Hardwood notes
Spec guides + trade tips
from the showroom.
What we've learned shipping hardwood across Chicagoland for three decades. New post every Monday + Thursday — install notes, spec gotchas, brand comparisons, contractor process.
- GuideMay 28, 2026 · 6 min read
Engineered vs solid hardwood — what actually works in Chicago
Chicago humidity swings 70% in summer to 20% in winter. Engineered hardwood handles that better than solid in 80% of installs we ship — here's why.
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- SpecMay 26, 2026 · 5 min read
Hardwood + radiant heat — the spec guide most installers skip
5/8" engineered, hard-wax oil, surface temp under 80°F, RH 35–55%. Get any of those wrong and the floor cups in year one. Spec checklist inside.
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- TradeMay 24, 2026 · 4 min read
Opening a trade account at TQF — what changes for your jobs
Net-30, 15–22% off list, dedicated rep, jobsite delivery. Plus the resale cert workflow that keeps you tax-exempt on every order.
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More posts incoming
We're publishing fresh hardwood guides twice a week. Bookmark this page, or call (847) 233-6300 if you have a spec question we should write about.