Real Time Answers to Hardwood Flooring Questions

How many times have you found yourself in the middle of a DIY project and ran into an issue that brings the entire project to a screeching halt? I know I have been there a thousand times and am confident that I am not alone.

On average, my company fields 2-3 calls per week with similar individuals that have started sanding or installing their own hardwood floors and have encountered an unforeseen circumstance. So many times, people have the misconception that sanding a hardwood floor is simply. “Sanding the floor with a piece of sandpaper.” Likewise, “Installing a hardwood floor is just putting a puzzle together.” Folks, I’ve got news for you… I have been a hardwood floor tech for nearly a decade and run into something new on almost every job. So many times I have thought to myself, “I wish there was someone I could talk to right now that could help me out with this.”

About a year ago, I was sitting in one of our logistics meetings, in the office, and had that thought about a custom border installation we were having trouble with. Luckily, I have a phone list on my desk of other professional flooring techs that I occasionally consult and rang one of them. After discussing the issue and coming to a problem solving consensus, I realized that I had been on the phone for nearly an hour. It is possible that during that hour, on one of our phone lines, I could have cost our company thousands of dollars in missed calls. No to mention, long distance to CA…

I remember thinking that there had to be a better way for contractors and trade services to access a quick problem solving network to help with their issues; Especially the professional contractor that invests a lot of money in time. As some time went by without putting much more thought into it, I noticed an increase in DIY’ers contacting our office with the hopes that we might give them some insight with their dilemmas as well. As I have always made an effort to answer any questions that come into our office, it is sometimes difficult to respond to these requests in a timely manner as I am in the field 75% of the time. Therefore, many times it might be several hours or a couple of days before I could respond to the “freebie” questions. Mind you, I have no problem answering questions (as long as they are not proprietary).

About 6 months ago, I received an email from a gentleman in Memphis, TN who had gotten our email address from www.refinedhardwood.com . In his initial email, the gentleman, whom we will call “John”, asked the question, “how do I know what grit of sandpaper to start with on my floor.” Now, about a month prior to receiving this email, my company had transitioned all of our company cell phones to Sprint ® Black Berries. Therefore, we now received all of our emails on our phones, with “John’s” being one of them. I was able to answer his initial question and a series of follow up questions right there in the field, almost immediately. Of course, the light bulb was burning me!

Over the next couple of months, I spent some time researching several different options to facilitate an online chat for anyone in the world to use, in real time. After experimenting with a few servers, my company decided on “Google Chat ®”. With this chat function, anyone who visits www.refinedhardwood.com can click the link on our contact page for “Google Chat ®” and chat with one of us in real time. Enquirers can ask questions, opinions or whatever else is on their mind. Basically, it has turned into a very efficient Q&A forum that is also private. Privacy was important to us because I know that it can sometimes be a little embarrassing to ask a “stupid” question in a public forum. Of course I contend, the only stupid question, is the one not asked. Why risk thousands of dollars in potential floor damage because of a “stupid” question? I question who the “stupid” one might be if pride keeps you from asking…

So to answer the question, “is there anywhere I can get real time answers to my hardwood flooring question/” Yes, there is! Visit www.refinedhardwood.com , go to our contacts page and click on the link for “Google Chat ®”. Send us a message and we will get right back with you. Ask a technical question, ask our opinion on a product or just ask us what we are doing… We love hearing from hardwood folks and DIY’ers from all over the world! Our online chat has taken off faster than we could have ever dreamed and we welcome many more to join us.

In the modern age of communication and technology, there really is no excuse in being inaccessible as a service oriented company. More and more people are turning to the internet for their everyday shopping and information. I know that I have always associated the internet with retail shopping and searching for information that I may be in need of at the time. However, who ever said that the service trades can’t have a web presence? No one ever told me that! Maybe that’s why Refined Hardwood Flooring is now one of the best known hardwood flooring contractors on the net. Coincidence? Maybe; or perhaps consumers are in need of this real time solution. I tend to lean towards the latter.

How Do I Choose a Hardwood Floor?

