I need advice about Prefinsished hardwood floors...

Posted by scarpozzi on October 7, 2009, 10:08 am

I'm buying new floors for a house I'm buying next week. I'm going to
install them myself because it'll save me $2000-2500. I called around and
found 2 great prices on hardwood floors. I'm having trouble making a
decision with my current options and need some help from anyone that might
know the best deal.

Option 1
Cabin Grade Oak Floors @ $4800 (sales tax added). This option includes
tavern grade wood without filled knots, but comes with a 5 year finish
warranty. It expected that 15% of the wood won't be usable.

Option 2
Tavern Grade Oak Floors @ $3914 (no tax, but $250 shipping) This option is
the same as above, but comes without a warranty. The same 15% waste can be
assumed. Since it's a closeout and from out of state, I may have to order
extra to make sure I have enough and the floors may look rough in spots.

Option 3
First grade white oak (the others are red) with a 25 year warranty for
$4234. The color of the stain is not as golden as the others and this has
squared edges and ends. The problem is if the floors aren't level under
the carpet, there may be exposed edges of the floor if they rise up.
Think...walking along and feeling the corner of a board in sock feet.

This would be slightly better quality overall than what I could buy from
Lowes for $7128....but the Lowes wood has a microbevel.

The question I have is about Option 3...it's a much better deal than the
others based on grade (warranty is more of a indicator of the grade of the
wood and lack of mineral staining since the finish is typically the same
process). Has anyone here installed squared edge prefinished floors?

Thanks.

-------------------------------------

Posted by dpb on October 7, 2009, 10:12 am

scarpozzi wrote:
...

> ... Has anyone here installed squared edge prefinished floors?

Yes.

But to answer your unasked but implied real question -- first thing I
then did was sand and finish.

--

Posted by dpb on October 7, 2009, 1:51 pm

dpb wrote:

> scarpozzi wrote:
> ...

>> ... Has anyone here installed squared edge prefinished floors?

>
> Yes.
>
> But to answer your unasked but implied real question -- first thing I
> then did was sand and finish.

BTW, this was 3/4" solid obtained thru distressed products outlet
similar to many of the online places except was local.

I'd never consider buying something like this I couldn't see unless it
was guaranteed firsts and had right-of-refusal in purchase agreement if
not as promised/satisfied.

Depending on the manufacturer and the reason for the
disposal/classification, the finish may be very poor as well may be the
dimensional tolerances besides the actual material defects of the knots,
etc., that lower grade.

Both were issues w/ what I bought but I knew it by looking before
purchase and bought it as if it were unfinished flooring knowing it
would need finishing.

Unless you're talking the last product above, I'd think 100-ft overage
isn't nearly enough unless you've got sizable areas such as closets or
others to hide poor material into.

--

Posted by h on October 7, 2009, 3:07 pm

> dpb wrote:

>> scarpozzi wrote:
>> ...

>>> ... Has anyone here installed squared edge prefinished floors?

>> Yes.
>> But to answer your unasked but implied real question -- first thing I
>> then did was sand and finish.

> BTW, this was 3/4" solid obtained thru distressed products outlet similar
> to many of the online places except was local.
> I'd never consider buying something like this I couldn't see unless it was
> guaranteed firsts and had right-of-refusal in purchase agreement if not as
> promised/satisfied.
> Depending on the manufacturer and the reason for the
> disposal/classification, the finish may be very poor as well may be the
> dimensional tolerances besides the actual material defects of the knots,
> etc., that lower grade.
> Both were issues w/ what I bought but I knew it by looking before purchase
> and bought it as if it were unfinished flooring knowing it would need
> finishing.
> Unless you're talking the last product above, I'd think 100-ft overage
> isn't nearly enough unless you've got sizable areas such as closets or
> others to hide poor material into.

Agreed. You need at LEAST 10% overage, and that's assuming 1st quality
stuff.

Posted by on October 7, 2009, 11:47 am

On Oct 7, 10:08=A0am, scarpozzi_at_gmail_dot_...@foo.com (scarpozzi)
wrote:

> I'm buying new floors for a house I'm buying next week. I'm going to
> install them myself because it'll save me $2000-2500. I called around and
> found 2 great prices on hardwood floors. I'm having trouble making a
> decision with my current options and need some help from anyone that migh=

> know the best deal.
> Option 1
> Cabin Grade Oak Floors @ $4800 (sales tax added). This option includes
> tavern grade wood without filled knots, but comes with a 5 year finish
> warranty. It expected that 15% of the wood won't be usable.
> Option 2
> Tavern Grade Oak Floors @ $3914 (no tax, but $250 shipping) This option i=

> the same as above, but comes without a warranty. The same 15% waste can b=

> assumed. Since it's a closeout and from out of state, I may have to order
> extra to make sure I have enough and the floors may look rough in spots.
> Option 3
> First grade white oak (the others are red) with a 25 year warranty for
> $4234. The color of the stain is not as golden as the others and this has
> squared edges and ends. The problem is if the floors aren't level under
> the carpet, there may be exposed edges of the floor if they rise up.
> Think...walking along and feeling the corner of a board in sock feet.

If the floor isn't level, I'd start by addressing that. Regardless
of the kind of wood flooring you choose, it's not designed to hide
problems with the existing surface.

I'd also suggest reconsidering your approach to the whole project. I
don't know how much you paid for your house or what it looks like, but
putting cabin grade product in to save a few bucks may not be a good
idea. Also, when you are dealing with material that has a lot of
defects, the skill and experience of the installer is an important
factor in figuring out how to minimize the amount of defects that are
used, hiding them, etc. Finally, if you;re dealing with some
internet or other company of dubious credibility, it's not unusual for
it to wind up with you having a truck load of real crap show up and
difficulty in getting it returned, your money back, etc.

> This would be slightly better quality overall than what I could buy from
> Lowes for $7128....but the Lowes wood has a microbevel.
> The question I have is about Option 3...it's a much better deal than the
> others based on grade (warranty is more of a indicator of the grade of th=

> wood and lack of mineral staining since the finish is typically the same
> process). Has anyone here installed squared edge prefinished floors?
> Thanks.
> -------------------------------------

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