My wood floors are worn out and need to be replaced. Presently I have 2″ wide quarter sawn white oak – 3/8″ thick. My house is an old 1913 Craftsman. My options are to use 2″ wide 1/2″ thick oak or 2 1/4″ wide 3/4″ thick oak. Visually is there a big difference between the two? I like the look of the 2″ wide flooring but want the durability of the 3/4″ flooring (2″ doesn’t come thicker than 1/2″).
Thanks
Matt
Replies
2 inch wide .. seems like a contradiction in terms .. now lets see the 3/8 lasted 97 years and your concerned about the durability of the 3/8 versus the 3/4?? If your joists are relatively flat then 3/4, otherwise the 1/2 will lay flatter. Please tell me it's not bevel edged pre-finished, narrow flooring should not be bevel edged, looks to "piecy"
The two inch flooring is strip flooring that will be face nailed. The 3/4 inch flooring is tongue and groove, i.e., not face-nailed. There is not much of a visual difference in the width, but the bigger difference is that the face nailed will have the nails lined up on the surface. Also, going to 3/4 will require you to do transitions from the new floor to the old.
You should be able to get quarter sawn in either strip or t&g if you want to stay consistent with the remaining floors. You can also get t&G quartersawn from Laurenstein (sp?) that is a 3/8 inch t&g floor.