DM Hardwood Designs of Farmington, N.M., and Universal Floors of Washington, D.C., were the big winners in this year’s Wood Floor of the Year contest hosted by the National Wood Flooring Association. Both companies were honored during the NWFA’s recent convention in Long Beach, Calif., with three awards apiece. The 19th annual awards, which aim to recognize the best and most creative flooring installation created in the last year, drew 142 entries from around North America and as far away as Russia.

According to NWFA spokeswoman Anita Howard, the awards remain an important event for the wood flooring industry. “It’s important to showcase these floors to show others the possibilities that wood floors offer,” she said. “It’s not all just 2 1/2-inch strip straight lay.”

DM Hardwood Designs won two of its awards for the same installation (Best Entry/Foyer – Hand Cut and Members’ Choice). DM owner Dave Marzalek, with the help of some colleagues, worked on Marzalek’s home in New Mexico, a 2,300 sq. ft. project which includes heart pine, cypress and a range of exotic wood surrounding an inlay featuring images of orcas and eagles.

The inlay includes what NWFA’s Howard calls a “new technique.” While constructing the inlay, Marzalek added layer after layer of acrylic resin to give the nature scene an added sense of depth. He also won Best Engineered (Hand-Cut) for a residence in Laguna Hills, Calif.

Universal Floors received awards for three separate projects. They included the restoration of a floor in an upscale D.C. neighborhood where most of the floor was covered with carpet and black tar (Best Restoration), a circular design installation in a private mansion (Best Library/Office – Hand-Cut), and a redo of a parquet design in a Georgetown home (Best CNC/Laser Cut).

Birger Juell (Best Commercial/Showroom – CNC/Laser Cut and Best Reclaimed – Hand-Cut) along with American Hardwood Flooring of MN (Best Entry/Foyer – CNC/Laser-Cut and Best Kitchen/Dining Room – Hand-Cut) each received two awards apiece.

The Best Commercial/Showroom – Hand Cut category represented a tie between Woodwright Hardwood Floor Co. (Dallas) and Divine Hardwood Flooring (Calgary, Alberta).

Other winners included: CP Wood Floors (Best Bedroom – Hand-Cut), Diamond Flooring (Best Kitchen/Dining Room – CNC/Laser Cut), Precision Floorcrafters (Best Limited Species – Hand-Cut), SVB Wood Floor Service (Best Living Room/Family Room – CNC/Laser Cut), Yantaraya Pryad of Russia, Best Living Room/Family Room – Hand-Cut), Red Oak Hardwood Floor (Best Manufacturer Factory Finish), and Majestic Wood Floors (Best Xtreme Makeover).

MORE PICTURES:

Best Living Room/Family Room (CNC/Laser Cut)
SVB Wood Floor Service Inc., Grandview, Mo.


Abrasive: Norton Abrasives. Adhesive: Bostik Inc. Buffer, Edger: Clarke American Sanders. Distributor: Hardwood Floors. Dye: Industrial Finishes. Filler, Finish: Bona US. Nailer: Stanley-Bostitch. Router: Festool. Sander: Hummel (Palo Duro). Saws: Festool, Bosch. Sealer: Dura Seal. Wood: Yarema Marquetry.

Best Kitchen/Dining Room (CNC/Laser Cut)
Diamond Flooring, Elizabethtown, Ky.


Abrasive: 3M, Bona US. Adhesive: Bostik Inc. Buffer, Edger, Sander: Clarke American Sanders. Filler: Timbermate USA. Finish: Bona US. Nailer: Powernail Co. Router, Saws: Festool. Wood Flooring: Allegheny Mountain Hardwood Flooring.

Best Reclaimed (Hand-Cut)
Birger Juell, Chicago


Adhesive: Bostik Inc. Filler: Timberlake USA. Finish: Dura Seal. Interior Designer: Chris Kramer/Graffis Furniture Inc. (South Bend, Ind.) Leather: Edelman. Saws: Festool.

Best Engineered (Hand-Cut)
DM Hardwood Designs, Farmington, N.M.


