Race-to-the-Bottom Sticker Pricing with Expensive Labor
The Steller Quality Advantages
Steller Attributes
What We Aren't....
Solid Wood + Integrity from Nature
Synthetic Engineered, Laminate, Plastic (LVP/LVT)
Highest Quality, Few Knots, Kiln-Dried with Care
Short-lived due to Knots or Grain Patterns, Poor Drying Quality
Wide-plank Shows Full Grain
Narrow/Slat Flooring
5/8" and 3/4" for 75 to 100 years or More Lifetime
9/16" or less wear layer @ Average of 15 years
Precision-Milled with Craftsmanship
Milled Quickly without Supervision, Poor Aesthetics; High Scrap
Milled by Experts + Recommends 2-3% Overage
Milled Quickly + Recommends 10-15% Overage
Sourced & Made in the USA
Harvested and/or Made Abroad
Craftsmanship Guarantee & 20 Year Warranty on Assembly Clips
Warranty Full of Legal Loopholes
Price Goal: Lowest Lifetime Cost of Ownership
Price Goal: Lowest Possible Sticker Price
Steller Installation Advantages
Steller Attributes
What We Aren't....
Easy to Install DIY or with any Contractor
Difficult, Time Consuming, Expensive Installation
Ready to Install on Delivery (in 35-50% RH)
Must be Acclimated in Most Scenarios
No Nails, Glue or Sleepers Required
Nails, Glue or Sleepers Generally Required
Easily Floats over Concrete with Vapor Barrier
Not Recommended, may require Sleepers
Easily Floats over Subfloor Heat (Warmboard)
Not Recommended
Easily Soundproofed (Quiet Walk LV)
Difficult to Soundproof, Fasteners Transfer Noise
Expandable (add square-footage, components)
Permanent, Needs Transitions between New Spaces
Reclaimable - Resell or Redeploy
Damaged by Removal
Elegant and Simple Tooling for Install
Caveman tools (flooring jack, nail gun, crowbar)
Steller Maintenance Advantages
Steller Attributes
What We Aren't....
Spot Repairs: Easy with 220 Grit Sandpaper & Polyurethane
Entire Floor needs to be Refinished, Some Prone to Delamination
Simple to Repair or Replace Planks, DIY or Pro
Nails, Glue & Specialized Labor
Easy to Remove for Any Reason
Nails, Glue & Specialized Labor
Easily Manage Floods and Spills
Let Water Drain to Subfloor - Where it Stays
Easily Swap Single Planks, Patch or Ship New
Refinish the Whole Floor to Repair One Plank
Easily Clean Pollen/Liquids/Dirt
Leave Dirt in Cracks Forever
Steller Style & Design Advantages
Steller Attributes
What We Aren't....
Easy to Swap Styles (Species & Color)
Commit to One Style
Herringbone or Linear - Modifiable
Commit to One Style
Fixed Plank Lengths that Highlight Flexibility & Quality
Random Length Planks Reflect Manufacturing Speed
Like Marble & Granite, Planks restricted to Highest Quality Sections
Planks Include Defects
Move Outlets or Access the subfloor for repairs Without Damage
Permanent Installation can't be Modified
Don't Install Under Cabinets (Limits Flexibility) - Only 1/2" Under
Typically Installed Under Cabinets
Finish & Sealant Advantages With Steller
Steller Attributes
What We Aren't....
Commercial-Grade Finish Applied during Manufacturing
Applied on-site by an Expensive Specialist
Low VOC, Odorless, UV Cured Polyurethane
Stinky, Oil-based with additives, Vulnerable to walk-off
All Stain Colors Kept on File + Replacement Packs Available
Stain Colors Retired Annually
Manage Patina by Easily Shuffling Planks
Manage Patina by Refinishing Whole Floor
Tiny Eased Edge Ensures Finish Integrity
Large Bevels are Vulnerable to Wear
Sealants are Low VOC, Odorless, Applied on Every Side During Manufacturing
Products are Only Sealed on Wear Surface
Sealants are Resistant to Liquid Water & Humidity
Wood Exposed to Humidity and Liquid Water
Additional Sealant Included with the Floor
Sealants Possible but Inconvenient
Steller Customer Sercive
Steller Attributes
What We Aren't....
Delivery Concierge Service with Liftgate
Basic Drop-off
Complementary Zoom Call from Studio on Install
Customer Abandoned with Product
Tools Included in Shipment
Find your Own Stuff Model
Professional, Expert-level In-house Contacts
Call Centers with Untrained or Robot Staff
Enthusiastic Support for You Throughout the Lifetime of Your Steller Floor
Abandoned with Your Product
The Steller Company Ethos
Steller Attributes
What We Aren't....
Independent; Founder-Owned, Operated & Motivated
Shareholder Controlled & Profit-Driven
Ethical Employment for Career-Oriented Craftspeople
Underpay Workers at Home or Abroad
Community & Local-Sourcing Mindset
Solo, Competitive Attitude
Product Made of Deliberate Decisions + Trust
Product Decisions Complex & Profit Driven
Designed for Circular Re-use
Products and Byproducts become Unnecessary Waste
Product Sourced in the Appalachians (150-300 mile radius)
Large Carbon Footprint
No Old-Growth, Tropical or Rare Species in the Supply Chain
Consumer & Trend Driven Decision-Making
Product Milled using 100% Wind Energy
Product Milled using Fossil Fuels (Coal-Power)
Shop Steller Floors by Wood Species
Real, Solid Hardwood Flooring is Better with Steller Assembly
Every authentic species of wood has a true color and grain pattern - and every plank is slightly different. Finish and stain can modify the final look, but generally the original character is intended to shine through. Tap tiles below to learn more about each of our 6, real solid wood species.
