Chadwick Home Flooring

American colonists took advantage of the vast forested lands of North America to install plank floors in most homes. These floors were installed for comfort and practicality without regard to style. They were usually constructed of planks cut to random width, left unfinished, and were simply worn smooth over time by use.

In the 1930s, improved finish in the form of polyurethane provided a no-wax finish that kept hardwoods appealing and popular until inexpensive carpeting hit the market after World War II. The appeal of carpet was aided by inclusion in home loans, making it the most popular choice on the market due to its affordability until the 1980s when consumers, looking for an alternative flooring solution, turned back to hardwood.

The late 1980s saw the rise of prefinished woods and a return to the clean, classic look of wood planking without the intricate patterning of parquetry. Due to the way the prefinished wood planking was constructed, splintered edges were common. Today's manufacturing process produces smoother, more durable flooring, far superior to flooring available in the past.