Classic Wood Requires Care for Longevity
By Gina Dostler
Wood interiors evoke history in its grainy surface. The footfalls of friends and family create a lifetime of memories across wood floors. Melissa Kovach, sales manager of Warren Christopher Fine Floor Coverings in Corona del Mar, appreciates the rooted feeling wood flooring brings to any interior.
 Q: Chris Caves owns this business. How did you get involved?
A: Chris is my brother. He actually bought the business 15 years ago from our Uncle Warren who started the company. It’s been family owned and operated for 28 years now. I’ve been with the company for the past 12 years. We both work together creating innovative methods to keep the business evolving and growing. Flooring is a very important piece of the home and we understand wood flooring from all angles.
 Q: What is the biggest misunderstanding you find in your business?
A: Engineered flooring is real wood. So many think it is faux wood, but that’s not true. They are manufactured using three to nine layers of different wood veneers. The top layer consists of high-quality wood. The sub layers can be the same species of wood or different. The grain of each layer runs in different directions, creating a very stable plank. Solid wood flooring is a living, breathing creature so to speak, contracting and expanding with the weather. Engineered wood flooring expands and contracts less than solid wood flooring during fluctuations in humidity and temperature. Coastal cities where moisture is a big concern are a good candidate for engineered flooring.
 Q: What wood is your best seller?
A: European oak. And it is wood that is truly from Europe, mostly France or Germany. Not Russia, or China like many other oaks labeled as European. A big reason why European oak is popular is it takes the grey and taupe finishing colors much better due to its neutral undertone, a driftwood look to it; versus the domestic white oak with its yellow undertone.
Q: How long do the floors last?
A: Our floors are designed to last the life of your home. The key is to maintain it on a regular basis and maybe years down the line it might need refinishing. But the hardwood platform always stays. Also note that refinishing is not necessarily done just because the floor is worn. Refinishing the floors can be done to update with a new color or texture and give a different look without installing whole new flooring.
 Q: Tell me about refinishing?
A: Refinishing is a great tool to bring new life to your flooring and there are all sorts of ways to give your floor that needed facelift. You can bleach out to whiten. Or hand scrap with a wire brush to give more texture. This texture actually is ideal for pets, kids, beach houses because the brushing makes the wood harder and it is easier to maintain. Then there is putting a high gloss to the floor, though it shows more wear and tear. You can also darken your floor or change that high gloss back to a matte finish. Painting wood floors in colors is very popular right now.
Q: You actually have a wonderful line of reclaimed woods.
A: Reclaimed woods are expensive but well worth the price. It is a gorgeous floor. No two pieces are alike; each has their own character. The high price comes from the weeks and weeks of treatment necessary for the wood. It’s a lengthy process of debugging and kiln drying so all the moisture is taken out. These wood pieces are actually from old farms, factories and fences. The fences are so cool. After all the years of baking in the sun, the wood has turned a color called silver siding. Many of these pieces don’t even have to be treated because they have been sun-kissed for so long. Their bluish, silvery-grey color is stunning on walls and doors. Since the price tag is pretty high, most reclaimed wood is used as a focal point such as a wall or door.
 A: You mentioned maintenance. What is the process?
A: It all depends on the type of finish and there are many finishes. But most floors simply need to be cleaned with vinegar and water. There is maintenance soap that can bring luster back to the floor. Be careful not to have the floor in direct sunlight all the time. Tint the windows or have window coverings to protect the floor. Also oiling should only be done by professionals. Our wood flooring business is a one-stop shop. We make all the color finishing ourselves and have our own custom flooring line, maintenance and installers to complete the package.
Melissa Kovach
Warren Christopher Fine Floor Coverings
2435 E. Coast Hwy, Suite 3
Corona del Mar, CA 92625
949-645-1406
http://wchristopher.com/
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