Schafer Hardwood Flooring Co.

06/05/2023

WAttention, bargain hunters! We've got a great deal for you. We have some older inventory that needs to go, and we're offering it at amazing prices. Don't miss out on a chance to snag some fantastic items at a fraction of the cost. Come check it out before it's all gone! https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bzwdhcyxrgL7TwzxQET74UMjH9NhVCsBoqkDZs73730/edit?usp=sharing

03/24/2023

Hickory - The underappreciated hardwood
I often think that Hickory plays second fiddle to domestic White Oak. Due to the strong color variation, Hickory is overlooked and the misconception that Hickory is more rustic in nature. But Why?
Hickory is the hardest of Northern domestic hardwoods, it is rated 1,820 on the Janka Hardness Scale while White Oak is rated at 1,360. Furthermore, there is great value in Hickory. During the Pandemic coupled with housing trends, White Oak took a first-class seat over all other species for hardwood flooring. As a result, White Oak raw material increased nearly 100% in the past 24 months. During White Oak’s sky rocketing pricing, Hickory remained immune to the volatility in the market.
White Oak does have consistent heartwood tones and this is certainly the preferred look given the serge of more contemporary designs. However, V3 can be manufactured in Hickory with the same color consistency as White Oak, with the added benefits of a lower price point and the hardness factor. So how do we do this? We simply produce the flooring while defecting the strong sapwood tones and defecting the off-color heartwood shades. Since every order of V3 is made to specification, this special grading rule fits right into our portfolio of products that we offer in V3.
When V3 is produced in an All-Heartwood Hickory, we can achieve the same appearance with color consistency as in White Oak. We can manufacture the flooring with minimal sapwood or no sapwood for a more streamlined appearance.
The artistry of grading is much like painting a portrait using the same color wheel of hues and shades. Our team is specially trained to decipher the inherit characters found in all Northern domestic hardwoods. They have the capacity to visually articulate Hickory and all its features, functions and benefits.
If you are in the market for new flooring, are in the process of building a new home or office space, I challenge you to put Hickory in your list of choices to consider.

06/21/2021

Schafer Hardwood Flooring Inventory Sale
Must take all footage listed per line item. Cash or check only.
Delivery is not included in the pricing. No Returns. Serious Inquiries Only. Call 517-902-3215.

1. ¾” Solid Australian Cypress 4.25” and 5.25” Widths, Unfinished and Square Edge: $4.50/sf fob 49286
306/sf
2. 5/8” Engineered Australian Cypress 3” Width, Unfinished and Square Edge: $3.76/sf fob 49286
268/sf
3. ¾” Solid American Walnut, 5” Width, Unfinished and Square Edge: $4.60/sf fob 49286
402/sf
4. ¾” Engineered, Santos Mahogany 3 9/16” Width, Prefinished Clear, 4/MB: $5.26/sf fob 49286
427/sf
5. ¾” Solid, Santos Mahogany, Clear, 3” Width, Unfinished and Square Edge: $5.08/sf fob 49286
945/sf
6. ¾” Solid, Santos Mahogany, Clear, 3” Width, Unfinished and Square Edge: $4.28/sf fob 49286
175/sf
7. ¾” Solid, Santos Mahogany, Select, 3” Width, Unfinished and Square Edge: $4.75/sf fob 49286
651/sf
8. 5/8” Engineered Eucalyptus, Select, 3” Width, Unfinished and Square Edge: $3.79/sf fob 49286
647/sf
9. 5/8” Engineered Hard Maple, Select 5” Width, Unfinished and Square Edge: $4.75/sf fob 49286
445/sf
10. ¾” Solid White Oak, IC, 2.25” Width, Unfinished and Square Edge: $2.99/sf fob 49286
247/sf
11. ¾” Solid White Oak, Select, 2.25” Width, Unfinished and Square Edge: $4.15/sf fob 49286
288/sf
12. ¾” Solid White Oak, IC, 3” Width, Unfinished and Square Edge: $3.00/sf fob 49286
156/sf

03/02/2021

If you have been working on any home renovation, remodel, or new build, you may have noticed the rise in raw material costs. The hardwood industry is thought to be hardest hit by rising costs and scarcity of raw materials. The kiln dried hardwood market has been showing clear signs of insecurity for the past 8 months, with no sign of letting up.

Because of the increase in demand for white oak, combined with significant logging lags, the domestic hardwood white oak lumber market is in peril. Moreover, since the scarcity of white oak lumber has grown, the prices have gone up, and so have the lead times for the procurement of hardwood flooring.

Recent publications, NAHB and The Business Observer, explain how the increased costs stem from several factors: an increase in demand for hardwood from builders, fires on the West Coast of the US which have decimated raw material inventory, and COVID-19-related mill closures. All contribute to the current lumber shortage and subsequent rise in price and production times.

In the last quarter of 2020, Schafer Hardwood Flooring Company's costs for white oak raw material has increased by 25% or more. Then, as of January 1, 2021, our white oak lumber costs increased an additional 25%. In full transparency, we do not see this trend tempering. In addition, to hire, train, and maintain a skilled and reliable work force, we have increased our labor costs across the board accordingly. This all affects the bottom line.

