Hardwood Floors: Plan B unfinished + Refinish old

[hazmat]

Well, finally cought up with the floor guy. $2.50 /sq foot to sand & finish. Don't know all the details (# of coats of poly etc.), but we are going to meet for him to see the house & go over the details more.

He quoted $9-10/sq foot for him to install & finish the floors in the DR & LV. I can get the oak flooring for $2.75(white)-$3.25(red) / sq foot. Economically makes sense for me to install it & have him sand & finish it. $5.57/sq foot vs $10 [img]/forums/images/icons/ooo.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/icons/ooo.gif[/img]

[AndyF]

You might want to think of everything else thats on your list that needs to get done. If he does a good job, he'll free you up to do a lot of other things. If you're patient, its not hard to do a nice job with the floor, but it will take you a lot longer than it'll take a pro.

[MarkV]

Steve,

Wow! [img]/forums/images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] Looks like I need to move my business up your way. I guess I am not that surprised, I know my folks in Illinois pay much more than we do here in Atlanta for many trades. One of the things that caught my attention was the price of flooring. Here I pay between $2.00 and 2.35 for either white or red #1 common oak flooring. Select grade flooring will run .25 to .50 more and I will not use any lesser grade. (90% of the flooring put in here is #1 common oak) Most of the oak used down here is coming form Tenn. and N. Carolina so shipping may be the big difference in price.

With most any project I would try to get more than one estimate. If you are having a hard time locating flooring companies look for flooring suppliers. They will know the people that work your area. One note on suppliers of flooring material. Down here the shops that sell hardwood, tile, carpet, etc. are not the places the pros buy their flooring material. Wood flooring supplier's normally only sell wood flooring, at least down this way.

Given the prices, I think I agree and would install the floor in the living and dinning room your self. It will work you a bit but with the basic carpentry skills and tools that you have I think you will be able to do just fine.

MarkV

[Hank]

<font color="purple"> oak flooring for $2.75(white)-$3.25(red) </font color>

These prices are probably supply-driven, but I would definitely jump on the white oak at that price. It is harder for a wearing surface (also much harder on knives and other woodworking equipment).

[AndyF]

Congrats on finding hardwood in several rooms. This should save you a few $$$ - maybe enough to pick up a toy or two for the tractor or shop.

Get a pro to sand the floor for you. It is money well spent. Use a good floor grade polyureathane (?sp) as the finish. Spend a few extra dollars for a real good grade and thin it out a little if necessary so that it flows on well. You'll probably raise the grain a little with the first coat so go back and give it a quick sand with 150 grit paper. Use a tack rag or a rag with a little thinner on it for clean up after the dust has settled. The poly has a real solvent smell so either wait until you can do the job with windows open or consider staying somewhere else while you are finishing the floors.