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Temple Johnson Floor Company Blog

09 Jan, 2024
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of someone that was integral to Temple Johnson Floor Company, Jerry Sparks. As a family owned-and-operated company, this was a heavy blow. We would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the innumerable amount of people that he touched the lives of through his work here at Temple Johnson, and the flooring industry in general, customer or otherwise. While his servant’s heart led Jerry’s life, he also led by example with his hands, accomplishing a profound amount as a small business owner and as an inspiration to others through his hard work. Upon purchasing the company in 1978 from Pauline Johnson & Jimmy Martin, Jerry owned and operated Temple Johnson Flooring Company from 1979 to 1992. He then sold the business to his brother-in-law and promptly started his own home-building business, Chance Matthew Homes, named after his sons.
By Bryan Jones 15 Sep, 2023
Hardwood flooring is enjoying a popular resurgence in Herringbone, a familiar and ancient pattern. The design gets its name from the delicate skeletal structure of herring. The fish’s bones slant in a V-shape pattern as they spread away from the spine. This is a fantastic example of the general structure we're talking about here:
By Bryan Jones 05 Jul, 2023
Are you looking to upgrade the aesthetics of your home while adding a touch of elegance and warmth? Look no further than Temple Johnson Flooring here in Oklahoma City! We are thrilled to present our exceptional collection of hardwood flooring options to help you elevate the beauty of your living spaces to new heights. With our extensive range of high-quality hardwood materials and professional installation services, we are committed to helping you achieve the home of your dreams. Let's dive into the captivating world of hardwood flooring and explore why it is the ideal choice for homeowners seeking sophistication and durability. There's a reason why hardwood flooring has remained a timeless classic since the advent of human history. Its natural beauty and warm tones bring a sense of vibrancy and luxury to any room. We accomplish this with the help of a wide variety of wood species, grains, and finishes offered here at Temple Johnson, which in turn affords you the ability to choose a style that perfectly complements your interior design preferences and goals. From the rich, traditional hues of oak to the exotic allure of Brazilian cherry, all of our hardwood flooring options will create an ambiance that reflects your unique personality and tastes, and ultimately enhance the overall aesthetic of your home. Wood flooring has brawn to back up all that beauty, as well! Investing in hardwood flooring means investing in longevity. With proper care and maintenance, hardwood floors can withstand the test of time, maintaining their beauty and structural integrity for decades on end. Our hand-selected wood flooring brands that we've partnered with are crafted using the finest materials and expert craftsmanship, ensuring durability and longevity. Whether you have a busy household with kids and pets or you simply want flooring that can withstand daily wear and tear, our hardwood floors are designed to stand up to the challenges of essentially any lifestyle. With all of that in mind, it becomes quite clear that one of the greatest advantages of hardwood flooring is its versatility. It effortlessly complements a wide range of interior styles, from traditional to modern and everything in between. The rich undertones and different tones brought out by simply changing the wood floor stain can help it remain adaptable to your interior design changes over a lifetime. Because of this, here at Temple Johnson we offer an extensive selection of finishes, stains, and plank sizes to cater to your individuality and creative preferences for your home. Whether you desire a rustic farmhouse look, a sleek and modern contemporary vibe, or a timeless traditional feel, our hardwood flooring options can be customized to match your vision. Keeping your hardwood floors looking pristine is surprisingly simple! Regular sweeping and occasional gentle mopping with Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner is all it really takes to maintain their natural luster. A recent EPA study also found that hardwood floors greatly reduce the accumulation of toxins. Unlike carpet that trap dust, allergens, and pet dander, hardwood floors are hypoallergenic and contribute to improved indoor air quality, and in a state like ours with allergens abound, this increased air quality is truly a life-changer for many of us. With hardwood flooring from Temple Johnson Flooring, you can enjoy a cleaner and healthier living environment, perfect for individuals with allergies or respiratory sensitivities.
By Bryan Jones 14 Jun, 2023
French Parquet wood flooring was originally designed to replace historic estates’ stone and marble floors. Those rigid surfaces eventually wreaked havoc on the mansions’ enormous wood frameworks. Parquet wooden floors, on the other hand, built using 3’ x 3’ square units, proved far more forgiving than the historic rock-hard surfacing. Not only did French Florentine Parquet prove architecturally functional, but also became universally famous for its eye-catching designs. Recently, Temple Johnson Floor was approached about a custom wood floor design. It called for scaling down a French parquet’s standard 3’ x 3’ squares to only 2’ x 2’. Clients could never order such a one-of-a-kind design through today’s big box, wholesale flooring stores, who depend on volume sales. It would be difficult to order them from anywhere, really, even though the clients had hoped to begin as soon as possible.
02 Feb, 2023
It’s once again the time of year when your wood floors become prone to cracks and separation, but there IS a solution! Below we’ve sourced some excellent tips to keep the humidity up and your floors looking as pristine and stationary as possible through the Winter months: Winter in northern, mountain and central areas brings more than the freezing temperatures. As the atmosphere cools down, the air loses moisture. Cold and arid days push outdoor humidity levels into the single digits causing days or even weeks to be at 20% RH or less. Consequently, we turn on the heaters and fireplaces, creating dry indoor conditions. With low humidity outdoors and indoors, is it possible these conditions are drier than the Sahara Desert? It is – the average humidity in one of the hottest places on earth is only 25% according to this reference. For areas that are dry and cold during the winter, if you don’t increase your home’s humidity, you could be living in a drier environment than the Sahara. And these are no conditions for a hardwood floor! Ever considered why there are so few trees in the Sahara? Trees need to absorb moisture from their surrounding environment. When the environment is dry, trees release moisture. As this happens, wood contracts from losing moisture. In humid environments, the tree will absorb moisture and expand. Same thing happens with wood floors! When wood floors get wet, they get wider. When they dry out, they retract. This seasonal expansion and contraction cycle is a natural process mimicking trees. And when they’re Sahara Desert dry, you’re bound to have problems. Keep reading for why winter and wood floors can be a problematic pair. What Happens When Floors Are Too Dry? Dry floors create a variety of problems: 1. Boards shrink, resulting in narrower widths than when installed. 2. Narrowing boards leave gaps . 3. Dry cupping : floors can appear rippled or wavy at the edges. 4. Loose boards and gaps cause boards to squeak . Fastener stress can cause squeaks. Flooring installed in the summer when humidity is high can later shrink to a greater degree during winter. Floors that shrink exert greater pressure on the fasteners, pulling the nail or staple away from the subfloor. Squeaks occur when walking on these loose boards rubbing together. What is Dry Cupping? One of the most common symptoms of a too dry floor, cupping boards occur when there is an imbalance of moisture between a board’s surface and bottom side. To put it simply, the top side is drier than the bottom side. Before a board becomes flooring, the lumber is dried. This process creates dimensionally stable flooring with consistent moisture content. However, this stability is not a guarantee. Any extreme changes in temperature and humidity will upset this equilibrium. Flooring that becomes wetter than its original acclimated state will curl at the edges. When this occurs in winter, it is called “dry cupping” . The surface layer is drier than the bottom layer against the subfloor. Damage can range from subtle to significant, depending on the amount of moisture or lack of it in the boards. In either case, the raised edges will be visually bothersome. If not addressed, the damage leads to squeaks, crackles, and pops. Floors fail in extreme conditions. What About Engineered Wood Floors? Solid and engineered wood floors react differently to moisture changes. Engineered wood flooring has more dimensional stability because of its design. Engineered floors are constructed with a real wood wear layer glued to plywood. This style of wood floor can better perform where moisture may be a concern. But, a little-known disadvantage for engineered flooring is an extremely dry climate. In these Sahara-like conditions, the wear layer may loosen from the plywood layer. The veneer wood fibers shrink and then tear away from the adhesive, causing board failure. And really, it’s preventable by keeping humidity at a level between 35-55%. A consistent environment in the home is the best way for wood – solid or engineered – to keep its beautiful appearance. Deviating outside the recommended range of the flooring manufacturer can lead to failure. Winter and Wood Floors Winter can be stressful for you and your hardwood flooring. Be kind to your wood floors by avoiding the “Sahara” treatment. Invest in a humidifier and maintain the ideal conditions for you and your floors. Check out our friends over at Portercraft Flooring's guide by clicking here for what to look for in a humidifier. We care about your home and want to help you find the best solution for keeping your floors looking great for years to come.
