Legacy Heart Pine Vintage Engineered Wood Flooring

Wood Flooring

One of the Goodwin ‘differences’ is our effort to be transparent and straightforward about our grades and guarantees. For example, when others say, “We don’t give specific heart content percentages. It isn’t all that important,” Goodwin gives an exact percentage. River-Recovered® Heart Pine and Heart Cypress are guaranteed 100% heart. Our Legacy building reclaimed antique heart pine is guaranteed at least 95% in plainsawn and at least 98% in vertical. In fact, Legacy is virtually all heart with very little sapwood if any because of the way George Goodwin saws the antique beams.

When other companies refer to knots as ‘infrequent’ or ‘small’, Goodwin gives you an exact maximum size and is willing to guarantee a maximum number in a bundle. We count them! Goodwin follows the 1904 grading rules of no knots over 1-1/4” in our River-Recovered® grades and the 1924 grading rules, the last published for heart pine, of no knots over 1-1/2” for our Legacy building reclaimed antique heart pine.

Goodwin also guarantees an average growth ring minimum of 8 per inch for River-Recovered® and a 6 per inch for Legacy, again following the 1904 and 1924 standards. Our heart content is higher and we send fewer defects in all except our Character grades. Goodwin provides 2’ – 12’ or longer lengths than others who send 1’+ or 1-1/2’+. Most other competitors suggest a 10% waste allowance. Goodwin recommends only a 5% ‘cutting allowance’ for boards at the end of a row.

When Goodwin says heart pine, we mean longleaf pine that was at least 200 years old when it was cut. The book ‘Longleaf Pine’, 1946, states that even at 200 years old heart pine will still be only 2/3rds heartwood. There are reclaimed wood companies that call 90–120-year-old longleaf ‘heart pine’. Goodwin’s Heart Cypress was at least 500 years old when cut and generally twice that or more. According to the USDA Forest Service that is the true ‘old growth’ age.

We believe this information is worthwhile to our discerning clientele. We guarantee your satisfaction!

 

The Beauty within River-Recovered® Logs

Homeowners - Wood Flooring 10

Homeowners - Wood Flooring 10

I was fishing the Suwannee River a lot in the Summer of 1976 and kept seeing deadhead logs. The term came about because the small end of the log floats like a head bobbing in the water. My antique business was in Micanopy and a friend (Jerry Moore) helping me source the antiques told me he could bring up some of the logs if I wanted him to.

We took the logs to an old sawmill nearby and from the moment I first saw the life and light in the ancient wood I knew people would want to have some of it. So, instead of fishing we spent our spare time pulling logs and having the wood sawn into beautiful, durable, and historic lumber. Then came the sawmill to saw it ourselves.

About the only time you cannot dive to find the old logs is when the rivers are in flood stage. The water is a little warmer in the Summer, so every July Jerry and I made a pilgrimage to a different river area that we thought likely to have the ancient sunken logs.

The local libraries and archives are a good way to research old sawmill locations. Logs were often stored in the water next to the sawmill and the densest and best often sank. Or, we might find a bend in the river where an entire raft had sunk. The rafts were generally 15 or so logs across and a couple of logs for cross members. There might be 20 or so such raft sections connected with chains or ropes.

We learned the best ways to search the river bottom with a grid. And we inevitably would find a lot of ‘second growth’ logs that were downed from storms or floods. Second growth aren’t worth pulling up as the wood is neither dense nor durable. Plus, it is commercially available, whereas the ancient logs are rare and valuable.

We searched river beds in NC, SC, GA and AL. I had a hand drawn map from 1881 of Florida’s forests, so of course we traveled all around Northern Central Florida and the Florida Panhandle. What we ultimately learned after years of this research is that the spring fed Florida rivers held the most and the best ancient logs. The best heart cypress comes from the Panhandle and the best heart pine from the Suwannee, Withlacoochee, and St John’s rivers. The St. John’s also has a lot of heart cypress waiting to be discovered.

– George Goodwin

River Logging on Withlacoochee River

George Goodwin Story

A Goodwin visit with Melissa Wylie of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation

A Goodwin visit with Melissa Wylie of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation

Last week The Goodwin Company enthusiastically welcomed Melissa Wyllie for a Goodwin visit. Melissa is the CEO and President of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. The Trust’s mission is to “Promote the preservation and the inclusive sharing of the diverse architectural, historical and archaeological heritage of Florida.” This mission coincides tremendously with Goodwin’s work with many historic preservation projects and recovering Florida’s sunken history.

