Jonathan Gramajo demonstrates his process to Tom Silva on "This Old House." Photos: Alex Hernandez
Jonathan Gramajo demonstrates his process to Tom Silva on If you’ve ever felt a little unnerved installing a wood floor with the homeowners watching, try installing one with an entire TV crew behind you.
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Jonathan Gramajo demonstrates his process to Tom Silva on "This Old House." Photos: Alex HernandezIf you’ve ever felt a little unnerved installing a wood floor with the homeowners watching, try installing one with an entire TV crew behind you.
Jonathan Gramajo of GQ Hardwood Floors in Central Falls, R.I., got to experience the lights, camera and action firsthand while working on a seaside Victorian cottage that was featured on the latest season of “This Old House.”
It wasn’t Gramajo’s first encounter with the popular PBS program—he frequently collaborates with prominent Rhode Island custom home builder Sweenor Builders, and this was Gramajo’s fourth time doing the floors for a projected featured on This Old House. But his latest appearance—aired in September 2020—was different from previous ones.
“I actually got to interact with the host Kevin O’Connor and legend Tom Silva, the producer and the cameramen,” Gramajo says. “It was the first time that I was actually on the air for a good period of time, explaining what I was doing and why. Yes, it was very nerve-wracking.”
Gramajo and his crew glued and stapled a prefinished engineered European white oak herringbone with a 6¾-inch border throughout the first floor of the cottage. For the second floor of the home, they installed 6¾-inch-wide, ⅝-inch-thick prefinished European white oak.
While eyes and lenses were on him, Gramajo says he tried not to let the pressure get to him during the project.
“It was just a crowded room and me doing my job,” he says. “I could feel that we were being watched, and we were trying our best to not make any mistakes.”
His favorite part of the experience was getting to meet Silva and learn a few things from the renowned contractor while on the set. But the biggest thing he learned came from the overall opportunity and experience itself.
“If you do your job with passion, love and professionalism, you’ll achieve your goals with a lot of pride,” Gramajo says.
All Things Wood Floor, created by Wood Floor Business magazine, talks to interesting wood flooring pros to share knowledge, stories and tips on everything to do with wood flooring, from installation, sanding and finishing to business management.
Jonathan Gramajo demonstrates his process to Tom Silva on 