14 Sep, 2022
Bryan Jones, owner of Temple Johnson Floor, is pleased to announce a new, elite line of hardwood flooring. Provenza, a small, privately owned flooring company in Southern California, seems a good fit with Temple Johnson, a family business since 1927. They thrive on word-of-mouth from their long-standing clients, who are often on a first name basis with the staff. Johnette Wenz, Provenza’s current representative for Oklahoma and Arkansas, sat down in Temple Johnson’s showroom, along with Bryan and his wife, Janis, and Manager Matt Sparks, to discuss the current market in this area. “All of the collections that Bryan and his guys have selected should show and sell quite well in this market. In the Midwest, people generally like the medium brown tones, and darker earth tones. I hear customers say quite often that it fits in with the color of the Oklahoma dirt,” Johnette added with a smile. Temple Johnson, like businesses everywhere, has had to deal with global supply chain issues over the two-plus years of Covid. There have been ongoing problems being able to actually get the wood product that was ordered, and to receive it on time. Provenza promises that will not happen with them. “Provenza has completely rebounded on that,” Johnette said. “We feel confident in our inventory now. The supply issues have mostly resolved, and we have been able to replenish our inventory to a place where we can encourage as much business as possible now.” “Most people who come in know of us,” Bryan said, “and are there looking for specific wood floors.” He shared an interesting story about how he decided to add Provenza products to Temple Johnson’s other sophisticated lines. While bidding on a job on site, the potential customer handed Bryan a Provenza wood sample he had from their Moderno Studio collection.
By Linda McDonald 19 Apr, 2022
Temple Johnson is pleased to welcome Fuzion Flooring to its outstanding selection of suppliers. Established in 2006, the Canadian-based company has its headquarters in Toronto, with a distribution center in the United States at Louisville, TX. They have sold over 500 million square feet of flooring since they started the company. Bryan Jones, owner of Temple Johnson, said, “One of the things that attracted me to Fuzion is their dedication to customer satisfaction. I’ve worked with John Cowns, their Sales Representative, before. The care he takes with his accounts is outstanding. In fact, he recently left another company because he felt Fuzion better exemplified his values.” Fuzion’s wood mill employees are carefully trained to adhere to both U.S. and European high industrial standards, as well as California’s even stricter rules. The company strives to create an environment in which designers and installers are regularly brought together to exchange new ideas and widen their exposure to current practices and contemporary trends. The company’s mission is clear. “At the core of our family-led business, lies the unwavering desire to do things differently, with customer satisfaction at the forefront. That’s exactly what Fuzion stood for in the beginning, it’s what we stand for now, and we won’t rest until we’ve proven to you that we will continue to go beyond expectation.” Fuzion offers a variety of floor coverings, including luxury vinyl and versatile carpet tiles, but they are quick to acknowledge what has always been at their core . . . “Hardwood is in our blood.” Their Engineered Hardwood, which is available through Temple Johnson, is made from European Oak primarily, but also showcases Brazilian Chestnut, Hickory, Acacia, Brazilian Oak, Maple, and Birch. Wide planks are the norm, usually 6” to 7½,” following the contemporary trend in floor patterns. They come in mostly 6’3” lengths, allowing the artisan installer to easily cut varied lengths for custom installation. Current, popular textures such as Wire Brushing, Saw Marks and Hand Scraping enhance the engineered hardwood’s unique effect. The names of some of the wood designs seem particularly at home in the Southwestern plains or mountains: Dorado, Wrangler, Ranger, Saloon, Lasso, and Yosemite echo the back-to-nature blending so popular right now. Samples can be viewed at Temple Johnson Flooring now. Fuzion not only sets strict standards on the materials they use, but also the individual finishing components that coat all of their products, to give them their unique colors and design. Along with their own development, the different chemicals in those components are tested for their effects on people’s health and on the environment. Each product is independently certified by “FloorScore” to meet high, indoor air quality standards. John Cowns, Fuzion Sales Representative, recently stated, “Even though we strive to make our products reasonably priced, that in no way means they aren’t high quality. The company stands behind them all, even compared to much higher price offerings.” He also emphasized Fuzion’s easy availability. Currently, they have abundant stock available to immediately import to America, which keeps them ahead of the shipping lags and availability problems associated with Covid for the past two years. Fuzion is proud of its sense of obligation to keep the planet green. They are committed to sourcing safe, responsibly harvested and sustainable flooring products. Their latest partnership, with One Tree Planted, guarantees that when you purchase one of their hardwood products, they will plant a tree as a token of appreciation. To date, they have contributed 2,232 trees to the One Tree Planted movement. Fuzion is quickly becoming Canada’s premier multi-surface flooring distributor. By offering highly sophisticated designs, value and expertise, it’s easy to see why. Check by Temple Johnson’s intimate showroom and see their beautiful new line of engineered hardwood flooring samples for yourself. And help plant a tree.
