Hi guys,

Sorry for the long message! It's been a few months since I've been here but I'm making slow but great progress. I may be slow, but it's worth it to be able to say I did this with my own two hands.

So, up until last week we were set on a big-brand pre-finished. Then we found a small local business who makes furniture and hardwood flooring from reclaimed and landfill-diverted wood.

Here in south central Canada, we have a LOT of elms, and sadly they are getting hit by dutch elm disease. Fortunately there's a use for the wood - floors!

As I mentioned, they're a smaller manufacturer (one mill, dozen employees, etc) but from what I've seen they make really nice products. They've sold quite a bit of flooring in other species, but elm is new to them as laws previously prohibited use of elm due to dutch elm etc. Laws changed, saying as long as it's kiln-dried, its fine. It's a beautiful wood, and it's great that we can give this poor tree a new life in our home.

I've asked a lot of questions, since they're small and I'm cautious. They tell me they're kiln-drying the wood, milling at around 8-10% moisture content, and deliver to me at 8-10%. They tell me their tolerances are very tight, and from one floor I saw it looks like there are no milling consistency issues.

It's finish in place, and I'm installing and finishing myself. I plan to install mid summer after the wood has acclimated to within a couple percent of my subfloor, and will have the home at a consistent 30% RH. Winter it drops to maybe 20% RM or else my windows frost up real bad (we get cold and dry here, and summers are hot and humid). I'm STILL working on my subfloors.. finished sistering joists, and am now still sheeting with plywood to beef them up. (3/8 fir on top of 5/8 OSB, screwed on 6" grid).

So far, my plan is to see some references and other customers floors, even if they're not elm (as it just became available, there's no local installed floors).

Does any of this raise any red-flags? Should I be asking any specific questions to be sure this floor will meet my needs?

Oh! Almost forgot - can I install an unfinished floor and live on it for a few months? I plan to sand, stain, etc after a few months since we're painting after installing, but before finishing. Is that OK?

Thanks as always for your excellent advice guys!