Over the years The Goodwin Company has successfully nominated several projects for the Trust Preservation Awards. Materials for these projects were supplied by The Goodwin Company. Projects nominated by Goodwin won awards in 2018, 2015, and 2013. In 2018 Gainesville’s Matheson History Museum’s Library and Archive building won the Meritorious Achievement in Adaptive Use award, nominated by Jeffrey Forbes. In 2015 Gainesville’s 1926 Firestone Building won the Honorable Mention Award for Adaptive Use, nominated by Jeffrey Forbes. In 2013 Gainesville’s Gainesville Depot was awarded the award for Outstanding Achievement in Historic Restoration/Rehabilitation and Green Building, nominated by Carol Goodwin. The Goodwin Company as well as Carol Goodwin and Jeffery Forbes are members of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation.

Melissa’s visit coincidentally came during National Preservation Month. National Preservation Month is celebrated every year in May since 1973. With events focusing on promoting historic places. It was certainly a pleasure having Melissa visit the Goodwin Company. We look forward to seeing her again at the Preservation on Main Street Conference in New Port Richey July 21st – 24th. Where The Goodwin Company will be participating and we hope to see you there!

Learn More about the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation!

Definitely a mountain

Definitely a mountain

Many thoughts cross the human mind when seeing this picture. What is that pile and why is it so large?  Where will it go, or will it go anywhere?  How big is that thing going to become?  Those were MY initial thoughts on seeing this mammoth mound, but I was informed and delighted to hear about what happens next.

At Goodwin Company, we care tremendously about the environment for the present, and our future.  Our “waste” isn’t actually waste!  Take a look at this large sawdust pile that accumulates on a daily basis.  While it continues to grow, the pile gets divvied up between local blueberry farmers.  Our River-Recovered® and reclaimed heart pine and heart cypress is scattered underneath blueberry bushes.   The antique wood’s acidity supposedly enhances the blueberries taste, making them richer and sweeter to eat.  Goodwin has also collaborated with The University of Florida to further biochar research.

This is not the only way we incorporate repurposing into our normal regimen. George Goodwin was the pioneer of recovering logs that rested underwater for at least 150 years and transforming them into our signature River-Recovered Heart Pine and Heart Cypress products. At the same time, we also rescue wood that has outgrown its original intention.  We take the salvageable boards from a building coming down, de-nailing and re-sawing to create an entirely new structure.  Nail holes, staining, and other imperfections help to tell its history.  The destruction of trees from natural disasters can further be rescued and reused, giving the wood another chance at life.

Present day, wood continues to be beneficial for the environment and energy efficiency.  According to The American Forest Foundation, wood is the only major building material that is renewable.  Sustainably produced wood pellets from the United States get sent around all over the world to power plants to help build greener strategies.  For our future, eco-friendly practices will hopefully continue to combat environmental issues, like reducing carbon emissions and climate change.  For now, Goodwin will steadily do our part being environmentally conscious.  We will manage our green practices, while educating others in what we do and why it’s important.  Stop by Goodwin and see what we can do today to help you!

HardwoodFloorsMag

Our very own Carol Goodwin was featured in NWFA’s Hardwood Floors magazine as part of their Women in the Industry feature.

Marketing coordinator Jeffrey Forbes also wrote an article for this issue, entitled “Transforming Lost Logs into Tomorrow’s Treasures”.

Be sure to check them out here.

 

Another Visit from Florida Crotchwood!

A day spent watching Randy and Paula from Florida Crotchwood sawing our River-Recovered® heart cypress logs with their mobile sawmill is a day well spent. Take a look at the gorgeous slabs they were able to get from this log!

You may notice a beautiful green stain on some of the slabs. When the original loggers from hundreds of years ago were transporting cypress logs, they would often implant iron eyelets to help them haul the log to the riverside. When the logs sank, the iron eyelets would decay. The cypress would absorb the mineral, leaving green stains behind. If you look closely, you’ll even see the bark disturbed from where the eyelets used to be! It’s one of the many beautiful and historically significant elements you’ll find in River-Recovered® heart cypress.

Jeffrey Forbes Presents to Hawthorne Area Historical Society

Goodwin’s own Jeffrey Forbes was invited to present, “Behind the Scenes in Historic Preservation: A Photographic Journey” to the Hawthorne Area Historical Society as part of their recognition of National Historic Preservation Month.  Jeffrey gave an overview of Goodwin’s mission and role in historic preservation.  He also covered the history of the longleaf forest, introduced a river logging video and presented highlights through stories and photos of the preservation projects that have specified Goodwin’s antique wood, including the Texas Governor’s Mansion, Charnley Norwood House, Beauvoir, Firestone, and the Matheson Museum.

Jeffrey enjoyed talking with the group and would like to thank board members Robert & Pat Moore, Bonita Moore, Mona Moore and Dorothy Smiljanich for extending this invitation for him to speak!

Goodwin in the Community

Our own Jeffrey Forbes recently conducted an informational session on the River-Recovered® heart cypress used in the new Sandra Stetson Aquatic Center. His talk was part of a lecture sponsored by Stetson Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience featuring Jason Evans, Ph.D., associate professor of environmental science and studies at Stetson University and author and photographer Lynne Buchanan.

