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I have been doing hardwood floors for almost 13 years. My great-grandfather was a cabinetmaker, my grandfather was a GC and my dad was a jack of all trades. I have been swinging a hammer and holding boards ever since I can remember.
No matter how deep your background is with wood, though, you can always learn more. I was curious what other guys use as reference material or what books they might own about wood, so I asked the users of the NWFA's ListServ what they use. Two books were recommended over and over again: Understanding Wood and Identifying Wood, both by R. Bruce Hoadley. Both books are definite must-haves in your library, as they provide an in-depth analysis into our favorite building material. Have you ever thought about installing a fluorescent floor? I did after reading Understanding Wood. Or had difficulty distinguishing between white and red oak? Not after reading Identifying Wood! These are great books to add to your library.
Also think about reading Understanding Wood Finishing by Bob Flexner. After reading that book, I expanded my repertoire of finishing to include pigments, dyes and gel stains. Ever thought about filling the floor after the first coat instead of between your second and third big machine cut? Read Understanding Wood Finishing and you will appreciate my madness.
The old saying that "a picture is worth a thousand words" describes how useful The Real Wood Bible by Nick Gibbs is when dealing with undecided or ignorant clients. This book even helped me to correctly identify a floor as alder.
Those four books make the top of my wood flooring reference library, but there are many more I consider useful. Here's what else is in my library and why:
Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Finishing: This is a good supplement to Flexner's Understanding Wood Finishing; it discusses surface prep in more detail.
Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Jigs & Fixtures: If nothing else, use this book to learn how to make their circle-cutting jig.
Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Working with Wood: This is a more practical guide for working with wood and isn't as technical as Understanding Wood.
Stair Builder's Guide by Morris Williams: I found this to be a very tough book to get through the first time, but after you decipher it, then you can use it—if you can find it. It is out of print, but you can find used copies online.
Constructing Staircases, Balustrades and Landings by William P. Spence: This one is a good beginner's book to understanding stairs.
Measure Twice, Cut Once by Jim Tilpin: Do you know what the "golden section" or "divine proportion" are? You will after reading this book about classic proportions.
The Jigs and Fixture Bible by R.S. DeCristoforo: If nothing else, get this book for its plans for the master table saw jig. It's geared at people who have a shop, but it will definitely get you in the mindset of creating jigs to keep your fingers out of the way of the table saw blade.
The Complete Manual of Wood Bending: Milled, Laminated and Steambent Work by Lon Schleining: The name of this book says it all.
Sharpening with Waterstones: A Perfect Edge in 60 Seconds by Ian Kirby: As the name implies, this is a guide to sharpening your chisels, etc.
The Marquetry Course by Jack Metcalfe and John Apps: This is a definite must-have for learning the basics of marquetry.
CRC Handbook of Materials Science Volume IV Wood by Robert Summit and Alan Sliker: It isn't in color, but it does give different section views and magnifications beyond those in Identifying Wood.
Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material by the USDA Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory: From nails to glue to burn classifications for different woods, this book will make you appreciate the science surrounding wood. The chapters of this book are available for free in PDF form on the Forest Products Laboratory Web site— it's the first link listed if you Google "Wood Handbook."
Construction Geometry by Brian Walmsley: This book contains very useful information on using trammel points.
Armed with all this information, along with the knowledge from attending NWFA technical training schools, I'm trying to expand my business beyond basic installation, sanding and finishing. Although I'm still trying to develop the market, my skills also now include stairs, hand-scraping, custom hand-cut medallions and borders, marquetry, parquet and inlays, along with custom stains and natural oils, which all makes my life as a hardwood flooring contractor a lot more interesting.
BUSINESS BRIEFS
What to Do Now
Panicking during tough times? Try some helpful tactics instead. Francie Dalton, president and founder of Dalton Alliances Inc., a Maryland-based consultancy, offers these tips:
Never stop prospecting: Even when you're flush with business, don't get cocky.
Networking is a numbers game: Whether you enjoy it or not is irrelevant; networking is an imperative.
Predict the trends: Monitor relevant trends and adapt to them before your competitors do.
Don't defer getting referrals: If you're not comfortable asking your satisfied clients to provide referrals, do it anyway.
Publicize or perish: Credibility and sales increase from publishing articles or speaking on your area of expertise.
Attend conventions with clear intentions: Recoup the cost of attending conventions by identifying and researching your targets before you even leave town.
Break it down to build it up: Identify key result areas of your business, such as prospecting, marketing, speaking, etc. For each, write out measurable goals each quarter.