Beautiful Wood Floors

06/03/2026

Another solo and magnificent effort by my son, Nicholas Burnam.

This project required a bit more than just hard work—it demanded thoughtful problem-solving, patience, and a delicate touch.

Australian Cypress can be a challenging species for even experienced refinishing craftsmen. Unlike traditional hardwoods such as oak or maple, Cypress contains very soft grain interspersed with extremely hard knots. During sanding, the softer grain cuts away much more quickly than the knots, creating a challenge we call “dish-out.” If not handled properly, the result can be a floor that appears rippled, with the knots standing proud above the surrounding surface rather than maintaining a smooth, flat plane. You’ve probably seen floors with that effect before without knowing what caused it.

Nick relied on his training, stayed disciplined in his sanding procedures, and paid close attention to the many details—including several tricky transitions and mixed-material areas. The result is exactly what every craftsman hopes for: an old, tired diamond in the rough restored to beautiful new life.

Maybe I’m a little biased, but I have to say it anyway:

Nick, outstanding work, sir.

Thank you for carrying the Burnam name with such professionalism and pride.

05/30/2026

05/29/2026

I am a proud father. This is my son’s, Nicholas Burnam, work.
From start to finish. He has “the gift”.
I can’t express how it feels to look at this and see what he has done and how it feels like a dream come true.

60+ year old red oak, finished with Odie’s Super Duper DARK oil.

IYKYK

05/28/2026

So the client wanted us to turn his black walnut floors into something that would resemble all of his natural looking quartersawn white oak doors, cabinets and trim (door case in these pics for reference)
How’d we do?

In a world becoming increasingly artificial, choose something real.
- Beautiful Wood Floors

05/01/2026

Not every floor gets the chance to reach its 100th birthday — and fewer still are trusted to craftsmen who understand what that milestone means.

This floor was installed in 1926, when this home became the first house built on Fernan Hill Road overlooking Coeur d’Alene.

A century later, the original white oak floor is still here, carrying the quiet history of the home in every board.

But time eventually catches up with every floor. The nails are beginning to show, which means the wood has reached the end of its sanding life. This refinish would likely be the last full sanding this floor will ever see.

We were honored to be the craftsmen trusted to do it.

After sanding, the client chose Odie’s Oil to protect the floor moving forward. It’s a system we’ve come to trust and specialize in, and at the moment it’s still relatively uncommon in the Coeur d’Alene area.

One thing the homeowner was especially excited about was finally saying goodbye to the old orange urethane look that many floors from past decades developed over time.

With the help of Odie’s Creative Colours, a little Titanium White, All the Greige, and a touch of Burnt Ochre, we softened and cooled the tone, creating a natural linen color while still allowing the warm patina that antique white oak develops over a century to remain.

One of the things we love about working with Odie’s is that every floor becomes a little bit one of a kind, shaped by the wood itself and the choices made during the finishing process.

Unlike older urethane finishes that amber heavily with age, Odie’s keeps the tone much more stable.

And when the floor eventually needs attention again, it won’t require sanding. A simple cleaning and a fresh application of Universal Oil will bring it back to life — good for another decade or more.

If a different color is ever desired down the road, Odie’s also offers ways to adjust the tone without another sanding, preserving the remaining life of the floor.

The result keeps the soul of the original floor intact while preparing it for the years ahead.

One hundred years old… and ready for the next century.

04/20/2026

Hardwood Flooring Craftsmen Wanted – Coeur d’Alene / Spokane Region

Beautiful Wood Floors is a small but highly specialized hardwood flooring company focused on true craftsmanship rather than production work. Our projects often involve detailed restoration, custom finishing, and working inside clients’ homes where professionalism matters. We are building a team of people who take pride in doing things the right way, not just the fast way.

Our work is based in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and the Spokane, Washington region, serving homeowners throughout North Idaho and Eastern Washington.

Positions Available

We are currently looking for:

• Experienced hardwood flooring craftsmen
• Apprentices / trainees who want to learn the trade

Ideal Experience

Preferred candidates will have 2–3 years experience in one or more of the following:

• Hardwood floor sanding and refinishing
• Floor installation
• Finish application (oil or waterborne systems)
• Jobsite setup and dust containment
• Equipment operation and maintenance

If you have no experience but a strong work ethic, we may consider training the right person — especially someone who enjoys working with their hands, takes pride in doing things the right way, and doesn’t mind being given direction and coaching while learning the trade.

