Frequently Asked Questions
At Southern Yellow Pine Direct, we understand that choosing the right flooring is a big decision. We've compiled answers to some of the most common questions our customers ask about pine flooring and building materials, helping you make an informed choice for your home or project. Dive in and discover why real wood, especially our pine, is the superior option.
What is Knotty Pine?
Rustic Southern Pine (Knotty) floors are not created equal, not even close. We produce Heart Pine flooring from Longleaf Pine timber, not building materials from farmed Loblolly pine. Our #2 Knotty Southern Pine floors can be compared to Character grade Heart Pine, with up to 50% heart content. What this means is our #2 knotty pine simply lacks the heart content to be deemed Heart Pine which requires a minimum of 50% visible heartwood. So, in reality the distance from the middle of the tree (heart) determines if our #2 becomes Heart Pine. This is quite different from mills producing building materials from younger timber.
What is New Heart Pine?
Do we have bilingual help for Spanish speaking customers?
Southern Yellow Pine Direct se compromete a ayudar a los profesionales del suelo de habla hispana a obtener materiales de calidad. Los artesanos y el trabajo de calidad merecen los mejores materiales. Para más información, envíenos un correo electrónico. No hablamos español, pero hacemos que funcione. Opciones de recogida en Carolina del Sur y del Norte.
Can you glue down 3/4 solid wood floors?
Yes, if you use a polymer-based adhesive such as Bostiks. Bostik’s Ultra Set “Single-Step2” is a high-performance adhesive with built in moisture control and a sound reduction membrane. Using Bostik’s helps maintain the long-term durability of your floor. Based on its polymer technology, allowing for movement just like nails. Bostiks contains one percent recycled rubber and is a certified Zero VOC product along with the Greenguard stamp. Bostiks is the only adhesive SYP Direct recommends for gluing down solid wood.
What about face nailing?
Face nailing is when the nail is driven perpendicular into a piece of material, with the nail head exposed. We suggest that our customers face nail wide plank Heart Pine when the width gets to 10" and up. Although our slow-growing Longleaf Heart Pine, as with our 85% heartwood Caribbean Pine, are far more stable than box store versions, we still suggest a little extra prevention in the wider planks. So, while you do not have to face nail our Wide Plank Heart Pine, and in most cases, all will be well, it is still better safe than sorry when the solution takes such little effort or resources.
What happens to laminate and LVT when removed from my home?
Does anyone remember in 2018 when the plastic straw got stuck in the sea turtles’ nose? The video went viral and people were (justifiably) horrified, and some places banned plastic straws. Ok, so the industry tells us we (planet) use 500 million plastic straws per day, which is a very big number. However, in 2024 5.8 billion square feet of plastic floors were sold, and in 5 -7 years they will be in the local landfill. Remember, this stuff cannot (or isn’t) recycled meaning in just a few years we will be dumping 15.9 million sq feet per day into those landfills, as they are replaced. So, since 1000 square feet of plastic floors equates to ½ million plastic straws; we are dumping the equivalent of 9 billion plastic straws per day into the ground.
What is White Washing?
White Washing a floor, in its original form is about paint, white paint. And while by definition white washing involves paint, that might not be practical for a floor. Over the past decade the style known as ‘Shabby Chic’ popularized shiplap and funky floor colors, including many versions of white (washing).
What does Select Grade mean?
Why choose Southern Yellow Pine Direct?
Where can I see customer photos?
Do you have installers?
We do not employ installation professionals but we have trusted partners all over the country.
What is the best finish for pine?
What is the easiest way to finish real wood? With no worry about the price? Monocoat by Rubio, 100%. Rubio Monocoat offers the first and the only oil that is truly a 0% VOC product. Three years before the first VOC legislation was put into effect, Rubio Monocoat had already set forth strict emission norms and committed to producing products completely free of VOCs. Rubio Monocoat's revolutionary molecular bonding technology ensures workability and exemplary quality without the harmful effects or damage to the environment This is perfect for clients with allergies, or kids with allergies more often than not.
What about Carpet?
Carpet is not King
For decades, carpet was king. Home remodeling took off with the advent of those little synthetic fibers. A small percentage of carpet wore out, but most was replaced when it became outdated, or the house changed hands. Today decomposing carpet holds an impressive and increasing percentage of total landfill tonnage. The E.P.A. estimates that every year, about 5 billion pounds of carpeting go into landfills. That’s 1 to 2 percent of the total U.S. landfill contribution, or 17 pounds of carpeting per person.
What determines the price of our Southern Pine?
The pricing for pine flooring is determined by several components, primarily revolving around the product's quality, characteristics, and logistics.
- At Southern Yellow Pine Direct our floors are sold based on Heart Content, and or the lack of heart content.
- Heart Content: Prices for new heart pine are based on heart content (0-40%, 50-80%, or 85%).
- Southern Yellow Pine (SYP) and Longleaf Southern Yellow Pine:
- Highest Grades: Clear Vertical Grain, C & Better Clear, #1 Heart Pine (60-85% heart content).
- Mid-to-Lower Grades: Character (50% heart content), #2 Heart Pine, Mill Run New Heart Pine (20-60% heart content), #2 Rustic/Knotty (0-45% heart content).
- Caribbean Heart Pine (CHP): Grades include Prime (85% & up heart content), Rustic (85% & up heart content), and Character (50% heart content).
- Physical Dimensions
- Width and Face: Pricing varies by the face width of the board (e.g., 3 1/4", 5 1/8", 6 7/8", 8 7/8").
- Lengths: Longer lengths (up to 12 feet) require a more deliberate and time-consuming process compared to mass-produced floors, which contributes to cost.