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HISTORY

 

Specializing in wood floors has been a family craft since 1914.   My grandfather, who installed and finished wood floors, was thought by many to be the first on the west coast to make a machine that could sand the edges of a floor.  My uncle and father worked with him in developing their own floor finish, and my father, left the trade of wood floors to become a highly successful architect in the state of Washington.  Much of the quality time with my father was spent going on inspections of custom, award-winning homes that he developed in the Northwest.  With grandfather’s insistence, I began my own journey into the wood flooring trade.  I worked for him, and other companies, before starting Benjamin’s Hardwood Floors in May 1977. 

            The focus during the early years was on restoration, particularly of Craftsman style houses.  I restored the majority of Greene and Greene homes, including the one moved to Beverly Hills. In Heritage Square, adjacent to the Pasadena Freeway, I restored the first-floor of the Mount Pleasant House. During those years of restoring older, period homes, I truly connected with my craft, because I was given the opportunity to restore floors that my grandfather had installed 50 to 60 years ago.  And, as time went by I expanded my craft into designing floors for custom built houses.

            My area of expertise is wood floors. Building, in one form or another, has been a family craft for seven generations. The last three generations, starting in 1914 here in Pasadena, California, has been devoted to wood floors and architecture. In the course of being a full-service wood-flooring contractor, I have learned that my strongest talent lies in creating visions of space, with a flow of movement that gives simplicity to their surroundings. My design skills have been requested from the Hawaiian Island's, throughout the country of Bermuda, to the Caribbean Islands, Mexico, and Canada, with stops across our 48 states. 

            When the National Wood Flooring Association was formed 20 years ago, I became a charter member of the Association.  My accomplishments for design were rewarded by being the first member to receive multiple awards for design, both in residential, and in commercial work. My association on a national and international level, with those in my industry, has given me greater knowledge of products available, such as unique woods of the world, and techniques of product installation, as well as national standards. I have served on the environmental committee for the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) for a number of years, as well as on roundtable discussions, instructing others in the industry on custom floor installations.  I have also served as a lecturer on various industry subjects, which has expanded knowledge for many. I have acted as a consultant for the NWFA, troubleshooting problems on failed jobs, and consequently helping many to resolve their flooring problems.