Ashland and the Southern Rogue Valley
Flooring Contractor in Ashland, OR for Historic and Modern Homes
Imel and Sons Hardwood Floors brings old Ashland floors back to life, from Railroad District houses to homes near Southern Oregon University. Call for a free estimate and honest advice.
What a Flooring Contractor in Ashland, OR Should Know First
Ashland sits at the southern end of the Rogue Valley, close to the California line, and several of its older neighborhoods are listed historic districts. As a flooring contractor in Ashland, OR, we treat every older floor as something to save before anything gets replaced.
Imel and Sons Hardwood Floors is a family-run company based in Grants Pass with more than 43 years in business. Mike Imel, our owner and lead craftsman, runs most jobs personally. He looks at the floor, explains the pros and cons of each path, and tells you plainly whether sanding is the right call or whether a lighter touch will do.
That matters in a town where a floor may be original to the house. Once old wood is sanded too thin, it cannot be put back.
Historic Floor Refinishing Ashland Homes Deserve
Ashland has four historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places: Downtown, Siskiyou-Hargadine, Skidmore Academy and the Railroad Addition. The Railroad District, just north of Lithia Park, grew up around the rail line and still has Craftsman bungalows and Victorian houses on its streets.
Historic floor refinishing in Ashland starts with a careful look at what is left. Old floors have often been sanded several times, patched near doorways and covered with layers of wax. We check the wear layer, test how the old finish reacts and plan the sanding so it removes only as much wood as the job requires.
Where boards are split or missing, we find matching wood and weave it in so the pattern carries through. Stain is tested on your own boards first, because aged wood rarely takes color the way new wood does.
Hardwood Floors in Ashland, Oregon: The Work We Do
Many hardwood floors in Ashland, Oregon need one of four things. Mike will tell you which one yours needs before any work is scheduled.
Hardwood floor refinishing for worn, scratched or discolored floors that need to go back to bare wood.
Hardwood floor sanding done on site with dust containment, the careful first step on an older floor.
Squeaky floor repair for loose boards that have worked free of the subfloor over the decades.
Hardwood floor recoating with the Bona Traffic HD system for floors that are sound but dull.
Each of these can be done in an occupied home. We keep the work area contained, keep you posted on the schedule and clean up before we leave each day.
Squeaks, Gaps and Old Boards in Ashland Houses
Older Ashland homes tend to talk underfoot. Boards nailed down generations ago loosen as the house settles, and the result is a squeak in the same spot every time someone walks to the kitchen. We locate the loose boards and fasten them back down, often without disturbing the finish around them.
Seasonal gaps
Gaps are the other common complaint. The Rogue Valley has hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters, so the wood shrinks in July and swells again in January. Small seasonal gaps are normal in an old floor. Wide gaps, raised edges or cupped boards usually mean something else is going on, such as moisture from below.
The cause first
We find the cause before we touch the surface. Fixing the finish without fixing the problem only means paying for the same repair twice.
Floor Recoating Ashland Owners Use Between Refinishes
Not every tired floor needs sanding. Floor recoating in Ashland suits a floor that is dull, lightly scuffed or worn in the traffic paths but still has finish left. It is also the gentlest choice for an old floor, because it removes no wood at all.
We use the Bona Traffic HD system. Its preparation lifts contaminants, waxes and oils from the surface so the new coat bonds properly, and the finished coat restores a protective sheen. Hand-scraped, site-finished, prefinished and antique floors can all be recoated.
A regular recoat stretches the time between full refinishes, which keeps more of the original wood in the floor for the next owner of the house. For an Ashland home that still has its first floor, that is a good trade.
Rogue Valley Service Areas
Ashland and Our Other Rogue Valley Towns
From Ashland north to Medford and Eagle Point, and west through Grants Pass to Merlin, our Rogue Valley service areas share one crew and one standard of work. A flooring contractor in Ashland, OR who also knows the rest of the valley can compare what works in old and new homes alike.
Farther down the valley, the crew also works in Medford, OR, Eagle Point, OR, Grants Pass, OR and Merlin, OR. An Ashland homeowner gets the same family crew that has refinished floors in all of them.
Ashland Hardwood Floor Questions
An old floor deserves a second opinion before anyone puts a sander on it.
Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Call (541) 479-7919Can you refinish an original floor in an Ashland historic district home?
Yes, as long as enough wood remains above the tongue to sand safely. We check the thickness at a floor vent or threshold first. If the floor is too thin for another full sand-down, we will say so and suggest a recoat or targeted repairs instead, so the original boards stay in the house rather than getting torn out.
How do you match new boards to old flooring in an Ashland bungalow?
We look at the species, the board width, the grain and the color the wood has aged to. Then we source boards that fit, cut out the damaged pieces and weave the new ones in. Sanding and finishing the room together helps the repair blend. If we cannot get a close match, we tell you before work starts.
Will recoating hide the character of an antique floor in Ashland?
No. A recoat adds a clear protective layer on top of the existing finish and removes no wood, so marks, patina and color stay as they are. The Bona Traffic HD preparation cleans away old wax and oils so the new coat bonds. You get a fresh sheen while the floor keeps the look it has earned.
Free Ashland Estimates
Ask Mike What Your Ashland Floor Needs
An old floor deserves a second opinion before anyone puts a sander on it, and that is the first job of any flooring contractor in Ashland, OR. Mike will look at the wood, explain what each option means for the house, and give you a free written estimate with no pressure attached.
Any time
Send a Request
Tell us about your floor and the team will reach out to set up a free estimate.
- A free estimate visit and a clear quote
- The pros and cons of each option, explained