Probably one of the most difficult dilemmas that my clients run into during their project. You know, I wish I had one line of advice that I could give you on how to choose the right species for your home. However, there really isn't one. All I can tell you is that there are several things that you should consider when choosing. First, you have to choose a species that carries the characteristics that will compliment your home. If you have a high end home with very involved decorating and accent work, then a rustic Pine floor might not be for you. On the other hand, many homes look very nice with a rustic grade of flooring in them. Think about the overall look that you are going for and look at samples to jog your mind. Second, not only is the species an issue but solid or engineered flooring must be decided upon. Keep in mind that in some applications you may only have one option to choose from. Make sure you ask your flooring contractor which options are available to you. Another issue that I run into time and time again is the quality of flooring that people buy, "on their own." Here again, you get what you pay for. I can almost guarantee you that if you are paying $.99 per square foot; it is going to look like it. In addition, your flooring contractor may charge you more to work with a "cheap" floor that is more difficult to work with due to the milling of the floor boards. Most of the time, you will wind up paying less money for the overall flooring project if you buy a more expensive flooring material. I encourage all of my new floor clients to purchase the flooring material from us as I can honor a material guarantee. If you go out and buy the product on your own, guess what, if there is a material defect, you are on your own. Be careful purchasing liquidated or close out products. If you run into an issue a couple of years down the road, chances are you will not be able to re-purchase the same material to do repairs. I have run into several horror stories of houses that have flooded in one room and the entire home's flooring had to be torn out and a new floor installed because the product could not be found anymore. Oh yeah... the insurance company only paid for the room that flooded. Be careful; find something that should be around for a while. When selecting a product, have realistic expectations of the life of the floor. If you buy a solid floor, it should last you a lifetime. If you buy an engineered floor, you will probably only get one or two sandings out of it, if you hire a highly skilled craftsman to sand it (very expensive). If you buy a laminate floor, it can not be sanded. Check with flooring companies before you buy product from a large retail chain. Many contractors are actually Dealer/Contractors that can offer really good deals on flooring believe it or not. Think about it, a flooring contractor makes their money trough the labor to install or sand, not from the flooring purchase. In addition, most professional contractors will only offer mid to upper line products that many times you can purchase for less than you can get a lesser product from the large retail stores. So basically, you get an upgrade in flooring, you get the product from the installer and you get a material guarantee from your contractor. Remember, not all hardwood manufacturers mill their floors the same. Some are good and some are not. You get what you pay for!

Dustless Hardwood Floor Sanding

OK, this is one of those statements that really get under my skin. There is no such thing as dustless sanding! Plain and simple. There are many contractors out there today claiming this and it really isn't true. There are, however, some very good dust containment systems in the industry now. When I first started sanding floors all we had was an internal fan system that is built into the machines. The dust is collected in a dust bag that is tied to the end of a dust tube and the bag must be removed periodically to empty it. As this method contains a lot of the dust, there is still a lot of residual dust in the air that just isn't picked up by the machine or from the actual dumping of the dust bag. With the new systems out today a lot of that residual dust is now gone. However, these systems are not "dustless" which would imply 0% dust. I know that this post is going to upset some floor contractor out there that is advertising dustless, and before I offend you, let me say that my company does use the Clarke-American CAV 26 dust containment systems. I can not imagine going back to the bag method now. Although these units are not truly dustless, they are amazing in just how much dust is now contained. Anyone out there that has had their floors sanded prior to the day of DCS would be very impressed at how far the industry has come. Do I charge more for DCS sanding? Yes I do. It is worth it! The only thing that I will caution you about is have realistic expectations on the amount of dust that should be produced. Trust me, sanding without dust containment systems should not even be an option.

Award Winning; Refined Hardwood Flooring

Rising to the Top
Local hardwood flooring contractor rises to the top.

Articles appearing in this newsletter: Gold Award Winner
The 2008 parade of homes featured some of the best new construction in southeastern North Carolina. With over 125 entries in the competition this year, only a hand full of these entrants were awarded the Gold award. Magnolia Trace Town homes were among these stand alone entrants that received the award. Refined Hardwood Flooring is proud to be a part of the team that made this possible. The entered unit at Magnolia Trace featured an engineered Tiger Wood hardwood floor that adds elegance and grace to this spacious and accommodating town home. "We are so proud to be a part of this Gold award," states Dean Allen of Refined Hardwood Flooring. "What a great way to begin the summer." With several sites still available, we encourage anyone who may be in the market for a new home to stop by Magnolia Trace and take a look.

What is "Water Popping" a Hardwood Floor?

Water popping a hardwood floor is a technique used to richen a stain color that is applied to a raw hardwood floor during refinishing. During the sanding process, the reduction in grit sequence of the sand paper, that produces a smooth finish, naturally closes the grain of the wood. By saying closes the grain, I mean that the courser the sandpaper, the wider the grain fibers become in the sanded floor. To produce a smooth mirror like finish on a job site finished floor, you have to begin the sanding process with a course (low) grit paper to flatten and clean the floor, then progressively climd to higher (finer) grits to smooth the floor. As you climb to finer grits, the tighter the grain fibers become, in essence, making the wood denser and less penetrable. By water popping, you re-open the closed grain fibers of the floor allowing an applied stain to “soak” deeper into the grain of the floor.

Now that we know the purpose of water popping, let’s discuss the most common application method of water popping.

It is imperative that the water applied during water popping flow absolutely evenly across the entirety of the floor to be stained. In almost every circumstance, I use a “T” bar to water pop our floors. Should you fail to apply the water evenly; the floor will show blotchy areas under the stain from heavier or lighter areas of water penetration. Unfortunately, the only effective method of correcting uneven staining is to re-sand. If you are a DIYer, this will be a ton of extra work and additional cost associated with equipment rental, paper purchase, etc. If you are a flooring contractor, well, it’s gonna cost ya!

Water popping a floor with a “T” bar is relatively easy, assuming you have experience with applying water based finishes. It is basically the same process, except you are using straight, non-contaminated water. Many contractors and DIYers alike will use water straight out of the tap. Under most circumstances, this does not present a problem; however, occasionally utility companies add a little too much chlorine to their monthly or bi-annual treatments which can produce issue with cross contamination in some flooring projects. Our company always uses sterile water for all of our water popping applications. In other words, it is better to be safe than sorry! Use a standard watering can, that you water plants with, and pour a 2” line of water down on the floor (with the direction of the flooring grain). Pull your “T” bar in a snow plow position wall to wall, continuing to pour the 2” line of water as needed. Coat (or wet) the entire floor with the non-contaminated water and let stand for 2-4 hours to ensure complete drying.

Once the floor is dry, you will notice that the raw floor has a slightly “gritty” feel to it. Don’t panic! This is the desired outcome of water popping. The “gritty” feel of the floor is the grain re-opening. Inspect the entire floor to make sure that there are not areas that are either rougher, or smoother than the rest, as this is evidence of uneven water popping. Assuming you are satisfied with the results of the water popping, you may now begin to apply your desired stain color.

As in most instances, I recommend that home owners or DIYers not attempt to water pop and stain a floor, as there is a lot of room for error! If you are hiring a contractor to perform this type of hardwood floor project, I would also recommend quizzing them on their expertise and experience with water popping a floor. Just as there is a big misconception that sanding a hardwood floor is, “just putting some sand paper on a wood floor and scratching it up,” there is a lot of technique and ability that goes into water popping rather than just, “smearing some water across the floor.”. Remember, you get what you pay for!

How To Clean a Hardwood Floor

One of the biggest issue that I run into out in the field is the lack of proper maintenance of hardwood floors. Just because you can buy it in the store or just because the bottle says, "Hardwood Floor Cleaner" doesn't mean that it is the best product for you floor. In fact, it doesn't mean that the product is in fact safe to use on your hardwood floor. Stay away from products that have any wax or detergent based solutions in them. Remember, the large retail stores appeal to the masses and the masses are relatively uneducated about the Hardwood Flooring industry. Here is an example; how many times have you seen someone mopping a hardwood floor with a string mop and bucket of dirty water? Now, let's take that same bucket of dirty water and wipe down your Grandma's antique Maple Hutch. I don't think so! So why in the world would you continue to push this dirty water around on your antique Maple floors. Folks, there are good products out there designed specifically for your floor. They are little more expensive, but, not near as expensive as the sanding and refinishing is going to be. Check with your local hardwood flooring professional about the best products for you to clean your hardwood floor with.

I am Afraid to Have My Floors Sanded!

