Get quick take-aways and digestible, easy-to-implement tricks with Shop Talk. Troubleshoot common problems, discover insider pro tips, review tools and more!
Can You Tell The Difference Between Red Oak and White Oak Flooring? | Shop Talk
Can You Tell The Difference Between Red Oak and White Oak Flooring? | Shop Talk
Can you tell the difference between red oak and white oak flooring?
In this episode of Shop Talk, host Steve Stack sits down with Ben Baird, 3rd Generation Owner of Baird Brothers, at the National Association of Home Builders’ International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Las Vegas to discuss different types of hardwood flooring.
Watch as Steve and Ben discuss hardwood flooring options and show off examples of red and white oak hardwood floors from Baird Brothers. While there are key differences between these two types of wood species, the proper stain color can make one type of oak wood look like the other. It’s very cost-effective to buy red oak wood flooring (which is typically less expensive) and then use a stain to make up the color difference. Red oak flooring has a slight pinkish undertone, but the right stain makes those color variations minimal. So, red vs white oak? Whichever you choose, you’ll end up with a beautiful floor.
As a homeowner, it’s important to do your research when choosing the right type of hardwood flooring to add to your home. Some species of wood are better suited for high-traffic areas and are less likely to dent. Solid hardwood floors also have different durability when it comes to water resistance or water damage. Always check the species of wood’s Janka hardness rating to see how it fits into your specific needs. Do you like your floor’s uniform appearance but want a lighter stain? You can always refinish your floors to meet your current interior design style.
The most popular choice of floor is our high-quality prefinished quarter-sawn white oak flooring. This technique cuts the log straight across through the bark and interior heartwood to highlight its natural wood grain lines and characteristics. Some homeowners choose wide planks for their hardwood flooring to show off as much of the pronounced grain pattern as possible.
Subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on the latest fine hardwood content. Subscribers are the first to know about new episodes!
Browse and buy online: www.BairdBrothers.com
ORDERED easily. DELIVERED conveniently. ENJOYED comfortably.
Comparing Wood Countertop Options For Your Kitchen Makeover | Shop Talk
Should you add a wood countertop to your home?
In this episode of Shop Talk, host Steve Stack is joined by Nicole Marcellino from New Day Cleveland to discuss the difference between butcher block countertops and plank countertops.
Butcherblock counters are assembled so that the edge grain is exposed. On the other hand, wide-plank countertops have the face grain exposed. How much wood grain pattern you want to see could be a deciding factor on which wood counter to choose.
If you’re going to be prepping food directly on your kitchen countertops, check which type of wood species has the best food-safe and water-resistant properties to prevent warping. Birch, Brazilian cherry, hickory, red oak and white oak all have different food-safe qualities and are more susceptible to dents. For these reasons, it’s hard to beat the hard maple end-grain butcher block countertops for food prep needs.
If you want to give your kitchen a makeover, wood counters, whether they are edge-grain butcher block counters or wood plank countertops, are the best way to update your kitchen counter, dining table top, bar top or kitchen island top. Solid wood cutting boards are also available at Baird Brothers.
Sure, you can settle for a laminate island top — or you can wow your guest with a unique, custom-made wooden countertop!
Want more woodworking content and DIY tutorials? Subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on the latest fine hardwood content. Subscribers are the first to know about new episodes!
Browse and buy online: www.BairdBrothers.com
ORDERED easily. DELIVERED conveniently. ENJOYED comfortably.
Trending Interior Design Styles for 2024 | Shop Talk
In this episode of Shop Talk, host Steve Stack sits down with McKenzie Cross, president of iSynergy, at the National Association of Home Builders’ International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas to discuss the latest interior design trends.
Scandinavian design has been one of the most popular interior design styles in recent years, and while that may not be fully going away soon, we are seeing new interior design elements become popular. Should you go for a more neutral color palette with light pinks and creams? Is a maximalist or minimalist interior design idea the way to go? Does your living space need a full makeover to stay ahead of decor trends? Natural materials like rustic wood flooring are always in style, but what color scheme should surround it? Watch as Steve and McKenzie give homeowners like you the run down.
