I am tearing up the carpet in my den to turn it into kind of a bar/lounge area. I want to put in hardwood floors and need some wood recommendations.

I prefer a light wood, and I have looked at a light Oak for 2.98/sq. foot and Bamboo for 4.06 sq. foot.

I'd like a light colored hardwood...no laminate.

The room is about 12 x 13, and I have a budget of about 1,000 bucks for this project.


Let's hear it. Pictures would be awesome.

12/4/2008 9:58:38 PM

http://www.ronhazelton.com/tips/choosing_prefinished_wood_flooring.htm

http://www.ronhazelton.com/howto/Hardwood_Kitchen_Floors_Video.htm

http://www.ronhazelton.com/howto/Hardwood_Kitchen_Floors_Video.htm

12/4/2008 10:04:04 PM

i like the look of pine and it's usually cheap, but it's not a hardwood

how about maple or birch

[Edited on December 4, 2008 at 10:14 PM. Reason : or pecan]

12/4/2008 10:10:17 PM

I ended up going with Bamboo for the den and foyer today.


I may do the upstairs bedrooms in a different hardwood, as well, depending on what color I pain the walls.

12/5/2008 5:27:48 PM

bamboo doesn't hold up well

12/5/2008 8:27:12 PM

Teak.

12/5/2008 10:45:13 PM

bamboo is not ecological either. bad move.

12/6/2008 1:09:46 AM

bamboo is pretty to look at


not so much after there's traffic on it

12/6/2008 2:37:51 AM

bamboo flooring can be as hard as traditional hardwoods; don't mistake the quality of the finish for the strength of the wood

[Edited on December 6, 2008 at 4:59 AM. Reason : or grass, as the case may be]

12/6/2008 4:53:30 AM

Koa

I'm Big Business and i approved this message.

12/6/2008 1:52:34 PM

^^ exactly...the biggest problem with bamboo is that it REQUIRES a quality finish...because it's cheaper than hardwood and provides a similar look, it's touted as being an awesome (and greener) replacement to hardwoods, but that's only true if the finish isn't crap...it will, without a doubt, look like crap if the finish is crap (where hardwoods, at least, would hold up better with a crappy finish)

Quote :

"bamboo is not ecological either. bad move."

since when? bamboo is MUCH cheaper to grow, takes MUCH less time to mature, and can be grown in higher density than hardwoods...how is it not ecological compared to hardwoods? unfinished (or poorly finished) hardwood will definitely last longer than bamboo, but a quality finish on either will last for decades...long enough to make the difference in cost well worth going bamboo

12/6/2008 5:55:03 PM

Quote :

"bamboo is not ecological either. bad move."

i can only imagine he was being sarcastic.

everyone knows how fast bamboo grows and that it is one of the most green "woods" you can use for flooring

Good luck on the floors, Mr E Nigma - they sound nice. Lets see some pictures!

12/6/2008 7:47:36 PM

1/24/2009 4:19:28 PM

I would've gone a bit darker, but they look good.

1/24/2009 6:17:22 PM

they do look good, gg

1/24/2009 6:33:40 PM

If I had a choice...I would do wormy chestnut, but that shit costs BANK!

1/25/2009 1:05:25 AM

white oak with natural/clear finish- 3 coats

1/25/2009 10:46:10 AM

i'm gonna lay unfinished white oak soon, rustic #2 grade

cheap, looks good and i can match it when i want/can afford to do the addition

1/25/2009 12:32:30 PM

Quote :

"bamboo is not ecological either. bad move."

im going to hope you were being sarcastic........

1/25/2009 12:35:31 PM

if he meant "green," he may not be far off, depending on where you're getting it. the process of getting to the flooring is only green if the bamboo is grown, harvested, transported, etc. in a green manner. unfortunately, the demand for bamboo has placed environmentally friendly measures on the back burner

1/25/2009 12:47:19 PM

well their statement was a pretty big blanket statement. nearly all wood has the potential to not be harvested in a "green" manner but at the same time its not very hard at all to get ecologically responsible fsc bamboo either. So, simply stating that bamboo is not ecological is not entirely correct because, if it is harvested right, it is some of the most ecological materials out there for hardwood floors.

1/25/2009 1:53:17 PM

Quote :

"LIGNUM VITAE, MOTHERFUCKER"

1/25/2009 2:22:03 PM

http://www.finishing.com/260/96.shtml

1/25/2009 2:49:35 PM