Finger-Jointed Studs

Finger-jointed studs are ideal for single and multi-family homes, as well as commercial construction, and provide significant benefits to the builder and building owner. For studs, straightness is the most important characteristic. Southern Pine finger-jointed studs are straight and dimensionally stable because they are manufactured from short pieces of kiln-dried lumber – trims from the sawmill operation. Walls built with finger-jointed studs are straighter, even when subjected to heat or humidity. This helps eliminate nail pops in drywall and other related wall problems, resulting in fewer costly callbacks. Southern Pine finger-jointed studs are accepted by all major U.S. code organizations and can be directly substituted for solid-sawn lumber of the same or weaker species, size and grade. They are Precision End Trimmed (P.E.T.) to the exact length needed, saving time and money by reducing waste at the job site. For complete details, refer to the SPC publication Southern Pine Finger-Jointed Studs available at www.southernpine.com. To find a source of supply for Southern Pine finger-jointed studs, use the Product Locator at www.southernpine.com.

Southern Pine Flooring

Southern Pine Floors: Attractive, Durable, Versatile

Choosing a flooring material demands proper knowledge of the material and its performance characteristics. And a long service life depends on a complete understanding of installation, finishing, and maintenance requirements, too. Any investment in wood flooring can be justified when the material selected provides long-term resistance to wear, general utility, and a decorative appearance.

Properly installed and cared for, high-quality Southern Pine flooring products meet the challenges of the most demanding applications.

Since Colonial Times, Southern Pine floors have proven to be extremely durable, serviceable, and attractive additions to homes and all kinds of other structures including schools, churches, sports venues and commercial buildings. Dramatic improvements in the seasoning of Southern Pine flooring material as well as refined manufacturing and machining processes, have been combined to assure a smooth, stable floor surface. With its distinctive grain pattern, the inherent beauty of a Southern Pine floor is a feature well known to designers, builders, and homeowners nationwide.

For complete details on how to specify, select, install and maintain Southern Pine flooring products, for both interior and protected exterior applications, refer to the SPC publication A Guide to Southern Pine Flooring available at www.southernpine.com. To find a source of supply for Southern Pine flooring, use the Product Locator at www.southernpine.com.

Grades

Flooring grades are based upon appearance criteria, limiting defects such as tight knots, splits, pitch, shake, stain, or wane.

When selecting a Southern Pine floor, individual tastes or perhaps a design requirement will govern which grade best suits a given application. Knot sizes, and overall content of knots may or may not be desirable to a specifier or homeowner in a given application.

For a description of Southern Pine flooring grades, go to www.southernpine.com.

Sizes and Patterns

The most common thicknesses of Southern Pine flooring are 1" and 1¼" nominal (¾" and 1" actual). Standard widths range from 2" nominal (1⅛" actual) to 6" nominal (5⅛" actual). Wider widths are also manufactured. Typically, strip flooring is a term given to material that is 3½" or narrower and plank flooring is classified as material that is 4" and wider.

A specification option is end-matched flooring. End-matched floor boards have a tongue or a groove on each end. This tongue-and-groove pattern on the strip flooring sides and ends provides load-bearing capabilities for screed installation systems where end joints occur between the screeds (the subflooring nailing base). End-matching also reduces the amount of strip end cuts in comparison to plain-end flooring, and somewhat reduces waste and labor.

Flat or mixed grain flooring is commonly referred to as "flat-sawn" flooring. It has a growth ring configuration parallel to the wearing surface but, in general, it is graded and sorted irrespective of the wood grain orientation and consequently is considered "mixed grain" flooring.

Another grain configuration that can be specified is edge or vertical grain flooring, where the growth rings are perpendicular to the flooring wear surface. This product is equivalent to "quarter-sawn" material in hardwood flooring. Edge-grain flooring has a harder wearing surface than flatgrain material, and is desirable for high-traffic areas such as kitchens, hallways, or family rooms. Commercial or institutional floors for offices, schools, retail or industrial environments resist wear and indentations better by using Southern Pine edge-grain material.

Typically, Southern Pine flooring is manufactured with a "stress-relief" pattern on the underside of each piece to minimize the effects of moisture-related dimensional changes. Relief types include a shallow, wide groove known as a "hollow back", or a series of grooves commonly referred to as "scratch-back".

Southern Pine Flooring: Storage & Acclimation

Jobsite Acclimation

Assuming the flooring has been properly stored and transported, it is equally important that the builder conduct a regimented construction timetable, completing the tasks necessary to assure all of the following jobsite conditions exist prior to flooring delivery.

The building's interior must be thoroughly DRY. If the average moisture content of drywall, subfloors, ceilings, and framing is below 12 to 14%, the building components are considered to be dry.

