Jim Garth of Decorative Flooring (Port Saint Joe, Fla.) constructed the 9-foot medallion from Carolina native species: hickory, red oak, maple, walnut, cherry and Southern yellow pine. The compass rose points to magnetic north, and at the center is the seal of the North Carolina Forest Service.
All Wood Floorcraft's Richard Conway installed the large medallion in the 1,100-square-foot, hickory and red oak floor. He finished the pine pieces with an amber seal to bring out the color and gave the entire floor a commercial matte finish. Because the natural log walls didn't lend themselves to traditional shoe molding, Conway used 1-inch manila rope. "It follows the contour of the logs much better than shoe can, and it fits the character of the building so much better," he said.
The floor is so impressive that Conway's local paper, the Morganton News Herald, did a feature story about him and the floor. In the article, Conway extols the NWFA's educational programs and says his commitment to quality is one reason he was able to get the job. "I just find the more I learn, the better I do, the more value to my customers," he said. Conway has been an NWFA Certified Professional since 2000, and both he and Garth have served as instructors at NWFA classes.
Conway said several state dignitaries will attend the center's grand opening, including the Commissioner of Agriculture and the commissioners of the forestry service. After that the center will be open for business, welcoming the park's 350,000 annual visitors.
(Photos courtesy of Richard Conway)Fourth paragraph edited 12:55 p.m. July 2.
