About Us

» The Treeborn Story
Find out how African beauty met American innovation and Treeborn Mosaic Flooring was born.

» About Our Products
Find out more about our mosaic flooring system.

» FAQ
Find the answers to the most frequently asked questions.

The Treeborn Story

The Starke family lives in a house overlooking a beautiful eddy of the Delaware River that is prone to flooding. John Starke, owner of Starke Millwork and founder of Treeborn Mosaic Flooring, set about developing a hardwood floor that could not only withstand the wear-and-tear of daily use, but could also withstand the occasional flood. His solution has become a product unique in the flooring industry: a beautiful end-grain wood tile floor with a resilient, flexible grouting - a floor of remarkable elegance, beauty, and strength.

A decade later, that original Treeborn Mosaic Floor is still there, looking great. In the meantime, Starke Millwork has expanded its operation to include Starke Lumber, Ltd. located in Ghana, West Africa. From there, exotic woods like Sapele, Iroko, Danta, Dahoma, and Ebony are selected for beauty and durability. These rare mosaics are offered in a wide range of tile patterns, with modular sizing that can be arranged in a variety of designs. By selecting from our various patterns, grout colors, and cushioning levels, you have the freedom to design a floor to fit your lifestyle.

Treeborn Mosaic Flooring is owned and operated by its founder, and is a family-owned business. From our production in Africa to delivery to your home, you are assured of a remarkable hands-on level of care, and of a concern for quality rare in today's marketplace. Driven by quality, comfort, and beauty, Treeborn Mosaic Flooring is dedicated to providing the most elegant and unique floor available.

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About Our Products

Each Treeborn mosaic tile is made in Ghana of end grain wood from strong, beautiful African species selected for their fine grain and durability.

When installed, our dense, exotic mosaic tiles are surrounded with Flexi-Grout^TM, our revolutionary, flexible poured-in-place grout. Flexi-Grout^TM is the only grouting system that is pliable, unaffected by moisture, and compensates for wood's natural expansion and contraction. Flexi-Grout^TM is available in black and 5 designer colors: Dijon, Cabernet, Smoke, Espresso, and Moss.

Add an optional cushion layer underneath to soften every step, and you'll agree that Treeborn Mosaic Flooring is the most comfortable, most beautiful wood floor you can own. There's nothing like it in the world!

~ Creativity Unleashed
Our roots go deep into Africa. Exotic woods like Sapele, Iroko, Danta, Dahoma, and Ebony are chosen for beauty and strength. We offer these rare end grain flooring materials in a wide range of mosaics, with modular sizing. By selecting from our various patterns, grout colors, and cushioning levels, you have the freedom to design a floor to fit your lifestyle.

Our woods are certified by the Ghana Forestry Commission to be compliant with Ghana's principles of conservation and maintenance of biological diversity.

Treeborn Mosaic Flooring mounts on any surface, and is the best wood floor to use over radiant heat! When combined with foam cushioning, our floors reduce fatigue, sound, and provide insulation. Our floors are truly strong as a tree, yet soft as a cloud.

~ From the Forests of Africa to a Floor Near Your
Once you select your unique mosaic flooring patterns, your tiles and Flexi-Grout will be shipped to you and then installation by flooring professionals. Treeborn Mosaic Flooring is a subsidiary of Starke Millwork, a company dedicated to reliable and professional service. Your flooring materials have a limited warranty for a full 10 years.

~ Ageless Beauty
The beauty of Treeborn Mosaic Flooring is easy to maintain. Its durable end grain is perfect for both commercial and residential use, and can withstand even the heaviest foot traffic.

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FAQ

What is end-grain flooring?
A tree can be cut in two directions: with the grain, or across it. End-grain flooring is the result of cutting wood across the grain and turning the cut side up. Because the end grain faces upward, an end-grain floor can withstand far greater punishment than a traditional long grain or stick floor, which can easily dent or splinter. End-grain flooring provides superior durability because of its directional strength.

What makes Treeborn Mosaic Flooring unique?
Treeborn Mosaic Flooring is the only hardwood flooring system that provides full-cushioned comfort. Our patent-pending Flexi-Grout^TM system allows for the natural expansion and contraction of the wood tiles, but it will not crack, retain dirt, or turn dark like cement-based grouts. Our exotic African woods are arranged in beautiful patterns that add a luxurious feel to any space. When installed over forgiving cushioning, Treeborn truly is the world's only soft hardwood floor.

Are these individual tile pieces?
Yes, each Treeborn Mosaic Flooring pattern is made up of individual African wood tiles (real wood, not laminate!). At our facility in Ghana, West Africa, we select the finest kiln-dried wood, based on wood specie, color, grain definition, and durability. All pieces are carefully cut to 1/2" thickness, shaped to the exact sizes of our mosaic designs, and then secured to a 12" by 12" paper mesh sheet to form one of our tile patterns. We take great care to ensure that each mosaic is both beautiful and correctly assembled, assuring the accuracy of spacing and pattern consistency. The mosaics are shipped in boxes, ready for installation.

For even greater design freedom, the tile pieces can be separated from the paper mesh backing and arranged in a multitude of patterns limited only by your imagination.

Is Treeborn Mosaic Flooring difficult to install?
Installation is complicated. As a result, installation must be done by our own flooring professionals.

Can Treeborn Mosaic Flooring be installed over a radiant sub-floor? What about a concrete floor?
Yes. Treeborn flooring is the best wooden flooring choice over a radiant heat system. The revolutionary Treeborn system works to maximize the benefits of a radiant floor. Our Flexi-Grout^TM acts as a strong gasket, so our flooring can expand and contract, unaffected by temperature. We even offer a specially-selected cushioning designed to work with radiant heat. Additionally, Treeborn Mosaic Flooring can be installed over any substrate that is sound.

Do I have to use Flexi-Grout?
Yes, if you want a cushioned floor that will expand and contract with the wood. Flexi-Grout^TM is an integral part of the Treeborn Mosaic Flooring system.

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