Areas to receive wood flooring must have suitable ventilation.

Required Jobsite Conditions:

1. The building is fully enclosed; all windows and exterior doors are installed.
2. The proper subfloor nailing base is installed.
3. The heating/cooling system is operational.

Proper jobsite acclimation is essential for the installation of a high-quality, serviceable Southern Pine floor!

Acclimating a Southern Pine floor allows time for the wood to adjust itself dimensionally, enabling the floor to reach a balancing point — a state in which it neither absorbs nor evaporates water vapor. This state is commonly referred to as its equilibrium moisture content, or EMC. The acclimation time period is generally between five to fourteen days for Southern Pine flooring, depending upon humidity and/or jobsite conditions among rooms.

Southern Pine Flooring: Installation

Installation techniques for wood flooring vary depending on the floor system (wood joists or concrete slab). For complete installation details, refer to the SPC publication A Guide to Southern Pine Flooring available at www.southernpine.com.

Southern Pine Flooring: Finishing and Care

Stains & Sealers

Floor finishes provide both a protective and decorative surface. A stain is one option, adding warmth and charm. Stains are available in a wide range of colors.

If the new floor is not stained, it is recommended that a protective sealer be applied. The two types of sealers are penetrating sealers and surface sealers.

Penetrating sealers are floor waxes that prevent the penetration of liquids and dirt into the flooring. Chips and scratches are maintainable with small amounts of wax. On new floors, a liquid buffing wax applied to a wax finish forms an additional barrier to dirt and stains. Read the buffing wax label carefully, making certain it is suitable for wood floors. Do not use any product containing water.

Refinishing existing flooring generally does not require a preliminary sanding but, rather, a thorough cleaning and another coat of wax, without leaving any evidence of wax overlap in heavy traffic areas. Penetrating sealers have a lower luster (or a more moderate shine). As the patina sheen wears away, a reapplication of wax will restore it.

Surface sealers, on the other hand, do not penetrate the wood-wearing surface. Instead, they create a wood-bonding surface layer. Different types including polyurethanes, moisture-cured urethanes, and acid-cured urethanes.

Polyurethanes are the more popular surface sealers. They provide both durability and moisture resistance. They are available in oil and water-based formulations, in addition to high-gloss, semi-gloss, matte, and satin finishes.

Polyurethane sealers offer excellent resistance to water, scuff marks and scratches, and provide a durable finish for high-traffic areas such as hallways, kitchens, bathrooms and family rooms. However, polyurethane finishes have a tendency to "yellow" as they age, slightly tinting the floor color. When regular maintenance no longer provides satisfactory floor surface appearance, sanding is recommended before applying a new coat.

Moisture-cure urethanes are the hardest of the surface sealers. These urethane sealers are extremely prone to errors. Do not attempt to apply urethane sealers without the supervision of an experienced floor finisher.

Acid-cured urethanes, also known as "Swedish finishes", provide a clearer and somewhat harder surface finish than polyurethanes. Again, due to the technical intricacies of application, consult a floor finishing professional.

The finish selected will affect how often the floor needs cleaning. A lighter floor will hide dust better; however, dirt, spills, and grit may remain more visible leading to more frequent sweeping. A lighter floor coloring enhances room size; a room appears larger and brighter.

On the other hand, darker colors of finishes tend to conceal scratches, cracks, grit, and sediment, and are more forgiving than lighter colors. Dark floor colors help to camouflage the visual damages of heel marks, gouges, and furniture scratches. Since dark colors absorb light rather than reflect it, a dark floor color may make a room appear smaller than lighter colors.

Southern Pine Flooring: Maintenance

General Maintenance Tips - Keep Your Southern Pine Floors Looking New

• Use door mats at entryways. Do not use cocoa fiber or rubber-backed mats.
• Do not slide refrigerators or other heavy appliances on the floor. Place a clean sheet of plywood on the floor for protection from scratches and gouges.
• Use area rugs in high-traffic lanes.
• Avoid wearing high-heeled shoes.
• Use floor protectors beneath furniture.
• Sweeping regularly prevents scratching from dirt and grit. Daily sweeping is recommended in homes with small children or large families.
• Avoid using water on wood floors. Water causes wood to expand.
• Direct sunlight can discolor wood. Use draperies or blinds to shield the floor from direct sunlight.

America's first lumber was sturdy Southern Pine. Today, it's still making history...even indoors. Discover the richness, warmth, and durability of Southern Pine flooring, wainscoting, paneling, and beaded ceilings. Southern Pine lends traditional elegance to any decor. It's readily available, economical, and offers superior workability.

To find a dealer, distributor or producer, go to the Product Locator available at www.southernpine.com.