Compensation

Pay depends on experience and skill level:

• Trainee / Apprentice: starting around $18/hour
• Experienced Craftsman: $25–$35/hour

Performance bonuses may also be available.

Must Have

• Reliable transportation to and from job sites
• Ability to work in private homes with professionalism and respect
• Clean criminal background (required by our insurance since we work in clients’ residences)

Work Environment

• Primarily residential projects, often high-end homes
• Professional equipment and dust containment systems
• Weekends off in most cases
• Opportunity to grow in skill and responsibility

NWFA training and professional development are expected as part of mastering the trade.

Military veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. The discipline and teamwork developed through military service align well with the culture we are building.

To Apply

Send a brief message introducing yourself and include:

• Your experience level
• Any relevant skills or trade background
• Contact information

Please include a brief note about your experience and why working in the hardwood flooring trade interests you.

We are currently scheduling interviews and look forward to meeting people who want to build something meaningful in the trade.

—
Beautiful Wood Floors
Serving Coeur d’Alene, Spokane, and surrounding communities

03/27/2026

Floor’s sunken.
Structure underneath needs help.
New hardwood has to blend into 1910 flooring.
And the back door still has to function when we’re done.

No problem.

Open the floor.
Rebuild the framing.
Weave the new hardwood into the old.
Add a custom border to tie everything together.

By the time it was sanded and finished, the repair disappeared and the design took over.

Old houses keep things interesting — and honestly, that’s half the fun.

Historic craftsman homes always come with surprises.
What’s the oldest home you’ve worked on or lived in?

02/08/2026

I guess ChatGPT has been paying attention to what I like to do….

ChatGPT helps you get answers, find inspiration, and be more productive.

01/21/2026

I think it’s important to acknowledge a hard reality in our industry: the corporate, polyurethane-centric side of the business has perfected the art of gaslighting contractors. Product failures are routinely blamed on “application error,” even when those same products come with steep learning curves and undergo quiet formula or ingredient changes that blindside contractors and their crews with costly, on-site discoveries. I’m confident you can relate.

Now, here’s the part that truly matters.

Odie’s earned my loyalty the moment they flew a seasoned professional across the country—at no cost to me—to personally guide me through the process. Not only did I learn the product correctly, I made money while doing so. And every time I speak with that same professional, he’s doing exactly the same thing somewhere else in the country for another contractor.

That is outstanding.

In doing this, you’ve earned the right to speak plainly about the learning curve. You don’t deny it—you own it. More importantly, you’re willing to personally guide contractors through that curve on your dime. On top of that, your commitment to maintaining a consistent formula—backed by control over nearly your entire supply chain—means what we learn today will be the same tomorrow and years from now. That level of consistency allows us to predict our processes down to the minute and down to the dollar.

You put your money where your mouth is, and that sets you vastly apart from anyone else out there peddling “polyurethane with some assembly required” Euro oils.

Respect where it’s earned.

🧵 The woodworking industry has a dirty secret, and they’re using "misinformation" to protect it. Let’s talk about the Odie’s Oil controversy and what’s actually in your finish. 👇
~Rumor: "Odie's won't list their ingredients!" Reality: They protect their proprietary formula just like any innovator. What they do disclose in their Safety Data Sheets is that there are ZERO chemicals regulated by the EPA or OSHA.
~Most traditional finishes rely on: ❌ Isocyanates (Respiratory toxins) ❌ Heavy Metal Driers ❌ High VOCs Odie’s Oil? Food-safe, non-toxic, and safe for your kids to touch. 🥗👶
~The math is wild. 🧮 Conventional finish: Low price, low coverage, high toxicity. Odie's: Premium price, but covers 20x the area. 9oz = 120-500 sq ft. In the long run, the "safe" choice is actually the cheaper one.
~Don't let AI-generated rumors or corporate competitors scare you off. 190 million square feet of wood can't be wrong. Read the full truth here: odiesoil.com/blog/controversy