Getting Flooring Supplies to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket

The Island Supply Problem

Every contractor who has worked a flooring job on Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket has learned the same lesson: you cannot go back for supplies. The Steamship Authority runs on a fixed schedule. A round trip from Oak Bluffs to Woods Hole and back takes most of a day. Running out of finish, sandpaper, or stain mid-project on an island is not a minor inconvenience; it is a day lost and a client frustrated.

The solution experienced contractors use is straightforward: plan supply runs carefully, overestimate quantities, and stop at JR Hardwood Supplies in Falmouth on the way to Woods Hole. At 10 minutes from the Vineyard ferry terminal, JR is the natural last stop before the boat.

What Makes Island Jobs Different

Beyond logistics, island flooring jobs have a few characteristics that affect product choice:

• Higher average humidity: Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket see higher average humidity than mainland Cape Cod because they are surrounded by water. Finish dry times are longer. Budget extra time between coats.
• Seasonal scheduling pressure: Many Vineyard and Nantucket homeowners want work done in the shoulder seasons, before Memorial Day or after Labor Day, when the house is not occupied. That means compressed timelines and a premium on fast-drying products like Bona Traffic HD.
• No nearby supply store: There is no professional hardwood floor supply store on the Vineyard or Nantucket. Everything you need must come with you from the mainland.
• Higher costs for errors: Getting the wrong product or running short means losing a day and paying ferry fares. Over-supplying costs money, but under-supplying costs more.

How to Plan Your Island Supply Order

Call JR Hardwood Supplies a few days before your island departure to confirm stock and discuss quantities. The team can help you estimate coverage based on square footage, wood species, and the number of coats you plan to apply. For large jobs or unusual products, advance notice allows JR to have everything ready for fast pickup on your way through Falmouth.

Standard supply checklist for an island job:

• Finish: Bona Traffic HD or Mega One in the correct quantity plus 10 to 15 percent overage
• Stain: DuraSeal QuickCoat in your selected color, again with buffer stock
• Sandpaper: Full grit progression (36, 60, 80, 100) plus spares of each
• Abrasive screens for between finish coats
• Applicators, t-bars, and replacement pads
• DuraSeal wood putty matched to your stain color
• Tack cloths
• Masking tape and plastic sheeting
• Extra hardener for Traffic HD if working over multiple days

JR Hardwood and Island Contractors

JR Hardwood has worked with island contractors for years. If you have specific questions about products for Vineyard or Nantucket conditions, call ahead and speak with JR directly. The store is open Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm and Saturday 8am to 2pm.