Hand-Scraped
Hardwood Floors

Machines are a part of every aspect of our lives. From the way we make our food and live at home to the way we work, virtually nothing is done today without the help of computers, machines or other technology. In all of this advancement, though, the question remains-what have we lost?

So what does this have to do with hardwood floors and home improvement? Believe it or not, there was a time when all the timber for hardwood floors had to be harvested and refined by hand. Carpenters planed their own wood with handheld tools, using their hands to slowly level each individual board. While this took more time, the end product had something our modern uniform products don’t-personality.

Now, certain companies have gone back to a form of this old way of crafting wood for floorboards. With major manufacturers like Anderson Floors offering hand-scraped flooring it is getting easier to add this touch of personality to one’s own home. By finishing their boards by hand, scraped floors take on a unique texture as the ripples and features of the woodworking come to the surface. Barry Stout, of Stout Hardwood Floors in Las Cruces says this lends a vintage look to the floor that makes the home look like it’s been around for centuries.

While they are more expensive than typical hardwood flooring, hand-scraped alternatives provide the added benefit of combining a vintage look with 21st century engineering. This makes it easier to have them installed, and the wood is treated with modern finishes that protect it while adding to the overall look of the floor.

Stout, who installs this type of floor and has it in his own home, adds that hand-scraped flooring is easier to live with. Since the wood is already textured in such a way that it appears “lived on”, one doesn’t have to worry so much about it. As Stout says, “It looks awesome, and you don’t have to worry about scratches.”

If you decide to put in a hand-scraped hardwood floor (or any type of wood, for that matter), keep in mind that all wood is not created equal. It is vital to know the source of the hardwood, since illegal harvesting runs rampant. Some foreign suppliers of hardwood cause irreparable damage to the environment in the form of deforestation. Be sure to buy your hardwood from a responsible American flooring company that supports legal harvesting practices.