try calling some real flooring suppliers and see if they can get you seconds or shorts it will save a lot of money. the width and thickness is good on them it is usually knots and shorter pieces. Being you are going to DIY it just means some more nailing.
I've considered that, but I'd really prefer to go prefinished. Sanding out and finishing presents certain logistical problems (entire living area and big family with a lot of little kids).
Lukem, You are set to go... good luck on the install. Ironpony, Nice job. The look is fantastic. Hickory has the tough durable yet warm look. Great look. Some people want a softer look I will look thru my job pictures to see if I can find some different examples. And you also prove my point on purchasing from a small saw mill the prices can be very good.
Well, I think we've settled on what to get (Somerset 5" hickory). The holidays and a new set of shoes for the truck put a pretty big dent in the wallet this month, so I need to get another paycheck before we order. That will give me some time to get all the prep work done, and get the kitchen floor tiled. Thanks, everyone, for the input.
Is this a solid or engineered product? I, like you, prefer "character" wood with natural finish. Go with the satin finish if you have pets and/or just don't want to see every little minor scratch.
Flooring should be here Thursday. Got this in 5" for the LR, DR, and main hall: http://somersetfloors.com/pages/cha...enes/character/room_character_hickory.jpg?v=2 Been reading, bordering on obsessive, on installation for the past couple days. Any tips/tricks appreciated.
Lukem, The biggest mistake I see people make is two things: 1. They don't let the floor acclimate to the house and rooms for a few days prior to installation. You want that wood to take on the humidity of the room when you are installing it. 2. They also try to make the joints too tight and with expansion in the summer the floor starts to buckle. I have one carpenter that wants to beat on it for 5 minutes. Just two or three taps to snug it up and nail it. It will turn out beautiful. I like the style of the floor it's neat. Good Luck
It will sit in the house for at least a week prior to install. I'm a little nervous about installing it in the winter for fear of it expanding too much this summer. I'm trying to up the humidity level to somewhere reasonable too. I'll check the moisture on the hardwood and the subfloor to make sure they aren't too far apart.
I installed a prefinished Mesquite floor. It was rustic grade- ie lots of shorts. Looked at the Janka scale and it is about the same as a Brazilian cherry. We like the color variations, but had to rack out multiple boxes at a time to not have sapwood next to really dark knots. I got most of the house done 4 years ago, but still have 8 boxes to install in the mud room- talk about a long term project... I bought a harbor freight stapler and used Bostitch staples. Worked good, only had 2 jams...
If any others are considering hardwood, I am not a fan of hand-scrapped. I know you are not lukem . We have the laminate version of it in our RV. The grooves made it difficult to sweep and mop.
The only thing I don't like about our prefinished floor is the grooves between the boards- they have a slight bevel that traps a LOT of dirt and dust
Well, my floor got backordered ...but is supposed to be here today. I started pulling up the carpet and found particle board was used going down the hall. Grr. Typical for this 1960's house - a lot of salvaged material was used. They used 1/2" plywood in the dining room...5/8" particle board in the hall and bedrooms...and 3/8" plywood in the living room....all of which meet in one spot entering the hall. I'm taking out the particle board in the hall and replacing with 5/8" plywood...and taking out the 1/2" in the dining room and replacing with 3/8"...then will do a 3/8" -> 1/2" -> 5/8" transition down the hall over the course of about 10'...tapering everything out with some Ardex. A lot more work than I expected...but it has to be done. I've already got about 1/2 of the particle board up...and it didn't come out peacefully as it was nailed about every 4". Two more sections to go. Hoping to have everything 100% prepped by end of day Monday. My work schedule sucks for the first half of Feb, so I'm not sure when I'll actually be able to start laying this stuff.
Always the case when opening up walls and floors in older houses. I feel your pain. If it comes out as nice as the kitchen (and I'm sure it will), it'll be worth it.
