Prefinished hardwood flooring is made different all across the country and the rest of the world. There are few places in the world where acclimation is as important as it is in Colorado. We have one of the driest climates on the planet which means that hardwood floors also need to be extra dry before they are installed or finished. This is why we house our own prefinishing facility and also why we deal explicitly with mills that will assure us that their products also meet our exacting specifications.
We work with specialty mills that produce our products at a moisture content between 4.5% and 6.9%. We then store those materials in our climate controlled warehouse. This assures you of a floor that is produced especially to maintain it’s beauty and condition in our unique Rocky Mountain climate.
Whether it’s in a home that is a primary residence and is occupied year round or a secondary home that is used less frequently, or even if it’s installed in a commercial space, the 5/6 difference will start you and your client off on the right path to success.
Too many mills and distributors set limits to what conditions you can install. They claim you need to install in a climate between 30% to 50% relative humidity and 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (a general recommendation for the entire U.S.). This typically means a moisture content as highlighted in beige in the table above.
The Custom Craft CollectionCustom Craft has developed historical data compiled from our 29 years of experience here, specifically in the Rocky Mountain Region. This data suggests that, in our arid climate, the content is more in line with the table highlighted in yellow above.
The Custom Craft CollectionThe 5/6 Certified difference is our promise to you, you will always have a floor that is acclimated to our dry climate. There isn’t another distributor that takes the care to assure you of these superior products. We offer these materials to you and your clients in a variety of species as well as solid and engineered platforms, They can be done in everything from1-1/2″ solid to 21″ wide engineered and all the combinations in between. (Ask about specialty widths and lengths).
Engineered Hardwood FlooringThese materials are stored in our climate-controlled warehouse where they are conditioned at a mean temperature of 70 degrees. We do not add any additional moisture but do keep them at between 15% and 30% relative humidity assuring that they will go into your client’s project at the lowest possible moisture content ensuring the tightest possible fit when you install.
Other pre-finished mills are finished on the east coast or west coast, or even overseas, where the ambient relative humidity and moisture content is much higher. When these hardwood floors are installed in a Rocky Mountain climate, the moisture eventually evaporates after installation, causing movement, shrinkage, and often more visually offensive imperfections in your previously flawless floor. Because we are dedicated to making sure all of our floors in the Rocky Mountain region are impeccable long after installation, the 5/6 certified difference is our assurance that our craftsmanship holds up, even against a dry, high elevation winter.
Explore Our ProductsAll of these materials are available in raw or a, custom or stock, pre-finished color. By offering these options, you and your clients receive hardwood flooring that is already at the perfect moisture content for our climate. That way, when you install them, minimal movement will occur.
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