A Homeowner’s Guide to Garrison Hardwood flooring: Long-Lasting Beauty and Real Property Value
Choosing the right flooring is one of the most significant decisions you will make for your home. It’s the foundation of your daily life—literally. Since 1956, The Garrison Collection has been a go-to for families who want the high-end look of a custom-built home without the artisan price tag. Whether you are moving into a new space or finally tackling that long-awaited remodel, understanding what makes these floors different can help you choose a surface that stays beautiful for decades.
Why Garrison Stands Out: Artisan Quality for Real Life
Garrison isn't a "big-box" brand; they are a family-grown company that treats every plank like a piece of art. Their philosophy focuses on "Precision Engineering," which is just a fancy way of saying they take extra steps to make sure your floors don't warp or gap when the weather changes. While many companies rush their wood through the factory, Garrison uses a signature dual kiln-drying process and 4-hour pressure holds during manufacturing. These extra steps ensure that the wood is stable and ready for the unique environment of your home.
Product Highlights: Finding Your Perfect Match
Garrison offers an enormous range of options, but they are most famous for their Engineered Hardwood. This isn't laminate or "fake" wood; it is real hardwood on top of a multi-layer base that makes it much tougher against moisture and temperature changes than Traditional solid Wood. Here are a few fan-favorite collections for homeowners:
- The French Connection: If you love the look of old European manors, this is for you. It features wide white Oak planks with a wire-brushed texture that feels natural underfoot and does a great job of hiding small scratches from pets or kids.
- Beverly Hills Collection: For those who want a grand, Modern feel, these planks are a massive 9-1/2 inches wide. They use urethane with aluminum oxide finishes, which act like a clear suit of armor for your floor.
- The Newport Series: A great choice for "coastal" or airy home designs, offering beautiful muted tones and Contemporary grays that make rooms feel larger and brighter.
- Garrison Plus: This line is known for extra-long planks—up to 7 feet long—which creates a seamless, high-end look in large, open-concept living rooms.
Creative Project Ideas for Your Home
Thinking about where to start? Here are a few ways homeowners are using Garrison products to change their living experience:
- Open-Concept Unity: Use the Du Bois or Allora wide-plank collections to flow from your kitchen into your living area. Because Garrison's Engineered Wood is so stable, it handles the transitions between different room types beautifully.
- The Modern Farmhouse Kitchen: Pair white cabinetry with the Rustic, hand-scraped textures found in the hickory collections. The natural variations in the wood grain add warmth and "soul" to a brand-new kitchen.
- Quiet Master Suites: walnut flooring is famous for its rich, dark tones and "softer" feel. It creates a cozy, library-like atmosphere in bedrooms that feels incredibly luxurious.
Features Designed with Homeowners in Mind
Garrison knows that you aren't a flooring professional, so they've built several resources to make your life easier:
- The Garrison Cleaning Kit: Most homeowners worry about how to clean wood floors without ruining the finish. Garrison offers its own pH-neutral cleaning kit designed specifically for their urethane finishes.
- Superior Wear Layers: Unlike "disposable" floors that can never be fixed, many Garrison floors have a thick top layer (some up to 6mm!). This means if your floor gets worn down after 15 or 20 years, it can actually be sanded and refinished just like a solid wood floor.
- Health-First Manufacturing: Your family’s safety is a priority. Garrison floors are CARB II compliant and often GREENGUARD Gold certified, meaning they meet the strictest standards for indoor air quality and low chemical emissions.
Success Stories: Real-Life Performance
Homeowners often report that the "character" of the wood is what they love most. One family with two large dogs noted that the wire-brushed finish of the French Connection line was "a lifesaver," as the textured surface made dog nail marks virtually invisible. Another homeowner mentioned that after seven years, their oil-finished floors only looked better with age, developing a soft patina that "feels like a part of the house's history."
Pro-Tips for Lasting Floors
To keep your Garrison floors looking like they were installed yesterday, follow these simple "friend-to-friend" tips:
- Watch the humidity: Try to keep your home's humidity between 35% and 55%. Wood is a natural material that "breathes," and keeping the air steady prevents it from shrinking or expanding.
- Ditch the Steam Mop: Steam mops use high heat and moisture that can force its way into the wood fibers. Stick to a damp (not dripping) microfiber mop and the recommended Garrison or WOCA cleaners.
- Felt is Your Friend: Put felt pads under all furniture legs. It’s a $10 investment that can save you thousands in repair costs.
Conclusion: Your Next Step Toward a More Beautiful Home
Investing in a Garrison floor is about more than just a surface; it’s about choosing a product backed by 70 years of history and a commitment to quality you can actually see and feel. With their massive selection of styles and industry-leading warranties, you can feel confident that you’re making a choice that adds real value to your property and daily comfort to your life.
Ready to see the wood in person? The best way to choose a floor is to feel the texture and see the colors in your own home’s light. Visit the Garrison Collection website to find an Authorized Dealer near you and request samples of your favorite styles today!