Like any small company, we are challenged with how to offset this escalating rise of fixed cost of over 50% per square foot. Passing all costs directly to our loyal V3 builders and flooring installers is out of the question; thus, SHFC has been proactive with this predicament by investing in our own lumber processing facility and kiln. SHFC is now purchasing our own logs, processing, and kiln drying them internally. Given the current economic, sociological, and geological conditions, we are continuing to take a deliberate measure of lean, streamlined manufacturing best practices. We are looking beyond our scope, and finding new innovative ways to meet the needs and budget considerations of our V3 customers.

Here are few publications about the current lumber market situation:

http://nahbnow.com/2020/09/nahb-conveys-urgent-concerns-on-lumber-with-commerce-secretary/

https://www.businessobserverfl.com/article/construction-commodity-prices-rising

NAHB Senior Officers held a virtual meeting with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to discuss rising lumber prices and supply shortages.

02/17/2021

JOB DESCRIPTION

Overview

Schafer Hardwood Flooring is the leading global flooring manufacturer that creates products to enhance residential and commercial spaces around the world. SHFC’s vertically integrated manufacturing and distribution processes provide competitive advantages in the production of premium engineered hardwood flooring. Our industry-leading innovation has yielded products and technologies that differentiate our brand in the marketplace and satisfy all remodeling and new construction requirements.

Schafer Hardwood Flooring. is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to an inclusive workplace and a proud drug free environment.

EOE MINORITIES / FEMALES / PROTECTED VETERANS / DISABLED

Responsibilities

The primary purpose of the Machine Operator's position is to perform all assigned tasks, including but not limited to, the safe, efficient operation of all Flooring (Profiling) line equipment. Additionally, the operator will be required to perform routine maintenance and cleaning on all machinery and workspaces in the assigned area of responsibility. The operator will be required to understand and manipulate computer software related to the operation of the production line. The operator will be required to identify conditions which may lead to substandard quality or up-time and initiate the proper corrective action. Further duties may include assisting maintenance personnel and other machine operators, when requested, in the troubleshooting, repair, or preventive maintenance of equipment in order to support continuous operations on the production line.

Requirements:

• Basic Computer Skills – Ability to understand computer programs to input, monitor, research, and track orders according to customer requirements
• The ability to set up, operate, troubleshoot and adjust profilers and other equipment throughout the plant
• The ability to identify root cause of issues during production and document issue(s) on required logs
• The ability to have a keen attention to detail
• The ability to consistently work on plant (concrete) production floor and utilize stairs
• The ability to bend, lift, stand, kneel, and move for extended periods of time
• Dexterity of hands and fingers to utilize appropriate equipment and tools
• Excellent attendance record
Qualifications
• High school diploma or general education degree (GED
• One to three months related experience and /or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, grading rules, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

• Stand, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools and controls. Reach with hands and arms and occasionally required to walk.
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.
• Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Work near moving mechanical parts.
• Is regularly exposed to fumes or airborne particles and vibration.
• Work in a normally loud/noisy work environment.

This role requires:

• A team first mentality
• Positive attitude
• Good work ethic
• Keen attention to detail
• Willingness to learn
• Ability to lift and stand for long periods of time

02/17/2021

Overview

Schafer Hardwood Flooring is the leading global flooring manufacturer that creates products to enhance residential and commercial spaces around the world. SHFC’s vertically integrated manufacturing and distribution processes provide competitive advantages in the production of premium engineered hardwood flooring. Our industry-leading innovation has yielded products and technologies that differentiate our brand in the marketplace and satisfy all remodeling and new construction requirements.

Schafer Hardwood Flooring. is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to an inclusive workplace and a proud drug free environment.

EOE MINORITIES / FEMALES / PROTECTED VETERANS / DISABLED

Responsibilities:

Inspects and grades milled, unfinished hardwood flooring

• Inspects and grades milled, unfinished hardwood flooring on table, and/or moving belt, for defects such as knots, stains, decay, splits, faulty edges, pitch pockets, wormholes, and defective milling.
• Marks flooring, to identify removable defects and improve overall grade of individual pieces.
• Removes unsatisfactory pieces from conveyor or table and places pieces in a panelized pack for finishing.
• Ensures all flooring graded meets standards developed by Schafer Hardwood Flooring unless otherwise directed by superintendent or management.
• Places random length unfinished flooring in a panelized pack so a particular average length per run is achieved.
• Maintains a clean and safe work area.
• Performs all other duties as assigned by your supervisor.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED
• One to three months related experience and /or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, grading rules, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

• Stand, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools and controls. Reach with hands and arms and occasionally required to walk.
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.
• Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Work near moving mechanical parts.
• Is regularly exposed to fumes or airborne particles and vibration.
• Work in a normally loud/noisy work environment.

This role requires:

• A team first mentality
• Positive attitude
• Good work ethic
• Keen attention to detail
• Willingness to learn
• Ability to lift and stand for long periods of time

01/18/2021

According to a report by National Association of Realtors (NAR), homeowners are able to recover 106% of the cost of new wood flooring when selling their home. Installing new hardware floors costs an average of $4,700 and sellers can recover $5,000 from the investment. Read more about how hardwood flooring can maximize your property investment.

https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/research-reports/remodeling-impact