Abrasive: 3M. Adhesive: Sika Corp. Buffer, Edger, Sander: Clarke American Sanders. Filler: Timbermate USA. Finish: Basic Coatings, Dura Seal. Nailers: Powernail Co., Senco. Saws: Hegner, Hitachi, Makita. Wood Flooring: Allegheny Mountain Hardwood Flooring, Goodwin Heart Pine.

Best Bedroom (Hand-Cut)
CP Wood Floors, Gales Ferry, Conn.


Abrasive: 3M. Adhesive: Bostik Inc. Buffer, Sander: U.S. Sander LLC. Distributor: Wood Pro. Finish: UV Cured Inc. Nailer: Primatech Inc. Router, Sander, Saws: Festool. Wood Flooring: Taylor Lumber.

Best CNC/Laser Cut
Universal Floors, Washington, D.C.


Abrasive: 3M. Adhesive: Bostik Inc. Borders, Medallions: Yarema Marquetry. Buffer, Edger: Clarke American Sanders. Distributors: Derr Flooring Co., Long Floor. Filler: Timbermate USA. Finish: Bona US. Nailer: Powernail Co. Router: Porter-Cable. Sander: Hummel (Palo Duro). Saws: Dewalt, Festool.

Best Commercial/Showroom (Hand-Cut) (tie)
Divine Hardwood Flooring, Calgary, Alberta


Adhesive: BASF. Saws: Makita. Wood Flooring: Eterna Hardwood Flooring.

Best Commercial/Showroom (Hand-Cut) (tie)
Woodwright Hardwood Floor Co.


Abrasive: 3M. Adhesive: Bostik Inc. Buffer, Sander: Kuzle & Tasin SPA. Edger: Clarke American Sanders. Filler: Dura Seal. Finish: Waterlox Coatings Corp.

Best Xtreme Makeover
Majestic Wood Floors Inc., Frederick, Md.


Abrasive: 3M. Adhesive: Bostik Inc. Buffer, Edger: Clarke American Sanders. Filler: Timbermate USA. Finish: Lenmar Inc. Routers: Festool, Porter-Cable. Sanders: Clarke American Sanders, Lagler (Palo Duro).

Best Library/Office (Hand-Cut)
Universal Floors, Washington, D.C.


Adhesive: Bostik Inc. Distributor: Derr Flooring Co.. Filler: Timbermate USA. Finish: Waterlox Coatings Corp. Medallion: Yarema Marquetry. Nailer: Powernail Co. Router: Porter-Cable. Saws: Dewalt, Festool. Wood Flooring: Allegheny Mountain Hardwood Flooring.

Best Manufacturer Factory Finished (Hand-Cut)
Red Oak Hardwood Floor Inc., Glenview, Ill.


Adhesive: Sika. Filler, Wood Flooring; Mirage. Router: Festool. Saws: Bosch, Festool.

Best Entry/Foyer (CNC/Laser Cut)
American Hardwood Flooring of MN, Delano, Minn.


Abrasive: 3M. Adhesive: Bostik Inc. Border: Yarema Marquetry. Buffer: Hummel (Palo Duro). Edger: Clarke American Sanders. Filler: Glista American Inc. Finish: Dura Seal. Router: Porter-Cable. Nailer: Senco. Sander: Lagler (Palo Duro). Saws: Festool.

Best Living Room/Family Room (Hand-Cut)
Yantarnaya Pryad (Khimki, Russia)


Abrasive: 3M. Adhesive: Bostik Inc. Sika. Edger: Mafell. Filler: Tover. Finish: BonaKemi. Sander: Eugen Lagler GmbH. Saws: Leitz. Wood Flooring: Yantarnaya Pryad.

Best Limited Species
Precision Floorcrafters, Ocala, Fla.


Abrasive: Virginia Abrasives Corp. Adhesive: Bostik Inc. Buffer, Sander: Lagler (Palo Duro). Edger: Clarke American Sanders. Finish: Waterlox Coatings Corp. Saws: Festool. Wood: Goodwin Heart Pine Co.