Andrew St. JamesAndrew St. James, Ph.D., works in technical services for Micanopy, Fla.-based Goodwin Heart Pine.MoistureMixing Water And Wood: Why Relative Humidity MattersMost wood floor pros intuitively know that relative humidity is important to the long-term success of wood floors. But why? Andrew St. James, Ph.D., explains the science.December 9, 2021SafetySpontaneous Combustion: a Threat That Can Be PreventedExamining why spontaneous combustion happens when sanding and staining/finishing wood floors, and how to prevent fires on wood flooring job sites.December 5, 2016InstallationRed Oak vs. White Oak: Can You Tell the Difference?A detailed explanation of the key steps to making a positive identification between white oak and red oak.November 20, 2015MoistureLeaving a Legacy: What Happens to Wood Inside the Dry Kiln?As with many other apparently simple procedures, in practice the drying process is complex and involves tradeoffs in factors including expense and quality.If the board is cut along its length, the pieces can both curve significantly even though the original piece was straight. This can cause binding on a saw blade and a dangerous situation.Near the beginning of kiln drying, the MC of the outside shell decreases more than the core of the lumber. As the shell attempts to shrink due to reduced MC, the core opposes this movement. This causes the shell to stretch or creep. Fast drying at this point can cause surface checks.March 24, 2015MoistureWood Floor Cupping: Why Does it Happen & What Can You Do?Understanding what makes a wood floor cup—whether solid or engineered—can help prevent wood floor failures.March 25, 2014MoistureUnderstanding How to Measure Moisture Can Avert Job-Site DisastersAn explanation of how to understand and measure the moisture content in wood to avoid moisture-related problems in wood flooring such as cupping and gapping.April 1, 2013MoistureUnderstand the Science of Water and Wood FloorsWe all know the majority of wood flooring complaints are moisture-related. Although the relationship between water and wood can seem mysterious and complex, wood actually responds to moisture changes in predictable ways. Here's a look at the basic science behind why wood moves the way it does when it comes in contact with moisture. Once we understand that, we can end up with fewer problems, better floors and happier customers.August 25, 2010Page 1 of 1Top StoriesDesignIntroducing the Winners of the 2025 WFB Design AwardsEach winner of the 2025 WFB Design Awards exhibits dedication and passion for wood flooring craftsmanship. These award-winning projects showcase the achievements of wood flooring pros and their unique visions that transform flooring into works of art.Machines/ToolsPlanetary and Multi-Disc Sanders 101: A Technical PrimerLegal AdviceWhat To Do When a Customer Backs Out of a ContractNewsEnter the 2025 WFB Outstanding Retailer AwardsSponsor ContentAbsco's Waterborne Line-up
