Wood floors have made a huge comeback in the last 10-20 years. Many new “Green” trends as well as creative new uses helped the industry bounce back from a post WWII slump. Multiple reasons can explain the renewed interest in wood flooring. The biggest change in the industry is that we have become more environmentally friendly. Re-claimed hardwood along with new products that are safer for consumers are better for the environment. Reclaimed and repurposed wood is a big trend because of this reason, offering consumers to have the best of both worlds with a modern twists. We can see a nationwide increased demand for cork, engineered and recycled woods. New products are also being introduced that limit the amount of chemical exposure. There are many new sustainable products for wood floor staining, and refinishing that are currently on the market. People are definitely embracing these changes and so we wanted to take a look back at the history of hardwood flooring to see how far we have come.

We will start by looking at the the time from 1625-1715. Grand entrances & elegance ruled the Baroque Era. This was the time that hardwood floors really gained in popularity. Giant rooms with hardwood floors were common & perfect for ballrooms in lavish estates all over Europe. At this time, people began to polish, stain and sand wood floors more than ever before. The need for wood flooring began to increase dramatically and became more common time went on. In the beginning, wood flooring was most often found in the Upper Class homes but eventually they became more available for people living in villages and small towns.

The new colonies in North America brought even more changes as they began to grow rapidly. These new colonies included some of the first wood floors in North America. Starting in 1607 until around 1780, The Colonial Era created a big demand for wood floor as new settlements and colonies were built. Pine was most commonly used but often left untreated. With so many old growth trees available wide planks were predominately used but the process of turning large trees into flat boards for the purpose of flooring was time consuming and difficult. It was not until the circular saw was invented did the process become easier and faster.

Wood flooring becomes the norm in from 1901-1914. Hardwood flooring became the number one flooring option for Americans domestically. The industry grew and became more competitive at this time. By the time the 20’s & 30’s came along, linoleum and tile were being phased into homes because they were easy to install, maintain, and clean. Many thought this was a better option and cheaper despite the fact that the flooring life span was much shorter in comparison to hardwood.

World War II changed everything. During the Post WWII time, the wood floor industry took a big hit and many struggled to make ends meet. Professional’s working in the industry left or switched over to carpet installation. Homes were becoming mass-produced and at faster rate than ever before to keep up with the demand of the baby boom. The wood floor industry struggled greatly after this time and all the way up until 1980’s.

The history of the hardwood industry is not only about wood, throughout history people have been staining, sealing and finishing wood with products found in plants and trees in their local natural environment. These sustainable practices lasted hundreds of years and each area around the world had their own specific uses. The most common of the plants and trees used is Shellac, probably used for the longest amount of time for those purpose of protecting wood. Others included the process of steaming Pine hardwood, and the use of Linseed oil and Walnut Oil. Other oil and wax’s used in the past include: Tang Oil, Orange Peel Oil, Beeswax, and Soy resin. As the industry changed with mass production so did the way they were treated. Chemical treatments became the norm for many years, and only recently has the industry embraced a new Green philosophy offering consumers and professionals low or VOC Free products.

Professionals like Wayne at Chicagoland Pro are thrilled to see the renewed interest in wood flooring and the eco-friendly approach the industry has taken. We can now offer our clients around Chicagoland great new products that are safe for them and their families. We can also install wood flooring that is being reused and repurposed.