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Frequently Asked Questions
 
Our Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to the Southern Traditions FAQ Page. We have compiled the list of the most asked questions we receive daily. Please take a moment to see if your question is asked and answered here. If you need more assistance, please email us or call us directly at 866.599.7999
  • Purchasing & Pricing
  • Can I buy directly from you?
  • Why don't I see pricing online?
  • I'm a contractor or retailer, can I set up an account and purchase directly from you?
  • I saw a better price on the internet than what my local store has, should I buy it? Do you warranty it?
  • Product Types, Colors & Sustainability
  • People tell me solid floors are better than engineered floors. Is that true?
  • Is your product Green & certified?
  • How do I pick the right hardwood color for my needs?
  • Other Southern Traditions products
  • I'm interested in Southern Traditions laminate, tile and carpet but don't see them listed on your site. Why?
  • I came across a Southern Traditions hardwood product, species or bamboo sample in a store or on-line that is not listed on your site. Why?
  • Installation Questions
  • If I float my new engineered floor do I need a sound/vapor retrder, and what kind should I use?
  • If I nail or staple my new engineered floor do I need a sound and/or vapor barrier, and what kind should I use?
  • Care & Cleaning
  • How do I clean and care for my floor?
  • Can I use one of those dirt & dust mops that has disposable pads or sheets?
  • Can I use a steamer to clean my hardwood floor?

  •  Can I buy directly from you?
    No. Southern Traditions Hardwoods must be purchased through an authorized dealer in your area, which can be found via our store locator and pricing is set on the retail level.
     Why don't I see pricing online?
    We are the manufacture and pricing is set at the retail level. To find several stores near you to call and get price quotes, type in your zip code at the top of any page on this website where it says "Find a Store."
     I'm a contractor or retailer, can I set up an account and purchase directly from you?
    No. But we are happy to put you in contact with the major distributor in your area. Please contact us.
     I saw a better price on the internet than what my local store has, should I buy it? Do you warranty it?
    No. Part of the buying experience is service before and "after" the sale. If you purchased our product over the internet then the chain of custody of knowing where the product is shipped and stored has been compromised, we would have no way of knowing if the product had been stored in a controlled environment or if an inferior product had been substituted for instance. The entity that sold you the product would be unable to adequately provide technical assistance if a problem should arise; the distributor who provided the product to the retailer would be unable to provide service because of distance. Therefore we don't warranty products purchased over the internet.
     People tell me solid floors are better than engineered floors. Is that true?
    We manufacture both engineered and solid hardwood flooring for most of our customers - so we're not biased. However engineered floors are a more stable product, meaning they will not gap in the winter or cup in the summer when properly cared for. For most applications engineered hardwoods are a better & Greener choice than solid hardwoods will provide a lifetime of service. Please take a quick look at our section Engineered vs Solid to see why.
     Is your product Green & certified?
    Yes, from the woods we harvest to Eco friendly stains and finishes we use, our products are CARB-certified, California's strict guidelines that are actually stricter than the majority of the strictest guidelines on the planet. In addition, because we use 100% American Valspar Enviro+Plus™ stains and finishes, and use a UV drying process rather than the standard formaldehyde drying process, our floors are 100% HAPs-Free and has Zero VOC's surpassing all KCMA coating standards.
     How do I pick the right hardwood color for my needs?
    OK. Sit back, this will be a long one. But I think you'll get a lot of valuable information after you read this . . . Let's start with your existing room - - - A simple coat of paint can transform a room with plain, white walls & ceilings. You can create different feelings and moods in a room just by what wall and floor colors you choose.

    Because color is powerful, you may feel insecure about choosing color schemes. We've all experienced the difficulty of looking at a 2-inch-by 2-inch color swatch and trying to imagine what a whole room would look like in that color.

    Color can be a psychological thermostat. Some colors are "hot" or energizing, such as red, orange and yellow. Other colors are cool and calming, such as blue, green and purple. Cooler colors make a space appear larger while warmer colors make a space feel cozier. Notice on our SKU pages you'll see descriptions on each swatch page that might see Red Brown, Yellow Brown, Orange Brown, Slate/Grey, or you may see Light, medium or Dark Brown. For the colored ones, this means a small amount of colored pigment was added to the stain. As you bring colorful paint and furnishing into your room, these pigments will get enhanced by the colors you bring to the room and they'll cause your floors to pop with color.

    Traditionally, it's been considered best to put cool colors in places where you want peace and relaxation and warm colors in your more active rooms. But in today's mix-and-match lifestyle, many of the rules get thrown out the window. Now it's all about building the perfect room that represents you.

