Hardwood Floor Installation and Finishing

Dr. Edward contacted us about replacing the old carpet in one of the rooms of his home with something truly unique. From the beginning he had a specific vision in mind: A pegged Elm hardwood floor — a species rarely used in flooring today but known for its distinctive grain and character.

He asked me early in the conversation if I believed I was the right person for the job. I told him honestly that I had never worked with Elm before. But after more than 20 years installing and finishing hardwood floors, I never shy away from a new challenge.

After some research, it became clear that Elm is a beautiful but uncommon choice for flooring. It offers striking grain patterns and natural character, but compared to traditional oak it is somewhat softer and therefore less commonly used in high-traffic areas. Today it is seen more often in custom furniture than in residential floors, which made this project even more interesting.

Planning the Floor

We agreed on installing unfinished solid Elm boards, using a mix of 7-inch and 5-inch wide planks to create a custom layout. The wood was delivered to the home and allowed to acclimate for about 10 days before installation began.

Preparing the Subfloor

Once work started, the first step was removing the existing carpet and the layers beneath it. Under the carpet we found particle board, which we never install hardwood over. Particle board is highly susceptible to moisture and does not hold flooring staples securely.

To ensure a proper foundation, we removed the particle board and installed ¾-inch plywood, bringing the floor back to the correct height while creating a strong base for the new hardwood.

Installing the Elm Flooring

The floor was installed using a full-trowel glue assist combined with staples, ensuring maximum stability for the wide planks. The layout pattern chosen for the room was: two rows of 7-inch boards followed by two rows of 5-inch boards. This repeating sequence created subtle movement in the floor without feeling busy.

Creating the Pegged Detail

One of the defining features of this floor is the traditional pegged look. We decided that: the 7-inch boards would receive three pegs at each end joint , and the 5-inch boards would receive two pegs.

Once the layout was marked, the drilling began. In total, over 500 holes were drilled across the floor. Finding enough ready-made pegs proved difficult, so many of them had to be hand-cut and shaped manually to achieve the right size and appearance.

Sanding and Finishing

Because Elm is softer than oak, sanding requires extra care and additional passes to remove marks and achieve a clean surface.

Before staining the floor, we tested colors on a separate panel. Testing directly on the floor can sometimes allow darker stains to penetrate too deeply, making them difficult to remove if the final decision changes.

After reviewing several options, Special Walnut(DuraSeal)proved to be the perfect choice. The color enhanced Elm’s natural grain and brought out a warm, balanced tone throughout the room.

The floor was finished with: one coat of sealer and two coats of Loba Duo 2K (satin sheen).This system provides excellent durability while maintaining a natural appearance.

Final Result

The finished floor turned out beautifully. The unique character of Elm, combined with the pegged detail and mixed board widths, created a floor that feels both traditional and custom at the same time.

It complements the room perfectly — especially alongside the custom $10,000 log coffee table that anchors the space.

I only wish I were a better photographer to fully capture it.

Thinking About New Hardwood Floors?

If you enjoyed seeing this project and are planning a hardwood flooring project of your own, we would be happy to help. Give me a call or fill out the form in the Contact page.

Every home is different, and every floor tells its own story.

Professional Hardwood Floor Installation in Dunwoody

Homes in Dunwoody often feature a mix of older flooring materials such as carpet, engineered wood, or builder-grade hardwood. Replacing those surfaces with custom solid hardwood flooring allows homeowners to create a more durable and timeless foundation for their interiors.

Projects like this Elm floor installation require careful preparation, proper subfloor structure, and professional sanding and finishing to achieve long-lasting results.