Special thank you to Jason Evans, Ph.D. for inviting Jeffrey to speak at this esteemed event!

Goodwin in the Community

Architect Preston T. Phillips has some impressive photos of the Sandra Stetson Aquatic Center featured on his website.  Be sure to check them out!

View Photos

Photo for e-newsletter

When you purchase from Goodwin you become part of our family. Homeowners and building design professionals alike appreciate our honesty, attention to detail, and follow-through. When you partner with Goodwin, you are assigned a personal antique wood specialist who assists you every step of the way, including consulting with you to select the perfect species, size, and finish for your project.

  • Once your project has been slated for production, our antique wood specialists oversee the manufacturing and delivery.
  • Goodwin technical experts are then available to offer technical assistance and provide answers to installation questions.
  • Once installation is complete, your personal antique wood specialists continue to follow-up with you to answer any questions you may have (i.e. cleaning, maintenance, etc.) to ensure your complete satisfaction.

When you work with Goodwin, you are not just choosing the industry gold standard in antique wood, you are becoming a part of our family!

How may we help you transform your home or office?

“From the first contact we found ourselves treated like friends rather than customers. As Mary told you, we are proud to show our beautiful floors to our admiring guests. We think of George and his company as friends.”

Robert and Mary Ryals
McLeran House B&B, Wellborn, FL

Why Goodwin Will Never Be a “Run of the Mill” Manufacturer

Goodwin Company“Run of the mill” is one of those common phrases we often don’t put much thought into as it’s a term used in everyday, casual conversations to describe something that has little or no features that distinguish it from other things that serve the same purpose.

The phrase ‘run of the mill’ originates in the early 1900’s America and was used by factories to describe a commodity that was not graded or checked for impurities. This would result in a product that was not the best nor the worst, but simply average in quality. The expression later developed into the more figurative use around the 1920’s.

After more than four decades in business, Goodwin still refuses to settle for “run of the mill” standards. Architects, designers, and building design professionals especially appreciate the time, quality, and craftsmanship that goes into each and every Goodwin product:

  • We use what is arguably the strictest grading standard in the industry. Our 100% American-made wood is milled with strict grading guidelines to ensure our customers truly enjoy the finest products on the market.
  • Goodwin uses the best and most accurate machinery operated by skilled craftsman who have an eye for quality. In fact, founder George Goodwin is still the company sawyer!
  • Our onsite storage facility ensures that our woods can be perfectly preserved until they are ordered. This means you don’t have to wait for the entire milling process to be complete or the season to be right to enjoy antique wood that looks freshly milled.
  • We even offer proprietary finishes including Diamond 7 which is as strong as diamonds and preserves an antique heart pine floor well beyond that of other finishes.

Additionally, Goodwin’s signature product, River-Recovered® heart pine, is an antique wood with a unique story and quality unlike any other species. We have decades of experience with heart pine, cultivating and milling only the finest cuts of this sunken treasure. Goodwin also supplies a sizable selection of other exceptional woods that are sustainably sourced and held to an equal standard as our heart pine.

There have been many imitators over the years and there are still companies who claim the same standards as Goodwin.  However, the proof is in the quality and craftsmanship, which is why we challenge you to compare Goodwin’s wood side-by-side to any other finished wood in the world and you will clearly see why we are considered the industry gold standard.

Goodwin Company

 

Meet Goodwin Company at the 2018 Southeast Building Conference (SEBC)

Goodwin Company will be exhibiting in booth #724 at the 2018 SEBC at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Conference Center in Orlando Florida.  The event takes place on Thursday, August 16th and Friday, August 17th.  If you plan to attend the conference or if you will be in the Orlando area during that time, be sure to stop by and say, “hi”.

Meet Goodwin Company at the 2018 Southeast Building Conference (SEBC)

We will be showcasing our signature River-Recovered® heart pine and heart cypress and highlighting our proprietary factory finishes and custom colors formulated specifically for Goodwin.  Learn about the antique wood trend and how building design professionals are incorporating antique wood contemporary design.  You won’t want to miss it!

Presentation – Building Design Uses of Reclaimed Wood

Michael Miller from Goodwin will be presenting “Building Design Uses of Reclaimed Wood” on Friday, August 17th from 10:10am – 11:10am.   Antique wood is trending, and it is especially popular in contemporary spaces.  This presentation demonstrates how you can incorporate antique wood into your projects and designs.  Earn CEU credits as well!