    Dark colors absorb light, creating intimate spaces. They can be used in a small space to intensify the cozy atmosphere or in a large, sunny space to add intimacy. Dark colors on the ceiling will make it feel lower, making the space feel more cozy or cramped -- exactly why you need to carefully consider the consequences of the color choices you make.

    For your floors, lighter colors will make a room seem bigger. A high sheen wood floor will reflect light throughout a room, adding interest and variety to the space. Darker colors, can add drama and intimacy. Muted colors often are the perfect center between bright and dark.

    Your whole home should have a coordinated color scheme. You don't want to go to either extreme -- one color throughout or a different color in every room. It's best to choose a few coordinating colors and use various shades in different locations. Watch how the spaces flow into each other so color changes feel natural as you move throughout the house. Again, check out the wide variety of color choices and mix-and-match ideas suggested by our interior designers.

    Interior designers often suggest that you look to nature when picking color, especially the nature right outside your windows. The colors in nature are always popular and never out of date.

    If you want a modern, trendsetting color on the wall, such as a citrus orange or a lime green, limit it to an accent wall. The same holds true for trendy wallpapers and wall fabric coverings. Accent walls should play up the architecture. Dramatic walls in the house, such as a two-story wall or a wall with a fireplace, could make a good accent wall. But don't do an accent wall in every room of your house. It should serve a purpose and complement the space. Obviously, one accent wall is easier to change than a whole house when the color or paper goes out of style.

    Whatever you decide makes the final choice carefully. Many paint companies have larger swatches or small amounts of paint you can purchase to test at home. The light in a room will significantly change the appearance of any color, so don't make your final decision in the paint store or you may be disappointed when you apply the paint to your walls.

     I'm interested in Southern Traditions laminate, tile and carpet but don't see them listed on your site. Why?
    The Southern Traditions brand is owned by the largest flooring distributors in the United States, and they use a number of suppliers for hardwoods, laminate, tile and carpet. The operators of this website manufacture only the hardwood flooring shown on this site for the Southern Traditions brand. . The owners of the Southern Traditions brand have other manufacturers who make laminate, tile, carpet and other speciality items for them. The best way to identify and contact those manufacturers is through your Southern Traditions local retailer or distributor.
      I came across a Southern Traditions hardwood product, species or bamboo sample in a store or on-line that is not listed on your site. Why?
    While we manufacture Southern Traditions hardwoods for the largest Hardwood Flooring distributors in the country (who actually own and operate the Southern Traditions name). However in some cases the distributor for your area may have someone else manufacture products like Bamboo, or certain species like Tigerwood, Kempis, etc. If it's not on our website, we do not manufacture or warranty the product.
      If I float my new engineered floor do I need a sound/vapor retrder, and what kind should I use?
    Yes. Use a leading 2-in-1 or 3-in-1 pad as recommended by your retailer. Just follow the manufacturer's instructions on the packaging. And be sure to use an adhesive like Franklin's Titebond Tongue & Groove adhesive (or similar type product) in the grooves of every board. Extensive step by step installation instructions can be found in section 4.4 of the installation guide located here.
      If I nail or staple my new engineered floor do I need a sound and/or vapor barrier, and what kind should I use?
    Yes. A vapor retarder of asphalt-saturated paper should be installed on the sub-floor before installing the floor. This will help retard moisture from below and can help reduce noise from having wood on wood contact.
     How do I clean and care for my floor?
    Unlike our grandparent's floors that were open grained and needed to be fed oil as they were cleaned, our sealed floors do not. In fact, avoid any oil based products, as the residue left behind will actually attract dirt and dust. As long as you vacuum (be sure to disengage the beater bar) or sweep regularly, you should rarely have to "wash" your floor. When you do, using a product like Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner or Squeaky Clean by Basic Coatings, which is sprayed onto a dry flat head mop, is what is recommended. These cleaners and mops can be found at most grocery stores, big box stores and the retailer you purchased our floor from.
     Can I use one of those dirt & dust mops advertised on TV that has the disposable pads or sheets?
    We highly discourage those types of mops as they contain oil that can leave residue behind and attract more dirt and dust. A Bona style mop or the larger professional sized one comes with a flat, removable head that can be thrown in the washer after it's used. These mop heads can be used for at least a year or more saving you hundreds of dollars a year over disposable heads.
     Can I use a steamer to clean my hardwood floor?
    No. Wet steamers are not recommended as they can force moisture around the tonged & groove and under the product. If you have a dried-on or sticky stain, using a mixture of five parts warm (not hot) water to one part white vinegar on a hand cloth, should remove any spill. Try not to have water still on the floor for any extended amount of time.