I don't have the book in front of me, but it is longer then 30 days. I want to say 90-120 days. There are products that advertise you coat with it in as little as 7 days after the pour, and then glue.

If you want a quality product LL is not the place i would look. Search the forums and you will find many threads that go in depth of why LL is not a good choice. Random length just means the layout of the finished floor is not going to have a pattern like tile would. The butt joints will be random. Thats all. Hickory is nice and im sure you will be happy with it but hickory is a pricey wood and epecially since you self admit not knowing much which is okay i suggest you do plenty of research b4 signing any checks. One tip i suggest is find a local builder that can suggest a professional floor contractor. They will be the ones who not only can install it correctly and neatly but also get you a sound, quality product that will last the lifetime of the home. Good luck.

As with any hardwood floor, ease of cleaning depends on your willingness to keep it cared for. Considering it is distressed dirt will collect in some areas more so than a smooth surface hardwood because of the character of the product itself. It may be perfect for you because any damage inflicted on the surface itself adds to the character of the floor over time. You may want to check out the Bona Kemi site for for cleaning tips. Here is a link that might be useful: Bona Kemi Hardwood Floor Care

TNKCFAN aka Jerry--glad you like the floor. In answer to the question do I love them or hate them? Yes. I do. That is I am loving them and hating them at the same time. I am absolutely in love with the finish, texture and grain. I am in shock and trying to cope with the color(s). All the men who have seen this floor have fallen in love with it. I am getting used to it, but it's nothing like what I expected. The price is right, it's well under $8. sf. and I am happy with the quality. However, if you consider this flooring, don't trust the sample, and be sure to inspect your product thoroughly before accepting so you aren't surprise by what you get. What the photos don't show, are all the pieces that were too wild for me. The color range of this floor goes from the blonde like maple to brown like walnut. On the sample everything was sort of like a med. oak. I actually halted the install, halfway through because we were pulling out more wood that we were putting down. Not sure where to go from here, but other than the crazy stuff we didn't put down, it's not that bad. In case you're interested the floor is from the Carlton Montecito Collection by Virginia Hardwoods. Here is a link that might be useful: Montecito Natural Hickory