18 Years in Every Board. Helena, Butte & Bozeman.
Whether you're restoring a century-old floor in the Gulch or laying white oak in a new build south of Bozeman, we bring 18 years of hardwood expertise to every project.
Built for Montana Homes
Montana's dry winters are hard on hardwood. So is a wood stove running from October through April. Chris selects species and finishes with that in mind — white oak and hickory for stability, water-based finishes that flex with seasonal movement and cure fast in low-humidity conditions.
Whether you're working with century-old fir in a Helena historic home or starting fresh in a new build, we fit the floor to the house — not the other way around.
See How It Works
Family-Owned Tradition
Chris Traver is a 6th generation Montana native who has spent 18 years doing one thing: hardwood floors. Born in Bozeman, relocated to Helena in 2023, he came for the housing stock — historic homes with original fir and pine buried under decades of carpet and paint.
He's mentored four sons in the trade. The Traver name goes on every floor we lay, and that means something to us.
Meet Chris TraverWhat We Do
Installation, refinishing, repair, and custom stair work — across Helena, Butte, Bozeman, Big Sky, and the surrounding communities of western Montana.
Installation
Custom patterns, species selection, and transitions other contractors won't attempt.
Sanding & Finishing
Reveal the floor hiding under years of wear.
Repair & Restoration
We see potential where others see problems.
Stairs
Carpet-to-hardwood conversions, slab treads, and refinishing on every stair style.
Our Work
A look at recent projects across Montana — from Big Sky chalets to historic Helena homes.
What Our Clients Say
Homeowners across Helena, Bozeman, and Butte on what it's like to work with Chris.
"Chris and his team transformed our 100-year-old floors into something truly stunning. Their attention to detail is unmatched."
"Chris does what he says he'll do in the time he tells you! Professional, skilled, and a pleasure to work with."
"We couldn't be happier with our new hardwood floors. The craftsmanship is exceptional and the whole process was smooth."
"After getting quotes from several companies, we chose Traver Hardwood Floors. Best decision we made for our renovation."
"Our stairs look absolutely beautiful. Chris took the time to understand exactly what we wanted and delivered beyond expectations."
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions we hear most from homeowners across western Montana.
Most refinishing projects take 5–7 days depending on the size of the space and the type of finish. Water-based finishes, which we specialize in, cure faster than oil-based options — so you're back on your floors sooner. We'll give you a specific timeline during your estimate based on your square footage and floor condition.
Installation costs vary based on wood species, subfloor conditions, and the complexity of the layout — custom patterns like herringbone or diagonal take more time than a standard straight lay. Rather than quoting a generic per-square-foot range, we prefer to look at your space and give you an honest number based on what's actually involved. Contact us to schedule an estimate — there's no obligation.
Montana's dry winters and temperature swings mean your wood choice and acclimation process really matter. White oak is an excellent choice for our climate, and fir — a species native to Montana — also performs well here. Narrower boards tend to be more stable, and engineered products are another great option for handling seasonal movement. We'll also make sure your wood acclimates properly before installation — rushing that step in a dry Montana winter is one of the most common mistakes we see.
In most cases, refinishing is the better option. Even floors that look rough — scratched, discolored, or hidden under old carpet — usually have plenty of life left once they're sanded down to bare wood and refinished. With a variety of natural finishes and a wide range of custom stain options, we can change the entire look of your floor or restore it to like-new condition without replacement. We've restored floors that other contractors said were beyond saving. If replacement truly is the better path, we'll tell you that honestly during the estimate.
A maintenance coat — also called a buff-and-recoat — can work if your existing finish is in decent shape and you just want to refresh the sheen. But if you have deep scratches, gouges, stain changes, or worn-through finish, a full sand-and-refinish is what it takes to get real results. We'll assess your floors and let you know which approach makes sense — we won't sell you more work than you need.
You don't have to leave your home, but you will need to stay off the floors while we're working and while the finish cures. Water-based finishes have lower odor and faster cure times than oil-based, which makes the process easier to live with. We'll walk you through the timeline and what to expect so you can plan around it.
See What Your Floor Could Look Like
Let's talk about your floor