Replies

1. 
   HeavyDuty | Dec 16, 2003 06:58am | #1

   Nice floor ditch. I don't see any ditch and burn. What's that ledge along the wall?

1. 
   BungalowJeff | Dec 16, 2003 09:15am | #3

   I'm guessing that's the baseboard? Luvditchburns, that floor looks great. It looks like you could wear a thick pair of socks and slide around on it (ahh, indoor hockey). ...that's not a mistake, it's rustic

2. 
   dIrishInMe | Dec 16, 2003 07:30am | #2

   Lookin way good!!

   Just curious - when mixing woods, do you have to take into concideration the different rates expantion for the various species?  Just curious.

   Matt
1. 
   luvmuskoka | Dec 16, 2003 04:10pm | #4

   Thanks all!

   Compliments are almost as good as a pocket full of dead faces.

   when mixing woods, do you have to take into concideration the different rates expantion for the various species? 

   No. Just try to lock as much as the floor as you can. Maple's a mover. This floor is already showing signs of slight gapping.....as the heats been on for a few months now. It'll tighten back up in the spring.Ditch

1. 
   JeffBuck | Dec 16, 2003 08:56pm | #5

   is this that attic/game room I drove up and looked at?

   That stairway looks similar ......

   I just remember it being a goofy shaped room/ceiling.

   And hey ..... U going to Big Mike's Big Party?

   About time for the newly wed couple to take a vacation.

   Jeff

   Buck Construction   Pittsburgh,PA

        Artistry in Carpentry                

3. 
   strokeoluck | Jan 03, 2004 06:53am | #6

   Ditch, we're trying to decide what color hardwood floor to lay in our kitchen to contrast w/the brown cabinets we're going with. Since you seem to be the flooring expert here (you've already convinced me to shy away from pre-finished hardwood) do you have any thoughts? The color brown we may wind up going with can be found on this page here under "arched solid raised" (though this doesn't imply we're going w/this style, mfgr., etc.): http://www.kraftmaid.com/KMMain.htm

   I'm told that we should try to go a little lighter than the cabinet color. I found some nice birch samples at a local builder's supply store but I don't hear many people  talking about birch - mostly oak & cherry. Your thoughts?'

   Thanks,

   Rob

1. 
   luvmuskoka | Jan 03, 2004 04:23pm | #7

   Rob,

   Colors (species), and stains are design issues.

   I'm pretty good at geometric design, but I stay away from color issues.  I run all my ideas past my wife first. She works in the design field selling stone, and has a keen eye for detail. I  spend lots of hours with customers going over floor design. If your a typical guy, with a typical husbands taste, stay out of the design thing and let your wife handle it. 9 out of 10 ideas husbands come up with suck.......

   ......this week I saw a husband and wife argue over a light fixture....the husband wanted this wagon wheel/deer antler appendage in the dining room hanging over a mission style table and chairs...just what Wright would have wanted.

   I prefer to use 1/4 sawn material. My two favorite floors are 1/4 sawn w.o. and walnut in any cut or grade.

   As far as cabinets and floors: 1/4 sawn w.o. works with anything. Plain sawn red oak can be grainy (see attach.), especially southern timber and I almost never install it. Maples a mover (unstable), and a hard to floor finish, and it won't stain well.  I prefer to use maple only if it contains figure. Dark floors can be tricky with cabinets, but dark floors look awesome with the painted, antique "french country" look so popular right now.  Jatoba is quickly becoming a big player in the market and I am beginning to sell more and more of it.  Most of my floors contain details, which hopefully, blend with the surroundings. Multi species borders are good ways to tie elements together.

   Ditch