End of year is usually a standard time to reflect as we close out one chapter and take into account our successes and lessons learned, but this year is a little different for Zena Forest Products… While we are beaming with pride over our accomplishments in 2022, we are already preoccupied with looking straight into the bright potential of 2023!

Growing ZFP

The past year has been a whirlwind of growth for Zena, starting with the completion of a brand new dry storage warehouse (including a rock climbing wall for the Deumling children -by appt only, lol), and ending with the opening of a second location to facilitate our flooring production. With such momentous moves ahead, we are happy to have a small holiday-pause and appreciate the momentum we have established in the last 12 months to get us here.

Photography by: Greg Kozawa. http://www.gregkozawaphotography.com/
Architect: Nathan Good Architects
Builder: Elstrom Consturction

Setting The Record Straight On Site-Finished

We receive numerous inquiries throughout the year asking if we provide a prefinished option to our floors, and the short answer is no, but many are happy to hear why we are sticking to our guns on this matter.

Diminishing our 4mm wear layer would take away the opportunity for numerous sandings (approx 4-5), and dramatically reduces the lifespan of the 125+ year floor. The fact is, owners will be lucky to get a single resanding out of the majority of prefinished floors, in addition to this type of resanding being more costly.
Prefinished flooring requires a micro-bevel that creates a number of problems; it allows for moisture, dirt, and other allergens to seep into those unreachable nooks.
Finally, considering the lifespan of a floor, the end of life disposal issues, and the fact that a site finished floor is built to last 3 times as long as a pre-finished floor, the financial and ecological implications of this choice start to become clear.

Upcoming Tours

If we had the pleasure of hosting you this summer for a tour, you are aware of the opportunity to play hooky for the day with us in the forest…ssshhhh, we won’t tell! If you missed this latest series, do not fret, we have officially opened back up our doors for individual tours throughout winter/spring, (just bring your rain boots, wink wink)! Clients/employers can rest assured this field trip provides our visitors with an education into the stewardship of our forest and the byproducts we make as a result, (consider it a full-immersion program). Please feel free to reach out to book your tour today…

Photography by: Kaitlin Green (http://kaitlinmgreen.com/ or https://www.instagram.com/kaitlinmgreen_photo/
Builder: Arciform (https://www.arciform.com/ or https://www.instagram.com/arciform/?hl=en
Design and Styling by: Emily Henderson https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com

What’s Next?!?

After completing some notable projects in 2022 like the Emily Henderson Farmhouse, OSU Fairbanks Hall Remodel, and and the lobby of Microsoft's new Hillsboro campus, we are feeling more than encouraged as we dive head-first into the forthcoming year. Stay tuned for all the exciting updates we share throughout the year via our instagram page.

From our entire Zena Forest Team, thank you for being a part of our journey and sharing in our continuing story -the best is yet to come…

Cheers!

Looking Forward To The New Year