The quality of your hardwood floor begins with the source of your materials. Superior hardwood flooring requires suppliers who maintain rigorous quality control standards, offer consistent products, and stand behind their materials with solid warranties and support. At Hardwood Floor and More, we’ve built relationships with the industry’s finest suppliers over our three decades in business, giving us unique insight into which manufacturers and distributors consistently deliver excellence.
National Premium Manufacturers
Mirage Hardwood Floors
Mirage has established itself as the gold standard for premium hardwood flooring, earning an unprecedented 35 quality awards in the past decade alone. Their vertically integrated manufacturing process ensures extraordinary quality control from forest to finished product. Their Alumix-2 finish system provides exceptional durability, and their commitment to sustainable forestry practices has earned them certification from the Forest Stewardship Council and other environmental organizations.
Specialties: Engineered products with exceptional stability, ultra-durable finishes, wide color selection
Signature Collections: Mirage Classic (traditional solid hardwood), Mirage Engineered (stability for challenging environments), Mirage TruBalance (wide plank engineered for exceptional stability)
Kahrs International
Founded in Sweden in 1857, Kahrs pioneered engineered hardwood flooring and holds the patent for the first engineered wood floor. Their innovative Woodloc® joint system eliminates gaps between boards, and their commitment to environmental stewardship predates current trends by decades. Kahrs’ Swedish engineering focuses on dimensional stability in challenging climates, making their products ideal for regions with significant seasonal humidity fluctuations.
Specialties: Engineered flooring with superior stability, innovative locking systems, environmentally responsible manufacturing
Signature Collections: Original Collection (classic designs), Founders Collection (antique appearance with modern performance), Supreme Collection (ultra-premium wide planks)
Somerset Hardwood Flooring
As one of America’s largest vertically integrated hardwood manufacturers, Somerset controls quality from the standing timber to the finished product. Their Appalachian hardwoods are renowned for tight grain patterns and exceptional color consistency. All manufacturing occurs in their U.S. facilities, ensuring adherence to strict quality and environmental standards. Their SolidPlus engineered flooring features one of the industry’s thickest wear layers for extended refinishing potential.
Specialties: Appalachian hardwoods, traditional solid hardwood, high-value engineered options
Signature Collections: Character Collection (rustic appearance), Color Collection (consistent pre-finished colors), Classic Collection (traditional select grade hardwood)
Mercier Wood Flooring
This Canadian manufacturer combines old-world craftsmanship with cutting-edge innovation. Their proprietary Generations Intact 2500 finish exceeds industry durability standards by up to 40%, and their Greenguard Gold certification guarantees exceptional indoor air quality. Mercier’s Design+ program allows customization of species, color, width, texture, and gloss level, creating virtually limitless design possibilities.
Specialties: Ultra-durable finishes, custom design options, Canadian hardwoods
Signature Collections: Nature Collection (natural colors and grain variations), Origins Collection (genuine textured surfaces), Design+ (customizable options)
Specialty Hardwood Suppliers
Carlisle Wide Plank Floors
For truly distinctive wide plank flooring, Carlisle stands alone. Each floor is custom-crafted to client specifications, with planks available up to 20 inches wide—dimensions impossible to find in mass-produced flooring. Their craftsmen select each board for optimal grain pattern and character, creating floors of extraordinary beauty. Carlisle specializes in traditional installation methods and authentic historical reproductions for restoration projects.
Specialties: Custom wide planks, historical reproductions, hand-selected boards
Signature Collections: Signature Grade (hand-selected premium boards), Heirloom Grade (character-rich with natural variations), Heritage Collection (reproductions of historical floors)
Monarch Plank
Specializing in European white oak and French oak engineered flooring, Monarch offers distinctive products rarely found elsewhere. Their Old-World collections feature traditional European finishing techniques like fuming, natural oils, and reactive stains that penetrate the wood rather than merely coating the surface. Their craftsmen utilize techniques passed down through generations to create floors with authentic character and patina.
Specialties: European oak, traditional European finishing techniques, reclaimed materials
Signature Collections: Windsor Collection (European elegance), Domaine Collection (French oak with traditional finishes), Storia Collection (aged appearance with modern performance)
Reclaimed DesignWorks
For truly sustainable flooring with authentic character, Reclaimed DesignWorks sources materials from historic structures throughout North America. Their reclaimed woods include rare species and dimensions no longer available in newly harvested timber. Each board tells a story through saw marks, nail holes, and natural patina developed over decades or centuries. Their craftsmen meticulously process these materials for modern installation while preserving their historical character.