 

 

Goodwin Featured in Architectural Salvage & Antique Lumber News

Take a look at the May/June 2018 edition of Architectural Salvage & Antique Salvage News. Goodwin’s Amalie Arena and AIA Tampa Bay projects are highlighted on Page 6. Special thank you to Rich Ellis, Jr. for featuring Goodwin in this informative and engaging publication:

Read article

Family-Owned Goodwin Company Restores Beauty of Antique Wood Products

Special thank you to Tracy Wright and the Business Report of North Central Florida for writing and publishing an awesome feature on Goodwin Company. Check it out:

Read article

Southeast Building Conference (SEBC) – We Had a BLAST!

Goodwin had an incredible time talking with old friends and meeting new ones at the 2017 Southeast Building Conference (SEBC) held at the beautiful Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee, Florida. We displayed some of our new products, including pre-finished River-Recovered® and reclaimed heart pine and heart cypress. Many of the people we spoke with confirmed that sinker cypress feature walls are all the rage, as more and more homeowners and businesses are exploring adding them to their home and offices.

Goodwin’s marketing manager, Jeffrey Forbes, produced a short video of highlights from the show. Enjoy!

Tree Fest at Swamphead Brewery 11

Goodwin was proud to be a corporate sponsor of the 3rd Annual Tree Fest , a yearly event to benefit the Alachua Conservation Trust.  Tree Fest, presented by Solar Impact, was hosted by our friends over at Swamphead Brewery. We were excited to collaborate with owner Luke Kemper and marketing director Brandon Nappy on this event.

A few years back, Goodwin provided our antique wood for Swamphead Brewery’s tasting room, affectionately named, “The Wetlands”. The focal point of the room is the feature wall behind the bar which represents every wood Goodwin offers.

Swamphead

The bar top is absolutely gorgeous and was handcrafted from heart cypress and heart pine log rounds hand scribed into one another for a 3D effect.

Swamphead

The seating area is clad in Goodwin’s River-Recovered® Heart Cypress Character, while the window surrounds are a mix of naily heart pine and select heart cypress.

It was exciting for us to see just how much Swamphead Brewery has grown into becoming a staple in the Gainesville community.  We were certainly honored to partner with them on Tree Fest.

Oh, and Amy Lamb of Native House Photography recently took some incredible photos of Swamphead Brewery.  Be sure to check them out:

Expo

Graduate Students Visit Goodwin

for a Lesson in Reclaimed Wood

Goodwin Company is located just outside of Payne’s Prairie Preserve and within close proximity of the University of Florida (UF) campus.  This presents an opportunity for us to actively participate in education and environmental responsibility. Goodwin has partnered with UF to incorporate our antique wood into their contemporary, sustainable design projects, including:

  • The Dasburg House, home of Dr. Kent Fuchs, university president. This project featured Goodwin’s River-Recovered® Vertical Heart Pine, Legacy (building reclaimed) Vertical Heart Pine and Curly Heart Pine
  • The Otis Hawkins Center for UF athletes, which features 10,000 square feet of sustainable River-Recovered® Heart Pine ceiling and paneling.
  • The Periplanómenos Whistles featured on campus and handcrafted using Goodwin’s sinker cypress.

Last year, Goodwin had another opportunity to partner with UF.  We hosted graduate students from the school’s architecture program.  Jeffrey Forbes taught them about the history of Goodwin’s antique woods and our manufacturing process.  He also discussed the benefits of specifying Goodwin’s River-Recovered® and building reclaimed antique heart pine and heart cypress, especially in sustainable design. We believe we have an obligation to introduce students to reclaimed wood while emphasizing the importance of designing with sustainably sourced building materials. Through interactions with upcoming architects and designers, we hope to impact the future to reflect the craftsmanship and resiliency of our past.

Enjoy this short video highlighting their visit.

When We Say Custom Crafted... 2

Did you know we have a huge pond filled with sinker heart pine logs right behind our mill? When we say custom crafted, we mean it!

As you know, George Goodwin is the pioneer of the River-Recovered® process. Goodwin Company has been recovering sinker logs from river bottoms for 40 years and turning them into the most beautiful wood flooring, wood paneling and wood ceilings in the world. We do not immediately mill all the logs we recover; instead, some find a temporary home in our log pond, which is the best way to preserve them until needed. This isn’t a new idea either. Historically, mill sites were often accompanied by log ponds as a way to preserve and easily move their raw materials. When you place a custom order, many times we head to the pond, select a nice sinker heart pine log and mill it just for you!

Sustainable design is the heart of what we do. Building design professionals work with us because we not only partner with them every step of the way, but our eco-friendly process and high quality, sustainable products qualify for LEED credits. Homeowners contact us because they desire more than a store-bought floor in a box that will likely not wear well and will need to be replaced in a few years. Our sustainable wood flooring, paneling and ceilings are handcrafted from centuries old sinker logs and are designed to provide you and your family with a quality product that can be enjoyed for generations to come!

Take a quick peek at our large and impressive heart pine log pond:

Ready for us to begin handcrafting your new wood floor, ceiling or paneling? Please give us a call!