Prefinished.
As much of a Canadian product as possible is preferred. I've heard that most Canadian hardwood flooring is grown in Canada, assembled in China and sold back in Canada.
We did see some Bruce hardwood that was close to what we wanted, but we were in a smaller showroom, so the bigger the showroom the better. We don't mind spending a little extra for good quality - just want to keep it reasonable.
We're going to Lowes today to look at other stuff, so I'll check out what they have there.
Lots is grown here, manufactured in China and shipped back. But you have options and if your staying in your house please explore them.
Bruce is made in Quebec, its a Canadian product , which is why they are limited to domestic species, you wont find Acacia or Jotoba.
My favorite is Superior flooring , its made by Herwynen sawmill in Guelph and finished in thier own UV line plant on the 7th line Eramosa just outside Guelph, there is a showroom there. They offer the longest lenghts in the industry so the installation is neater and looks more uniform. And faster. Not badly priced and the UV cured finish is about as durable as it gets.
Offshore, and a lot of domestic manufactures will use 'shorts' , it needs to fit in the 48" or 60" box, its much cheaper to buy as a wholesale undressed pc of wood. Other than flooring there is no market for 24-38" pcs of wood. The furniture industry used to use it for framestock but that's largely gone to plywood for upholstered furniture.
When they are selling 'tavern grade' or rustic, its just the crappy lumber that wont grade out for clears and premium. It has character so they would have you believe.
Just so you know formaldahyde is a naturally occuring thing in all wood, they will make NAUF, which means no added urea formaldahyde , and Carb11, which is the California law adopted for all NA on formaldahyde compliance, but there is always some. Carpet has way more than wood flooring and a walk in a swampy part of the forest will have you inhailing gallons.