Specialties: Authentic reclaimed woods, historic barn wood, salvaged industrial timbers
Signature Collections: Historic Plank (reclaimed flooring), Heritage Timber (beams and architectural elements), Weathered Siding (exterior materials repurposed for interior use)
Exceptional Distributors
Derr Flooring Company
Serving the Eastern United States since 1926, Derr Flooring has established itself as one of the nation’s premier hardwood distributors. Their extensive inventory includes over 30 domestic and exotic species, with specialized divisions focusing on unfinished, prefinished, and engineered products. Their technical support team provides exceptional resources for contractors and installers, while their design consultants assist with specification for architectural projects.
Specialties: Comprehensive inventory, technical support, architectural specification services
Notable Brands Carried: Mirage, Somerset, Mercier, Armstrong, White Oak, Hickory, and specialty exotics
Galleher Hardwood
The largest flooring distributor in the Western United States, Galleher combines extensive inventory with proprietary product development. Their exclusive Monarch Plank and Reward Flooring lines offer unique products unavailable elsewhere. Galleher’s six regional distribution centers ensure quick availability throughout their service area, and their contractor loyalty program provides significant benefits to professional installers.
Specialties: Designer-oriented collections, proprietary product lines, contractor support programs
Notable Brands Carried: Exclusive distributor for Monarch Plank, Provenza, Reward Flooring, Garrison, along with major national brands
Classic Hardwood Floors
Specializing in ultra-premium and customized products, Classic Hardwood Floors serves the design community with extraordinary selection and personalized service. Their curated collections focus on distinctive appearances rather than commodity products, with particular emphasis on wide planks, long lengths, and specialty finishes. Their in-house finishing capabilities allow customization of standard products for unique projects.
Specialties: Designer products, customization capabilities, specialty finishes
Notable Brands Carried: Hakwood, WD Flooring, Legno Bastone, Maison Collection, along with boutique European manufacturers
Evaluating Supplier Quality
When selecting a hardwood flooring supplier for your project, consider these critical factors:
Manufacturing Standards
Premium manufacturers maintain rigorous production standards that exceed industry minimums. Look for suppliers who control multiple aspects of the manufacturing process, particularly milling precision and finish application. The best manufacturers maintain milling tolerances within 0.005 inches—twice as strict as industry standards.
Grading Consistency
Superior suppliers maintain consistent grading standards that precisely define acceptable color variation, character marks, and natural features. Request written grading specifications and sample sets showing the range of variation you should expect within each grade.
Environmental Responsibility
Responsible suppliers maintain chain-of-custody certification for their products, documenting that materials come from legally harvested and sustainably managed forests. Look for third-party certifications such as FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification), or SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative).
Technical Support
The best suppliers provide comprehensive technical information, including installation guidelines, environmental requirements, and compatibility with underfloor heating systems. They should offer detailed maintenance instructions and stand ready to address any performance issues that might arise.
Warranty Protection
Quality suppliers stand behind their products with meaningful warranties that address structural integrity, finish performance, and manufacturing defects. Top manufacturers offer warranties ranging from 25 years to lifetime on structural aspects and 25-50 years on finish wear-through for residential applications.
Financial Stability
In an industry where warranty coverage may extend 25+ years, supplier longevity matters. Research potential suppliers’ business history and financial stability before making significant purchases.
Building Supplier Relationships
At Hardwood Floor and More, we’ve cultivated relationships with premium suppliers over decades, giving our clients access to exceptional products, customization options, and technical support. However, we recognize that some clients may wish to source materials independently. In these cases, we recommend:
Visiting Showrooms
Experience products firsthand rather than relying solely on digital images or small samples. Premium suppliers invest in displays that demonstrate their products in realistic settings and showcase available options.
Meeting Representatives
Connect with knowledgeable representatives who understand technical specifications and can address specific project requirements. The best suppliers employ experts who can guide material selection based on your site conditions and performance expectations.
Understanding Lead Times
Quality hardwood often involves extended lead times, particularly for custom or specialty products. Establish realistic timelines early in your project planning, as premium materials typically require 4-12 weeks from order to delivery.
Requesting Documentation
Obtain all relevant certification documents, installation instructions, maintenance guidelines, and warranty information before finalizing your purchase. Premium suppliers provide comprehensive documentation with their products.
Conclusion: Your Partner in Sourcing Premium Hardwood
While we’ve highlighted some of the industry’s finest suppliers, this represents only a portion of the exceptional manufacturers and distributors with whom we work. At Hardwood Floor and More, we leverage our supplier relationships to source the perfect materials for each client’s unique project, whether that involves readily available products or custom-crafted solutions.
Our longstanding industry relationships often allow us to source materials unavailable to the general public, including limited production runs, specialized finishes, and exclusive collections. We invite you to consult with our flooring specialists to explore the extraordinary possibilities these premium suppliers offer for your project.
Quality hardwood flooring represents a significant investment in your property—one that can provide beauty, performance, and value for generations when you select the right materials from reputable suppliers. Let our expertise guide you to the perfect combination of beauty, performance, and value for your unique project.