Wide Plank Pine Floors Stand The Test Of Time With Style
White Pine is America’s oldest wood flooring material. In both old and new homes alike, traditional wide plank pine floors continually draw admiring glances with a blend of imposing grains and subtle knots that creates an unmatched warmth and beauty which lasts through the years. Surprised? Especially when it’s not even classified as a hardwood? Get to know the true story behind over 300 years of this remarkable flooring and see why you should consider it for your home.
White Pine is America’s oldest wood flooring material. In both old and new homes alike, traditional wide plank pine floors continually draw admiring glances with a blend of imposing grains and subtle knots that creates an unmatched warmth and beauty which lasts through the years. Surprised? Especially when it’s not even classified as a hardwood? Get to know the true story behind over 300 years of this remarkable flooring and see why you should consider it for your home.
Time-honored. A piece of Americana. Renowned for its charm and its sustainability, Eastern White Pine is America’s oldest wood flooring material. In both old and new homes alike, traditional wide plank pine floors continually draw admiring glances with a blend of imposing grains and subtle knots that creates an unmatched warmth and beauty which lasts through the years. Surprised? Especially when it’s not even classified as a hardwood? Get to know the true story behind over 300 years of this remarkable flooring and see why you should consider it for your home.
When early colonists arrived in New England, they found forests full of towering mature Eastern White Pine trees, which thrive in the colder climate of the Northeast. It didn’t take long for these settlers to realize that this was the perfect source for wide, longboards that were quite strong and perfect for everything from floors to framing. Today, over three centuries later, many of these colonial homes still proudly stand filled with the unique welcoming character of their original wide plank pine floors.
But what about the fact that pine is a “soft” wood?
Yes, Eastern White Pine boards are more susceptible to dings and dents than hickory, oak or other “hard” woods. In actuality, this just helps add a distinctively unique appeal to a pine floor — this should be the reason you want it and love it. In effect, it gives the floor an even richer sense of history and its own story to tell. Plus, as you live on a Pine floor, the fibers of the boards compress on themselves, this essentially begins to make the floor harder as you walk on it.
What makes Eastern White Pine different from other pine species?
First, it’s the tallest pine in the U.S. and can grow over 200 feet when allowed to mature. This leads to premium quality planks that are longer and straighter with fewer knots. Second, the natural pale color works ideally with either a clear finish or subtle staining to showcase the beauty of the grain and knots. And, third, Eastern White Pine is a highly sustainable flooring material. Unlike other pines which are grown on single species plantations, it thrives when mixed in with hardwoods as part of an essential forest eco-system.
Why is Carlisle the best choice for Eastern White Pine flooring?
Not all Eastern White Pine floors are created equal, but like the original floors, Carlisle pine floors have inherent characteristics that make them more beautiful, more durable while creating a more authentic appearance:
- Restoration quality, Eastern White Pine
- Proprietary flooring grades, that exceed that of common lumber grades
- Custom SlowCraft™milling process results in a higher quality board, that requires minimal, if any, sanding on site (depending on the quality of installation and subfloor)
- No need to use a wood conditioner (depending on the quality of installation)
- Traditional long lengths, up to 14’ long with longer useable average lengths, to create an authentic look
- Air and kiln dried for enhanced stability in a wide plank board
- Widths up to 19” wide