I understand! Many people are scared to death to have their floors sanded. Granted, the procedure can be a little trying with moving furniture around and arranging for a place to stay for a few nights, however, your flooring contractor should not add a lot of stress to an already uncomfortable situation. Research! You have to do some leg work on your own to ensure that you hire the right company for the job. There are a few very simple rules that you should follow when interviewing and considering potential contractors. First, always be sure that the flooring contractor is adequately insured for the project the you will be hiring him or her to do. General liability insurance is an absolute must. No reputable contractor is going to go into your home with the intention of doing damage. After all, you are hiring them to restore or upgrade your floor. Having said this, accidents do happen! Should one of these accidents occur and it is deemed that it was at the fault of the "floor guy", then you deserve to have your property returned to the same condition that it was in prior to the "accident". Most individuals don't have that kind of cash flow. If you ensure that your contractor has Liability insurance, then you should be covered. Never assume that every contractor has insurance. Always ask for a certificate from their insurance company. Second, check your contractor's references. References are a wonderful source to ask the questions that you may feel uncomfortable asking your contractor. Were they on time? Were they professional? Do they have good customer service? Do they do good work? These are just a few examples of the questions that, through my years in this industry, have proved to be some of the most popular. Don't be afraid to ask questions! The only dumb question really is the one not asked. Third, Educate yourself about the procedure that you are having done. Having said this, keep in mind that not every hardwood flooring technician follows a straight and narrow line that is the end all be all of the flooring world. Ultimately the finished product is what we are all most interested in. There are basic procedural events that should take place on every sanding job and those are the things that you should be familiar with. Ask your contractor about their specific procedure and, once again, ask questions. Find out if they use a dust containment system if you are concerned with dust. Ask if they offer a cleaning service after the project has been completed. Educate yourself! Finally, have realistic expectations of how your project will turn out. If your floor is 100 years old, it will not look brand new once your flooring contractor is done. It should look like a 100 year old refinished floor. View your completed flooring job from a standing position as this is how others will view it. I promise, I can crawl around on any floor in the United States and find imperfections in the floor boards, finish or both and I can find these imperfections in job site finished or pre finished hardwood floors. Sanding floors is an art form with imperfections and character. Be aware that there will be defining characteristics of every floor. Many contractors will do everything in their power to fix any problems that you may have with your completed flooring job, however, sometimes trying to fix small imperfections can lead to much larger problems. In closing, sanding your hardwood floor is a large decision that should be thought about and thoroughly planned. Having your floor sanded properly and professionally will save you a lot of heartache and extend the life of your hardwood floor for many years to come. Remember, educate yourself and most importantly, you get what you pay for.

Should I hire a Professional to Sand My Hardwood Floors?

Most of the time my answer to this question is yes. You see, there are a lot of things that go into sanding a floor rather than just putting some sandpaper on the floor slapping some varnish over it and moving on. There are several things that must be decided upon prior to actually sanding. First, you have to be sure that what you are sanding up is disposed of properly. There may be state and local laws on disposal of what ever product was used to finish your floor previously, IE: varnish, lacquers or moisture cured finishes. A professional hardwood floor contractor should be able to determine what types of finishes are on your floor and be versed in the proper disposal of said finishes. This step is very important as improper disposal could cost you a lot of money in the end. Second, it is very important that the grit selection of your sandpaper minimize the amount of flooring that will be sanded up. A solid hardwood floor should last you a lifetime, however, one bad sanding job could rip a lot of life away. Sanding too aggressively could cause deep machine marks and ultimately require board replacements. It is a common misconception that just because your floor is 3/4" thick that you can sand that much off of it. Nope. Only the top portion of the floor board is sand-able. There is a wear layer on the top of the board and once it is gone, blind nails will begin to appear. At this point, the floor has been sanded as far as it can go. Also, all sand paper is not created equal. Most of the paper on the rental market is not top of the line abrasives. If your sand paper begins to "throw" grit while you are sanding, low and behold, there will be tracking in your floor. You should also be aware that how you operate the machine will reveal itself on the finished floor. If you did not maintain straight lines or moved a little too fast or slow, it will be seen. Third, applying surface finishes to a hardwood floor is not as easy as it may sound. It is important to make sure that you apply the finish at the manufacturer's recommended spread rate. Too thin or too heavy can result in pooling and dry spots. The only time that I may recommend refinishing a hardwood floor on your own is in a inconspicuous place like a closet or small area. Most flooring contractors charge a job minimum price on refinishing because the equipment is very labor intensive. One very important point to remember when hiring a professional is that going with the lowest

How Do I Choose a Hardwood Floor?

