Strata Flooring

We put a different wood species on the bottom of our planks, which still counterbalances the top layer, just not quite as effectively in more difficult conditions such as below grade or over radiant heat.

Vista is a balanced product which means it has the same species and thickness on the top and bottom with our stable core in the middle. Vista is also a very popular build in Europe due to its appearance, look, and stability. Strata has the same core but the bottom layer is thinner and is usually made from poplar wood.

Yes, though both can be installed over radiant heat. We often recommend Vista over radiant heat as it handles temperature swings more predictably when installation guidelines are followed.

Our 4 mm face will support an average of three to five refinishes.

We recommend that you install Vista flooring over concrete that is below grade as it has a balanced construction and is even more stable than Strata.

Standard lengths are 2’-12’ in most cuts.  1’-8’ is also available.  We can also provide custom longer lengths as requested. Prices vary.

In an order that has our standard 2 to 12 foot lengths, you will typically get about 8-10% of the order as 2-foot lengths, roughly the same amount in 12-foot lengths, with an average of 7 to 8-foot lengths.

Our core material is made from either poplar or maple. The lumber is quartered and the grain is positioned vertically. Quartered lumber is the most stable cut. Putting the grain vertically in the core creates a strong force against the top layer, causing it not to move with changes in relative humidity.  Also there are small gaps between core sections, allowing air to flow though, keeping the moisture content constant across all layers.

Yes. The build of our engineered flooring is perfect for low RH environments.

We offer 2 types of finishes. 

The first is a matte finish that is a non-VOC UV cured urethane.  This offers a very hard finish. It is scratch resistant and easy to care for. If a scratch does occur, it is much harder to repair. 

Our second finish is an oil finish.  This is a natural-feeling finish and VOC free as well. It is not scratch resistant and requires monthly maintenance to keep the floor looking its best.  When scratches occur it is very easy to repair.

We are not but some of the mills we receive raw lumber from are. This does not mean we do not use sustainable practices. We are aware of the environmental impacts of abusing our great forests. 

That is why we only work with high quality mills.  We also reduce waste by using peeled material for the bottoms of our Strata platform and lumber that doesn’t meet our grading standards for the bottoms of Vista.

We use a non-VOC PVA glue.  This glue has great adhesive but also has some give to allow for movement in the wood. This prevent the wood from splitting/face checking.

Plywood has been marketed as the best engineered flooring for years, but it has a lot of shortfalls.

One is that a majority of plywood is not made is the US.

Further, the best adhesive for Plywood is a formaldehyde-based glue that produces off-gasses for years and is not good for a home environment. 

Plywood also acts like a sponge for water which causes warping and dry cupping. 

Plywood also does not have the strength to limit the movement of the top layer which causes gapping.