Whether you like clean lines, natural elements, bright colors, earthy colors, pastels, bold patterns, natural light, chandeliers to make your light fixture a focal point or unique furniture pieces, there is a home decor and interior design style for you!
Popular Home Design Styles:
Bohemian (Boho)
19th-Century Mid-Century Modern
Scandinavian Design
Art Deco
Traditional Style
Modern Style
Coastal
Minimalism
Maximalism
Transitional
Rustic Interior
French Country
Hollywood Regency
Mediterranean
Modern Farmhouse Style
Which of these styles are on the rise? Watch to find out!
Subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on the latest fine hardwood content. Subscribers are the first to know about new episodes!
Browse and buy online: www.BairdBrothers.com
ORDERED easily. DELIVERED conveniently. ENJOYED comfortably.
How It’s Made: Wood Plank Countertops
Wood countertops bring a new level of sophistication to any kitchen — but how are they made?
In this episode of How It’s Made, host Steve Stack takes you into the manufacturing facility to see each step of the process. At Baird Brothers, all wooden countertops are custom-made to fit you and your kitchen perfectly.
Each solid wood counter is measured to your kitchen’s specifications; you can even choose between end-grain butcher block countertops and wide plank countertops. What's the difference? Butcher block counters use narrow solid wood pieces and expose their edge grain. Wood plank countertops use wider wood pieces and expose their face grain.
At Baird Brothers, our experienced salesmen can guide you through the process of making your kitchen counter makeover dreams come true. First, they help you decide which style to choose from based on your desired wood grain pattern. Next, they advise you on the best wood species to pick for your kitchen countertop, kitchen island top, bar top, table top or cutting board. Some types of wood have better food-safe properties than others, which is why we often recommend red oak or white oak. Some species are more water-resistant than others, which is another thing to keep in mind when choosing a wood species to prevent warping.
We make your solid wood countertop specifically to fit the exact square foot needed to prevent excess overhang or ill-fitting corners. Whether you want a live edge or a specific trimmed edge, our craftsmen can adjust based on your specifications. (That’s right; no sandpaper is needed to DIY a clean edge.)
Sure, you can settle for a laminate island top — or you can wow your guest with a unique, custom-made wooden countertop!
Want more woodworking content and tutorials? Subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on the latest fine hardwood content. Subscribers are the first to know about new episodes!
Browse and buy online: www.BairdBrothers.com
ORDERED easily. DELIVERED conveniently. ENJOYED comfortably.
How to Build a Fireplace Mantel | How It’s Made
A solid wood mantel shelf adds a lot of character to your fireplace — but how are they made?
In this episode, How It’s Made Host Steve Stack takes you back to the shop to pick up the trim pieces as J.R. Secrest, Cabinet Shop Foreman, shows step-by-step how Baird Brothers manufactures their handcrafted wood fireplace mantel shelves.
If you’re looking for a home improvement project to enhance your living room, there’s no better way than a beautiful rustic wood fireplace mantel. They’re not just for Christmas stockings, a new mantel is the perfect focal point to show off your home decor skills, from custom designing the mantel itself to adding beautiful decorations.
Whether you have a brick fireplace, electric fireplace, gas fireplace, or stone fireplace, a fireplace makeover is a small remodel that makes a big difference. Take it one step further with a DIY fireplace mantel. You can choose between a fireplace surround, barn beam mantel, floating shelves, a different wood stain from the side of the mantel to the top of the mantel or rustic, natural wood beams.
Want to know how to build a fireplace mantel piece? Visit contentstudio.bairdbrothers.com, where you’ll find video demonstrations and easy DIY project plans for your very own DIY wood mantel.
Want more high-quality woodworking content and tutorials? Subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on the latest fine hardwood content. Subscribers are the first to know about new episodes!
Browse and buy online: www.BairdBrothers.com
ORDERED easily. DELIVERED conveniently. ENJOYED comfortably.
How It’s Made: Interior Wooden Doors
The door frame is your guest’s first impression; solid wood doors can make a good one. But how are they made? Let’s take a look inside.