Probably the most difficult dilemma that my clients run into during their project. You know, I wish I had one line of advice that I could give you on how to choose the right species for your home. However, there really isn't one. All I can tell you is that there are several things that you should consider when choosing. First, you have to choose a species that carries the characteristics that will compliment your home. If you have a high end home with very involved decorating and accent work, then a rustic Pine floor might not be for you. On the other hand, many homes look very nice with a rustic grade of flooring in them. Think about the overall look that you are going for and look at samples to jog your mind. Second, not only is the species an issue but solid or engineered flooring must be decided upon. Keep in mind that in some applications you may only have one option to choose from. Make sure you ask your flooring contractor which options are available to you. Another issue that I run into time and time again is the quality of flooring that people buy "on their own." Here again, you get what you pay for. I can almost guarantee you that if you are paying $.99 per square foot, it is going to look like it. In addition, your flooring contractor may charge you more to work with a "cheap" floor that is more difficult to work with due to the milling of the floor boards. Most of the time, you will wind up paying less money for the overall flooring project if you buy a more expensive flooring material. I encourage all of my new floor clients to purchase the flooring material from us as I can honor a material guarantee. If you go out and buy the product on your own, guess what, If there is a material defect, you are on your own. Be careful purchasing liquidated or close out products. If you run into an issue a couple of years down the road, chances are you will not be able to re-purchase the same material to do repairs. I have run into several horror stories of houses that have flooded in one room and the entire home's flooring had to be torn out and a new floor installed because the product could not be found anymore. Oh yeah... the insurance company only paid for the room that flooded. Be careful, find something that should be around for a while. When selecting a product, have realistic expectations of the life of the floor. If you buy a solid floor, it should last you a lifetime. If you buy an engineered floor, you will probably only get one or two sandings out of it, if you hire a highly skilled craftsman to sand it (very expensive). If you buy a laminate floor, it can not be sanded. Check with flooring companies before you buy product from a large retail chain. Many contractors are actually Dealer/Contractors that can offer really good deals on flooring believe it or not. Think about it, a flooring contractor makes their money trough the labor to install or sand, not from the flooring purchase. In addition, most professional contractors will only offer mid to upper line products that many times you can purchase for less than you can get a lesser product from the large retail stores. So basically, you get an upgrade in flooring, you get the product from the installer and you get a material guarantee from your contractor. Remember, not all hardwood manufacturers mill their floors the same. Some are good and some are not. You get what you pay for!

Refined Hardwood Flooring Donates Floor to Wounded Marine

Refined Hardwood Donates Hardwood Floor to Wounded Marine Category: Life
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NewswireToday - /newswire/ - ..:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Raleigh, NC, United States, 11/20/2007 - Company partners with Refined Hardwood Flooring to help wounded serviceman regain independence...:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Horizon Forest Products (HFP), a top distributor of products for hardwood flooring contractors and custom cabinetmakers in the southeast, recently donated materials used to upfit Marine Sean Debevoise's home. Debevoise was shot four times while on raid in al Anbar Province in Iraq and after many months of rehabilitation, still walks with a severe limp.David and Melissa Allen, owners of Wilmington-based Refined Hardwood Flooring, found out about Debevoise through an Army acquaintance of David Allen, who served in the Middle East in the 90's. "As an Army veteran, I remember how important it was for me to know that people back home supported me and my mission," explains Allen. "Both Melissa and I wanted to help a wounded veteran and that's when we heard about Sean."Partnering with Horizon Forest Products, Refined Hardwood Flooring removed the carpeting from the common living areas and master bedroom of Debevoise and his wife, Rachel's, home and replaced it with ½" engineered flooring. HFP donated the materials and Refined Hardwood Flooring donated the labor. Allen says that according to Debevoise, the new floor has "made his life easier and his recovery faster."Says Horizon Forest Products' Wilmington Branch Leader, David Blackburn, "As a company, it is an honor and a privilege to help someone that has given so much for our country. In this time, when all you hear are negative stories in the world, we are fortunate to be connected with a story, like Sean's, that we know has made a positive difference."Adds Allen, "It is my hope that others will read this story and remember that we still have many men and women in harm's way, fighting so that we can all continue to do what we love doing day to day. I also hope that we can help other veterans out there that need us."About Horizon Forest ProductsHorizon Forest Products is a top distributor of products for hardwood flooring contractors and custom cabinetmakers in the southeast. The company currently services areas around Raleigh, NC; Wilmington, NC; Greensboro, NC; Charleston, SC; and Knoxville, TN. Horizon Forest Products provides premium materials to cabinetmakers and hardwood flooring contractors and is particularly proud to offer one of the largest selections of exotic and hard-to-find pine flooring.About Refined Hardwood FlooringRefined Hardwood Flooring has been in existence for over three generations. Originally based out of New York State, the large demand for hardwood flooring has called for an expansion into North Carolina. Now based out of Wilmington, RHF offers the expert knowledge of hardwood flooring and the guarantee of complete customer satisfaction. Refined Hardwood Flooring is a proud member of the National Wood Flooring Association.