Should I open the boxes to help the wood acclimate? The flooring store said it was not necessary, as the boxes are designed to "breath" However, these boxes appear to be shrink wrapped.

I noticed the floor I purchased, does not have any pieces I would consider "long". Most are 18" and 29" a few are 35" Is this normal? The red oak I ripped up had 16' lengths.

I thought I was buying an American manufacture floor from Johnson Floor. but the boxes arrived stamped P.R.C. (www.jfloor.com)

well there is a average length that is suppose to be kept to maintain the grade but its probably not certified anyway so there you go no standards but their own. What kind of floor is it, construction grade and specie can be a part of the equation as well. Sounds like you got a cabin/second grade material. If you got it for three bucks or less you got exactly what you payed for my friend.

The wood I picked is supposed to be a Samoan Mahogany, $5.49 sq. ft., I paid $4.84

http://www.jfloor.com/product/product_d ... ductId=268


The flooring looks good, it's all straight, no marks, fits well together, etc... As I look back at the photo of the sample board, it states, random lengths, 1'-4'... so I guess it's right. However, I don't see any 4 footers in any of the 25 boxes.

not too random i guess. but a ton of eng floors are 1-4 makes them easier to glue down. IS yours a solid? if so thats pretty short stuff most solids are 1 thru 7s. ps there is no such thing as Samoan mahogany hard to say what kind of wood you got.

You are probably right, there's no such thing as Samoan mahogany. I did a quick search that speaks that there is an effort a foot to plant it and teak though: http://www.eoearth.org/article/Samoan_t ... st_forests

Johnson Flooring wrote back to me explaining that the flooring is not seconds or contract grade, and states that the 1' to 4' is normal for this flooring. I must say that the photos of their flooring looks bizarre as they are very spotty... with only 1-4' lengths.

The floor I replaced is red oak strip that was as hard as nails... I did not want to replace it, but finding someone to extend and finish the floor was too difficult.

I started the flooring tonight, namely framing the hearth. When I am complete I will post some photos.

Thanks.

Snoopy_