In this video, Steve Stack takes you behind the scenes in our manufacturing facility to show you exactly how wooden doors are made. Watch as our experienced craftsmen show you step-by-step how we turn a regular piece of wood into a beautiful custom door. Get a first-hand look at the detailed carpentry that goes into our door design.
Note: front doors are classified as exterior doors and are made differently.
Looking for an easy home improvement DIY project? Replace your interior doors! At Baird Brothers, you can choose from solid hardwood doors, pocket doors, veneer doors, flush doors, sliding barn doors and multi-panel doors. Never put up your own door before? Our pre-hung doors come with all the door hardware you need already attached — from the door jambs to the joinery.
Custom-designed doors fit perfectly in your door frame, but if you don’t design your own door, you can easily adjust the size of your door with a super simple woodworking project. Simply take off the door and use hand tools like a planer, sander or chisel (or a table saw if you need to take a lot off) to the top or side of the door to adjust sizing. Keep the width of the door in mind. A 5-inch thick door will take longer to cut down than a 3-inch thick door (sandpaper might not cut it). You’ll be able to do a nice job without even using your workbench.
Subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on the latest fine hardwood content.
Browse and buy hardwood flooring, premium interior doors, hardwood mouldings and more online: www.BairdBrothers.com.
ORDERED easily. DELIVERED conveniently. ENJOYED comfortably.
DIY Installation of Shiplap Wall Panels | Shop Talk
Whether it’s for your mudroom or a living room accent wall, shiplap wall panels can make a beautiful interior wall for your home.
Shiplap is similar in appearance to slat walls, beadboard, and wainscoting, but they have a different profile and purpose. Shiplap panels are made to cover an entire wall and tie in beautifully with the moulding and other millwork in your home.
In this video, Steve Stack covers the basics for your shiplap installation DIY project. As a homeowner, high-quality home decor with easy installation is the dream. That’s what makes tongue and groove shiplap paneling such a great choice! It’s a hassle-free way to bring the gorgeous look of real wood into your home.
Able to be placed over studs or directly on top of drywall, shiplap boards take little effort to get into place. Especially with tongue and groove wood wall panels, you can install nickel gap paneling with ease. It’s the simplest (and prettiest) home improvement project you could do.
Wood shiplap gives you plenty of options for how you choose to beautify your home with your wall decor. Whether you put the smooth or rough side out, keep the natural wood grain look or a solid color, shiplap decorative wall paneling is reversible and paintable. Or, you can whitewash it for a good balance. These wall planks are an excellent choice for any home.
Want more woodworking content? Subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on the latest fine hardwood content. Subscribers are the first to know about new episodes!
Browse and buy online: www.BairdBrothers.com
ORDERED easily. DELIVERED conveniently. ENJOYED comfortably.
Wide Plank vs. Butcher Block Countertops | Shop Talk
Not all wood countertops are the same. So, what’s the difference between butcher block countertops and wide plank countertops?
In this video tutorial, Steve Stack goes through the shop to show the difference between butcher block counters and wood plank countertops. Notice the difference between a red oak butcher block and a white oak wide plank wood counter.
An edge-grain butcher block countertop uses narrow solid wood pieces to expose its edge grain. Wide plank wood counters use wider pieces to expose their face grain. So how do you choose? It just depends on how much grain pattern you want to see on your counter or tabletop.
If you’re looking to give your kitchen a makeover or remodel, try a new countertop! Wooden countertops add character to your kitchen, whether they line your cabinets or stand out as your kitchen island tops. They look especially great alongside shiny stainless steel appliances and matching hardwood flooring.
While DIY wood countertops are doable, leave it to the experienced craftsmen at Baird Brothers Fine Hardwoods. They know the best wood species to use as your kitchen countertop and how to put them together to prevent warping.
If you’re not ready to commit to a solid wood countertop, try a wooden cutting board — it’s also an easy woodworking project! All you need to get started is a circular saw, your favorite sanding tool and a polyurethane or mineral oil to finish it off.
Want more woodworking content? Subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on the latest fine hardwood content. Subscribers are the first to know about new episodes!
Browse and buy online: www.BairdBrothers.com
ORDERED easily. DELIVERED conveniently. ENJOYED comfortably.