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What is Reactive Stain?

Reactive stain – you may have heard this term spoken in your search for hardwood floor, but what does it mean? To understand what a reactive stain is, it is also important to understand what it is not.

THE PROCESS

Whereas traditional stains add their color by painting the surface of the wood, reactive stains work by reacting with the natural components within the wood. Reactive stains are completely void of pigment and create color from inside the wood by interacting with the wood’s natural ingredients to create unique, 2-toned colors in wide variations that cannot be duplicated with traditional staining methods.

THE RESULT

Reactive stain’s interaction with the natural tannins and sugars in the wood also creates an ‘aged’ look by replicating the oxidization and maturing process of naturally aged wood. This natural maturing process will normally take decades to achieve. However, with the reactive staining process it can create the same look immediately without harming the quality of the wood itself.

FUMING

Another state-of-the-art reactive process is fuming. Fumed (AKA Smoked) wood has been exposed to ammonia which reacts with the natural tannins in the wood to bring out new colors and variations. European oak is the preferred species for fuming/smoking because of its high tannin content which brings out an intense darker color.

Because the intensity of the reaction depends on the tannin content of the wood, each board reacts a little differently from the next, creating color variation that is more pronounced than untreated wood.

It is a common mistake that fuming/smoking involves application of the ammonia INTO the wood, but this is not the case. The change in color comes from the wood’s reaction to the presence of small amounts of ammonia in an enclosed environment. The ammonia causes the tannins in the wood to be brought to the surface. The longer the wood is exposed to the ammonia, the darker it becomes, resulting in a range of color from rich brown to almost black.

Wood floors that are treated with reactive stains or are fumed produce unmatched hues and a depth of color that simply cannot be duplicated with traditional staining methods. Are you still wondering if a reactive stained or fumed floor is right for you? Take a look at some of our reactive stained floors in the French inspired in L'artiste collection or in the ultra-wide Timbertop Lifestyle series from Urban Floor and decide for yourself!

Source: Urban Floor

Modern Commercial Design: Composer Mozart

You might come to this restaurant nestled in lively West Hollywood, CA for the acclaimed organic gourmet cuisine but we know you’ll stay for the ambiance. The acclaimed Granville restaurant boasts quality meals comprised of the finest ingredients and a beautiful space from where to enjoy them.

Step inside this modern masterpiece and soak in the stunning commercial design featuring our very own Composer Mozart by Urban Floor.

Call us for more information about Composer Mozart at (408) 333-9771 or (408) 509-8627.

Bold metal accents are contrasted with warm, rustic hardwoods and come together in the epitome of modern design.

The finest quality cuisine deserves the finest quality hardwoods. When quality foods come together in a beautiful environment, the result is an unforgettable dining experience.

We're more to happy to assist if you have any questions, feel free to contact us at (408) 333-9771 or (408) 509-8627.

From Carpet to Hardwood Floors

When it's time to decide and choose what kind of flooring type for your house, the first thing is you need to research about the advantage and disadvantage of each flooring types. Beside the function, you need to make sure about the durability, maintenance of the floors, and all other factors.

Carpet flooring was becoming on trend many years ago, but nowadays the carpet is not the best flooring choice especially if you suffer from asthma or allergies. Carpet tends to trap dust and skin cells in their synthetic fibers. It is crucial to routinely get your carpet cleaned if you have it in your home and you're suffering from allergies.

Hardwood floors are the ideal flooring type for those who suffer from allergies and asthma; the smooth surface doesn’t trap dust, mold, or other allergens and also it's effortless to maintain. With so many advantages of the Hardwood floors, that's why they prefer to choose Hardwood floors for their flooring surface option. Besides, the natural beauty and the elegance of Hardwood floors, it can be a good investment for the homeowner.

If you have any questions about hardwood floors and the installation as well, feel free to contact us at (408) 333-9771.

Janka Scale (Wood Hardness)

Below are some species samples for you to compare from each type of Hardwood Floors:

As you can see, there are many types of wood that we can work with, and we manage all of them to give you excellent quality wood for your hardwood floors.

Call us at (408) 509-8627 or (408) 333-9771 for any questions of Hardwood Floors products.