Replies

1. 
   plantlust | Dec 10, 2003 06:51am | #1

   This depends on your taste, budget and do-it-yourself knowledge.  Let's take my house as an example:

   1926.  First floor has T&G red oak about 2-3 inches wide throughout all rooms(bathroom included) except for the kitchen (beautiful maple found under hideous lineoleum).  Second floor was an attic.  Attic was converted to 2 bedrooms and a bath.  Decided I didn't want to chance any type of water leakage from the 2nd floor bath to the first floor, so that floor up to chairrail height is tile and epoxy grout (water pools up and doesn't soak thru). 

   So now, what to do with the rest of the floor?  I knew I wanted hardwood and to fit w/the downstairs look it had to be similar wood.  Now for the bad part.  Cost.  New and installed was impossible on my budget (none), so what would be the next best thing?  Old.  So I haunted demolition auctions until I was able to find what I needed.  It was a 1930/40s teardown in an area where the land was worth more than the house.  I was, luckily, the only bidder on the floor.  Offered Sobie 300USD for all the hardwood floors.  He grumbled but I got it.  Absolutely a pain in the rear to take out but that's because we were doing it the hard way until we figured things out.  Took us about a week to get all the wood out and we had a system. 

   Once the wood bundles were transported to the house they laid for awhile in the livingroom to acclimate (this is important even w/new wood - at least 6 wks, longer if possible).  When it came to installing, luckily I have a father and brother who are engineers.  I can tell you it is a cross between art and working a crossword puzzle.  Nail gun rental/ownership is an absolute necessity and you will need to get a floor nailer too.  Plywood was the subfloor and I laid #30 roofing paper down before the wood was installed.  The house we took the floor out of had rosin paper, then some strips of wood about a foot or so apart that the actual T&G was nailed into (ended up being an airgap between the floor and the subfloor).

   I had hardly any waste and even enough left over so my brother could rip out the carpet in some of his rooms.  Now I just need to save my pennies to get the floor refinished as it is a tad uneven. 

   I would do it again, if I needed to. 

   Here I'm a bum, there I'm a genius.  Thank God the French exist.  Woody Allen

2. 
   johnrgrace76 | Feb 09, 2004 10:59am | #2

   Ebay has the best prices on hardwoods I've seen.   You can find stuff for $0.99 a sq ft  or less.  If price is what you really care about that is a good place, otherwise try some of the overstock/outlet shops in your area.

3. 
   andybuildz | Mar 02, 2004 02:30pm | #3

   I'm currenty laying a Carlyle wide plank pine (not a hardwood.....duh) floor (8-15") and its a lot harder to install than I thought.

   The price is pretty good. Under $5.00 a sq ft. Plus it needs next to no sanding.

   I'm hoping they threw me extra cause a lot of it is F'd. I think they did actually cause I'm 3/4 through the job and I think I'll have a lot left.

   I'm face nailing it with hand made cut nails and it looks incredable. I think its the nicest floor I ever installed.

   If you want formal its most certainly not the way to go but if you like country.WOW!!!

   BE well

            andy

   My life is my passion!

   http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM