After lots of shopping, I’ve decided to do my 1000sf first floor in 3/4″ Mirage Classic yellow birch. The material arrived on site today. Upon opening the first 3 boxes, I was surprised at the number of shorts. I would estimate that the typical strip length is only 18″, with only a couple strips per box longer than 3′, and lots of 12 inchers.
I expect that so many shorts will make installation difficult (when trying to stagger joints) and will make the finished floor less stiff, since the typical piece will not span 2 joists.
Is this length distribution typical of premium flooring? The material was purchased from a reputable retailer flooring specialty store, but I feel like I got something from a liquidator.
Thanks in advance for your comments.
DonB
Replies
When you bought the floor there must have been a mock-up display at the store. if the store display looks like what you got then you're SOL
If not, complain
More info...I measured the strips from 2 cases. The median length was only 18", and 2/3 of the pieces were shorter than 24".Regarding the display, I have to admit that I didn't pay much attention to the lengths, biut I intend to return for that purpose.DonB
I'd double check with your supplier. That particular grade of flooring may only be available in shorts.
Is the flooring wider than 2¼"?
I remember another customer, years back, who insisted on prefinished 4" cherry flooring because the color matched her cabinets etc. The installer explained it would look like cobblestone because of the short lengths.
Mirage has some pretty serious quality control, give them the numbers on the box and they can tell you the exact time the flooring was milled, sprayed, packaged and who was working the shift.
May neighbors respect You, and troubles neglect You.
Gord
Thanks for the replies. The material is 3 1/4", prime grade (one below their top grade).DonB
I just put in some prefinished 3 1/2" Mirage oak flooring. Same thing with lots of shorts.
Probably the ony way they can maintain quality. Cut off all the flaws, knots, open grain and you wind up with a pile of shorts.
I like the look of the wider boards but here on the east coast I have seen a tendancy to cup in flat sawn boards of ash, oak and birch. The harder varieties like Jatoba remain relatively flat whatever the width. Of course the cupping was more prevalent in homes with poorly regulated or non-existent humidity control.
May neighbors respect You, and troubles neglect You.
Gord
Our floor finisher used to run a large crew of floor layers. In those days the flooring came in bundles of all the same lengths. Of course there were lots of bundles of 1 and 2 footers but the layers all preferred to use the longer lengths because they would go down faster. Since this was in the days when all the floors were hand nailed and the guys were also paid by the production, nobody wanted the shorts.
Our friend had to go around and distribute the shorts, saying, " You guys can't leave me with all the aces and dueces. I ain't gonna eat them."