[Crashby]

I finished my first solid hardwood floor installation today. 5/8th pre-finished red-oak.

Ive done a lot of home improvement jobs over the past few years, but I must say, that this was one of the toughest. The tool it takes on your body is insane. You are literally on your hands and knees 90% of the time. Not bad for 4-5 hours, but after that... things start to ummmm... hurt.

325 square feet
16 hours over two days

I can see know why the pros get $5/sq. foot for installation. Even Home Depot gets $3.50/foot. That means that even at the low end of the spectrum, I would have made $500/day.

This was for my buddies girlfriends mom, so lets just say I didn't do it for the money. Good to have this skill under my belt as well.

Here's a before and after shot:

 

[sneakysnake]

Looks good, was it the easy kind that snaps together or the good old fashion tongue and groove that you have to nail down every few feet?

 

[pinkshirtphotos]

you should still nail down the tongue and groove ones to keep them in place

 

[sneakysnake]

Thats what I was saying. But didn't they come out with some kind of hardwood that just snaps together and requires no nailing.

 

[Crashby]

This was the real tongue and groove stuff... I used a small bead of floor adhesive with nails every foot or so. I think that laminate stuff is crap... Crap I say!!!

 

[mud'n'sweat]

Wait, since it was your buddies girlfriends mom, you did it voluntarily?

Since we both bike and post on ridemonkey, will you come do my house next?

Looks good.

 

[Crashby]

I made a few hundge, but I like doing good deeds for good friends.

 

[TreeSaw]

AWESOME work Crashby! Flooring is on our "to do" list too!

 

[mud'n'sweat]

I made a few hundge, but I like doing good deeds for good friends.

Ah, that's cool. I thought you did it for free. In that case you still saved her a bundle and gained some skill.

 

[brungeman]

crashby,

nice work! the before and aft. pics really show off the improvement the HW's make!

you need to pat yourself on the back for that, an excellent job I must say!

 

[Crashby]

Thanks y'all!

A project like this really makes me want for a higher level of flip house next year... I think I might be done with little sh1t-boxes in the city.

 

[PatBranch]

That's some good looking wood.

 

[frznnomad]

sneakysnake they did come out with the snap stuff, but i think they still want you to glue it down just to be on the safe side. man that is a fine flooring job man. we got lucky with our new house. our wood was underneith the carpet and just had to be exposed and it is absolutly gorgeous. great job man.

 

[Echo]

Dude you got more home improvement skillz0r in your pinkey toe than I got in my whole body.

 

[gigapower]

We are currently shopping for hardwoods, so many choices out there. Some people say buy the fake stuff, others say buy the real stuff. Some say, some say glue, some say don't do anything...really frustrating.

 

[MtnBikerChk]

I made a few hundge, but I like doing good deeds for good friends.

That's so nice!

Next time you are in CT - show me how to do my kitchen floor - all you have to do is get it started and I can finish it