By Linda McDonald 07 Mar, 2022
Bryan Jones, owner of Temple Johnson Floor, has welcomed another new staff member to his team this year. Braden Thompson will officially be serving as Office Manager for the company, but his abilities and the long-term projects he will continue to grow, involve a lot more than that title might suggest. When Janis Jones, Bryan’s wife, came to work for Temple Johnson a few years back, she upgraded the company’s basic technological setup and expanded its use of social media. One of the qualities both Bryan and Janis saw right away in Braden was his knowledge and interest in Internet Technology. Braden talks enthusiastically about working with something he enjoys so much. “I think it's going to be a really cool process. Getting to work on improving the internet capabilities and IT in this business is great. As Bryan tells me, ‘You're going to bring us into the 21st century.’” Braden continues to take college courses to finish a degree, but he also has a work history that includes installing floors with Matt Sparks, another new face at the family business, but an old friend to Braden. He found their physical work together enjoyable and learned a lot about the business during those three years they worked side-by-side. But now he is enjoying creating his own niche as the receptionist-slash-sales person. “For many, I serve as the introduction to Temple Johnson. So first, I want callers to feel comfortable and relaxed. Then we talk about their needs for potential jobs, and together, we go through a step-by-step process, so it doesn’t sound like this overwhelming thing.” He has a genuine curiosity about the people he talks with. “It's been interesting seeing what's made Temple Johnson the first company on their mind when they set about a new project. This is where my being detail-oriented can be valuable to Bryan, who does all the estimates and arranges the jobs.” “Our installers go into people’s homes, often while they're not there. They have to work around clients’ belongings and valuables, so they’re involved in an intimate way in the customers’ homes. I get to help build the foundation of what people are going to feel when their first step of every day is on a floor Temple Johnson installed for them.” “And I like the idea of taking so many notes that I can build a lasting profile. Maybe three years from now, that customer calls on us again, and I can remember everything about their house. That's great. But even if I can’t remember, or if somebody else picks up the phone, then my original notes are available in the client database.” “I can see at a glance that their dog needs to be put outside every day at a certain time, or they don’t like X, Y or Z done in their home. They appreciate it that you remember those details.” Braden already has a lot of gratitude for the family business he’s come to work for. “Temple Johnson’s been around for just over 100 years. It wouldn't have been here that long if people didn't respect the name. There is a prestige to it already. Actually, I've got an easier job simply because the name speaks for itself. Staying traditional is at the heart of what we do. You don't call something ‘master craftsmanship’ that's built in a warehouse and assembled by machines.” “Our installers are rustic artisans, designing and laying floors board by board. My communicating with them through memos, and keeping current client databases—that just helps us stay organized. That's one of the things technologies can bring us, automating that rich vein of information so it will always be available. And we will continue to build on what’s there.” Between college classes and his fulltime job, Braden doesn’t have lots of time on his hands. He has an extended family in the area and really loves spending time with them, where there’s always good food and great conversations. He is grateful that the sense of security working with Bryan and Janis has given him the relaxation so he can do that. There is a new voice on the other end when you call Temple Johnson these days. That’s Braden Thompson, and he loves talking to people. Drop by the store anytime. He’ll not only look forward to meeting you, but also taking his time to show you the beautiful, hardwood samples around their intimate showroom.
