3/4" Red Oak Flooring

[Mike OMelia]

What is the best price I can expect to find on this? I have about 400 sqf I would like to do (kids rooms).

[Chris Rosenberger]

A ball park price for good quality 3/4" solid red oak flooring.

Around $3.00 sf for unfinished.

Around $5.00 sf for finished.

[Richard Coers]

Kids? I would use white oak for the hardness if you want oak. If you insist on red oak, I prefer northern red oak compared to southern. Slower growing, not so wild of grain. I live in IL., no idea what you would pay in AL.

[Mike OMelia]

I wish I could find the red oak for 2-2.50 a square foot, I can install and finish. Would love to override wife on carpet.

[Chris Hachet]

i am just finishing up the whole house in hardwood flooring, doing the last of the family room. About $2.60 a board foot for really nice oak here in ohio, plenty of rift sawn and quarter sawn stuff in the lot... Good luck with your project!

[Mike OMelia]

Where do u find red oak at 2.60? Can I order?

[Rich Engelhardt]

Where do u find red oak at 2.60
Lumber Liquidators.

You have one right there in Huntsville.
1. Huntsville #1135 (http://www.lumberliquidators.com/storelocator/store.jsp?storeLat=34.6547660827637&storeLong=-86.5670166015625&storeName=Huntsville+%231135&zipCodeSearchStr=35801&storeId=218) Call Store for Installation Details
8402 Whitesburg Drive
Huntsville, AL 35802

Colston 3/4" X 2.24"
1 sq. ft. per box
SKU: 10004002

Comparable Price $3.29/sq. ft.
Our Low Price $2.68/sq. ft.
Over 1000 s.f. $2.58/sq. ft.
Save up to $0.71/sq. ft. (22%)
Phone: (256) 513-4656


That's for unfinished T&G.

[Matt Ellis]

Kids? I would use white oak for the hardness if you want oak. If you insist on red oak, I prefer northern red oak compared to southern. Slower growing, not so wild of grain. I live in IL., no idea what you would pay in AL.

Red oak and white oak have almost identical hardnesses, and red is generally cheaper, at least here in the southeast.

OP, I'd check out the "materials" section of your local CL. I have seen lots of good flooring listed very reasonably there.

[Mike OMelia]

What do you know? Lol. Ok, I do have a local source. Gonna check CL too. My wife wants the cheap carpet, but I think this would add lasting value whereas the carpet depreciates the day u install it.

[Mike OMelia]

Ok, some basic wood flooring questions. I helped my step dad do this once. His nailer was mechanical, you placed it and gave a good wack. I have several nail guns, brads, finish nailers, and one of those big construction nailers. Will I have to add to the collection a pneumatic flooring nailer? Recommendations? What about layout? How do you start and layout the floor?

Thanks!

Mike

[Rich Engelhardt]

Will I have to add to the collection a pneumatic flooring nailer? Recommendations?It's not a bad idea. They rent for about $50 a day or - you can buy one from Harbor Freight. HF runs them on sale quite a bit. I picked one up from them for $99. Right now they're on sale for $144.
LL also carries one for about the same price. IIRC, Freeman makes one too in that price range. They all probably come out of the same Chinese factory, just painted different colors.
You can go all out if you want and pick up a Bostitch for $450 or so.

Which ever way you go, make sure what you buy or rent takes the Bostitch 15Ga flooring nails.
LL used to carry them for the cheapest price you could find. Now that they have their own house brand, I don't know if they still do or not.

The big pneumatic is good for the large area - but - when you get to the last few rows, you run out of room to use it.
Personally -I'd forget about using any of the other air nailers you have. They don't work all that well on flooring. Drill the tongue so it doesn't split and drive finish nails in by hand. For the perimeter, where you'll need to face nail, again, drill and drive a finish nail.
If you want to use a pneumatic nailer - Home Depot rents a special one that you can use to get close to the wall. You'll still want to face nail the last row by hand though.

Layout is 100% up to you as far as how you want it to appear.
You pull the baseboards, start the first row along the

Even a 15 ga. nail from a 15 ga nailer had trouble holding - plus it's a real pain to try to get the nose just right on the tongue.
There are some

[Mike OMelia]

I'll just pick up a flooring nailer then sell it on CL. I have too many tools for my specific hobby (guitar building) to keep something around with limited use. Thanks for the tips! Oh, the baseboards are already raised for carpet, but not 3/4". Anyways, I won't be ripping those out. Just butt up and finish with quarter round.

[Rich Engelhardt]

Be sure to allow ~ 3/8" between the flooring and the baseboards for movement.

Another thing to keep in mind w/the $2.xx LL red oak. Usually you allow 10/15% extra for waste. W/that stuff, figure it more like 25%.

[Mike OMelia]

Well, it sounds like they include a lot of junk in the mix... meaning the price is higher.

[Rich Engelhardt]

Well, it sounds like they include a lot of junk in the mix
Not really - they don't really include "junk".
Flooring is similar to other wood where there's different grades; like FS and Select..
The actual product itself isn't first rate quality.
It has knots and mineral streaks and quite a bit of lighter sapwood & the color varies.

LL also sells a select grade for $3.28 sq ft - but - that's not what you asked about.
You asked about $2.60 sq ft red oak flooring.

[Mike OMelia]

Yes, u are correct. I asked. I have since decided I will go with the select grade... If there are good things said about LL's select grade.

[Rich Engelhardt]

Wise move.
The cheaper one - or even the real cheap Utility Grade (about a buck a sq. ft.) aren't bad products - per say...
They just don't lend themselves well for something like a one shot deal of doing one room.

W/the select you'll get more even color, a good mix of longs and shorts and what knot damage you run into can be worked around.

Just remember if/when you buy from LL. They only take back unopened bundles (unfinished flooring comes in 19.6 sq ft bundles BUT it's priced @ a full 20 sq ft. per bundle) and they charge a 20% restocking fee.