The Widest Plank
The search for the right partner to help achieve wood planks of incredible dimension
has taken us both far and wide, literally and figuratively.
Reimagine the Impossible. Our quest for the widest floors would time and time again be met with the incredulous response of “It can’t be done.” In this country, flooring size is limited by the way rough lumber is sawn and graded for other industries. Wood flooring often ends up playing second fiddle behind the more lucrative markets for veneer, furniture, and the production of wine and whiskey barrels.
The Journey to Wide Plank Oak. Most White Oak logs in the United States are cut to shorter lengths for ease of transport. The logs are then sawn to support the demand for valuable Rift and Quarter leaving little room for the look we are after: wide plank, center cut, fully expressive planks at lengths that can fill a room with as few seams as possible.
Partnership. In Northern Europe, the highest quality lumber often ends up in the production of flooring. The key is to purchase logs at source, from auctions or private sales frequently held in the forest. By doing this you can saw however you wish and realize the log’s full potential. On a recent trip to Europe, we met Nobel in Belgium who has the skill and zeal to craft the kind of wood floors we had always imagined making. Nobel’s perfectly balanced construction coupled with their purchasing prowess means they can turn mature logs into floors of awesome dimension. They have become the perfect partner to help us achieve this ambition. Nobel’s state of the art machinery, sourcing skill and industry experience means they can produce stable flooring planks up to 40ft (12m) long and 24in (60cm) wide.
Balanced Core. Solid wood floors are undoubtedly impressive but to fully maximize the yield of these large trees, sawing the logs into thick veneers (lamellas) allows us to stretch the wood further. An added benefit of Nobel’s balanced boards is their stability as solid wood boards tend to cup or crown with the change in the seasons. True balanced boards are designed to better withstand the change in humidity. Because of the precision milling and construction, we can finish the planks prior to delivery unlike their solid wood counterpart. Finishing in advance allows us greater control over the finished product and saves time and money. This allows us to produce matching millwork, cabinet faces, wall paneling and stairs – something near impossible when done on site.