By Linda McDonald 19 Jan, 2022
Since 1927, Temple Johnson Flooring has been a family-owned and operated business. Temple, along with his wife and son-in-law, ran it successfully for decades until his death. In the 70’s, Jerry Sparks, who had conducted business with the company for years, bought it with his father, Clyde, from Temple’s widow. They brought in his brother, Jim Sparks, as well as his mother, Frances, for support. In 1985, Bryan Jones, husband of Janis, (the only girl among the Sparks siblings), joined the company. Bryan bought first Clyde, then Jerry out as they both retired from the business. Now, after 32 successful years under Bryan’s leadership, Temple Johnson is happy to announce that another member of the Sparks family is coming aboard—Jerry’s son. Matt Sparks joins Temple Johnson Flooring as a fulltime employee. In a recent interview, Matt not only talked about being a family man himself, but also showed he brings plenty of moxie with him to the company. He’s been in and out of floor work since he was 14, when he started working with his father at JL Flooring in the summers. Jerry is retired now, but Matt has continued contracting floor work with various companies, including Temple Johnson. He is experienced in all wood floor installation. Most of his jobs were engineered pre-finished wood. Recently, he has not only been doing a lot of the physical work, but running the business end of things for JL Flooring as well. Matt seemed happy to start 2022 concentrating on a new path. “Luckily, the business is not extremely new to me. I’ve always enjoyed the physical work, both laying floors, as well as the artistry in the installation. But I admit I'm looking forward to getting off my hands and knees every day. For the past twelve years, my doctor has been warning me to stop doing it, to save my back and knees.” Most installers eventually suffer from similar ailments, and many, like Matt, are still relatively young. “I'm excited to focus on the management part of the business for a change.” Matt brings an excellent education with him to Temple Johnson, including a Business degree from Oklahoma State University. “When I first started out, I wanted to become a firefighter. But that route turned out to be more of an engineering degree, dealing with areas like fire suppression systems. And I said, ‘that's just not what I'm here for.’ So, I went for a general Business degree instead.” Interestingly, during his junior and senior years at O.S.U., Matt found himself dabbling in some upper-level art classes, because he’s always really enjoyed art. “Most of the classes were Art History, and they were some of the toughest courses I took.” Those same art classes provided him personal insights to the unique artistry in floor design. He’s not only steeped in historical artisan work, but has seen a lot of trends come and go in the flooring business. He’s excited and curious about what is going to happen next. “Temple Johnson's reputation is definitely customer-based,” he said. “It’s a well-rounded company. They continue to give their clients exactly what they want, but they’re always looking to the future as well, when people will want newer styles and trends.” Matt appreciates the high standards Temple Johnson insists on. Right now, he’s watching that in action. “This morning Bryan was talking about all these samples they need to have, as far as color and the sheen of the stain. Temple Johnson offers herringbone, borders, and all sorts of complicated patterns.” The proficiency required has not escaped Matt. “Being in the industry as long as I have, I've seen plenty of people try to do it, but end up botching the whole job.” “When you watch a professional installer who knows how to do it right, it is an art form. You can tell when somebody is just guessing as they go, and it shows. But when somebody truly knows the art of flooring, that is, for me, pure entertainment to watch.” He feels good about what he’s doing, but understands there’s a lot to absorb. “I'm not cocky. I mean, I'm confident in what I know, but I’m always eager to learn. Bryan has so much knowledge and experience. I need to pay attention and learn all I can from him. Just from working in this field for the last 15 years, I’ve observed a lot of trends and techniques come and go, so I have some idea of the changing industry. But there's so much more involved that Bryan can pass on to me.” Matt is pleased that he can grow into a new role in a smaller but elite operation. “Instead of a cold, corporate place, this feels more like a family business.” That attitude will fit right in as he carries on the Temple Johnson tradition. Matt’s family includes his wife, Julie, and two daughters, Kinsey, 11, and Joey, 8. They all enjoy being around water and often visit places such as Lake Tenkiller, just south of Tahlequah. They have a boat, but he admits—a little sheepishly—that he’s the only one in the family who doesn’t ski. “Actually, I haven’t tried.” He said this with the air of someone who’s taken some ribbing about it, but then defended himself with good nature. “I can't get the wife to learn how to drive the boat correctly, so that's my excuse. Is that true? I don't know. But my daughters both know how to kneeboard, and I'm trying to get them to start wakeboarding. That's the fun for me, watching them behind the boat.” Drop by Temple Johnson’s showroom anytime and see what’s new in flooring design. While you’re there, take a moment to meet Matt. He’s looking forward to it.
By Linda McDonald 27 Oct, 2021
Adleta Corporation out of Carrollton, TX, nationally distributes a wide variety of floor coverings, such as commercial flooring in schools or malls, porcelain tile, and vinyl plank flooring. They also handle three top-of-the-line hardwood floor companies, who not only manufacture traditional hardwood floors, but specialty finishes, such as hand-scraped and hand-stained boards, wire-brushing, and exotic wood techniques. Recently, Adleta’s sales representative for this region, Scott Donoho, visited Temple Johnson Floor and talked about their three flagship companies. Temple Johnson already carries two companies that Adleta distributes: Bella Cera and LM Flooring. Now Bryan Jones, owner, has announced they will add a third new Adleta line: Jackson Hardwood. Sales representative Donoho believes Jackson’s new Autograph Series represents a solid, contemporary trend in both flooring and home decorating. The series itself is largely European white oak (also commonly called French oak) and features long planks and bold widths. “The Autograph Series has some offerings with 85-inch lengths, which look great in large, long rooms,” Scott explained. “Today we're really seeing a lot of nice, wide plank timber. And they’re great colors, less gray shades right now, but lighter, warmer colors.” “White Oak is like Europe's kind of hickory tree, if you will. Even though hickory only grows in continental North America, white oak has strong similarities—in that it's very dense, has been around for a long time and stains well. They also put an over wash on the stain, which leaves some unique, whitened coloration along with the dark grain.” BLUFFS in the Autograph Series actually is American hickory. It’s not smoked, but they wipe the stain on the board manually. Hand staining is quite subtle and doesn’t announce itself near as much. “But it almost gives you a smoked effect,” Scott explained. “The lighter or heavier pressure from the hand translates to a nice, light flow of color in the wood.” Another hickory product in Jackson Hardwood’s lineup is TEMPEST . “Most people don’t realize that when you hit hickory with stain, it turns the wood really black,” Scott said. “With TEMPEST, the artisans use a color toner on the board before they start putting stain on it. It nicely mutes some of the blackening of the grain. So, what you notice is that it's not a wild, dark blackening when you get your coloring on the board. It knocks it down just enough to give a softer, eclectic look. And it’s absolutely beautiful.” CAVALIERS is one of Jackson Hardwood’s more unusual patterns. It features hand-scraped birch, which naturally has a unique and uneven grain pattern. “That’s just the nature of birch wood. They do a lot of hand carving and hand scraping with this wood, so you can see a lot of visual activity going on in the texture of the material. What’s extra special, that we never had before, is some contemporary color, because birch is actually a lighter color wood, very close to Maple.” Donoho described the RESTORATION OAK in Jackson Hardwood as being a ‘little brother’ product to the Autograph Series. The difference is that it's a 6½” wide plank, which is textured with heavy wire brushing, and has also been lightly smoked. Since smoke is acidic, it reacts with the oils and sugars already present in the fiber of the wood. “You hear wine drinkers talk about tannins for wine wells, because when they char the barrels, that reacts with the oils and sugars to create certain flavors and tastes associated with the wine’s flavor. Tannins are an important part of the process of fermentation, and the process is essentially the same with wood.” “It brings out the difference in the wood with more oils and triggers more color expansion through the process,” Scott said. “So, you can have some nice surprises in the final product. Sometimes they will even add ammonia, which reacts with the oils and sugars in the material. It creates some shading effects, and what it does—it blesses some of the undertone of the colors.” Many of the new offerings are a response to current trends observed in major remodels or new construction builds. Decorators are moving away from staining wood bases and door casings—even cabinets. More often, they paint them in cooler tones, such as light gray or white. As a consequence, four out of five colors in Jackson Hardwood offerings are lighter, closer to blonde tones. Toasty, natural looks are really popular right now. Jackson’s new floor ideas complement these new looks, such as Urban Farmhouse and Western Rustic. And there’s no one more enthusiastic about the new Jackson Hardwood line than Scott Donoho. He not only has a sure command of the particulars of his products, but he seems to have a lot of fun distributing them as well. Come in and check out the new fall offerings in Temple Johnson’s showroom. Bryan Jones, and his wife Janis, are always happy to see you come in the door.
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