Herringbone Floors?
We just moved into a new apartment on the parlor floor of a 1901 brownstone. The place had wall to wall carpet, laid over several layers of linoleum. No antique parquet floors underneath. We are left with thin plank strip subfloors which are squeaky, creaky and thin. A close friend of mine, married for 10…
We just moved into a new apartment on the parlor floor of a 1901 brownstone. The place had wall to wall carpet, laid over several layers of linoleum. No antique parquet floors underneath.
We are left with thin plank strip subfloors which are squeaky, creaky and thin.
A close friend of mine, married for 10 years to a decorator, took one look at our place and said “go herringbone.”
But I’m afraid it might be crazy expensive.
does anyone have any experience with installing herringbone floors? Do they cost a fortune to put in?
verazzano gave us a price of $4k for plain oak floors… I think the space is about 750 sq feet. We can’t afford to spend much more than that.
$9,000 for a plain top nail floor is steep. Maybe prices have gone down. Get three estimates for whatever work you do in your home, and references.
Herringbone wood floors make a wonderful addition to any type of residential interior. This type of flooring is recommended for used inside large and small areas of the home alike. Here are some other retailers selling herringbone floors, recommended by the Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/apr/03/blanket-box-herringbone-wood-floor
Call 1800Wood Floors they seem to have the best quality materials and prices, they sell both labor and materials, being an interior decorator and working with clients on a budget, I would say your best bet is a pre-finished wood floor floated down on sound proof underlayment over your existing wood floors, this process will serve to muff the squeeks and with prefinished u have a variety of real wood flooring for the top layer, from traditional oak to exotics such as cherry, walnut and others etc.
Maybe that decorator has an inside source?
I agree with Alex-that is a very low price quoted by Verranzano. I did 660 square feet, quarter sawn oak 2.25″ planks, no border-water base finish (my preference), and it cost $9000 5 years ago. That was a standard mid-range price at that time. Perhaps prices have gone down?
I don’t know what the comps would be for herringbone. I do know that Verranzano does good work, just can’t figure that price being for a finished floor-and what grade wood that would be.
I’ll tell you my experience-a floor is very important-and while you should shop around and do your homework-you get what you pay for.
Once installed 400 sqft oak with manual nailer. I consider myself very handy, xcept for heavy labor, but would never do it again. Suspect air nailer is much easier; the manual one is definitely a learned technique. Took 2 of us 2 full weekends.
It’s not hard in theory, but tedious and heavy going when you have a bowed plank. Herringbone may be easier since you can cut out the bows.
AlexSPK, I think it’s low price because it was a quote just for the most very plain kind of floor… not a herringbone pattern or any fancy wood etc. We don’t want it polyeurathaned so maybe that is part of lower price. I had the impression that verazzano probably a mid-range number, but maybe not. I may be exaggerating our Sq feet tho–the whole floor is 850 and a lot of that staircase and hall of course.
I once tried to sand my own floor, and let’s say not a great success….
Roark, how complex a DIY project is laying a wood floor? I’m a good painter and my husband a very competent mechanical type. Neither of us expert DIY. Floor sanding is definitely beyond us, though my father-in-law fairly handy and can be called in to help for carpentry.
thanks
AlexSPK, I think it’s low price because it was a quote just for the most very plain kind of floor… not a herringbone pattern or any fancy wood etc. We don’t want it polyeurathaned so maybe that is part of lower price. I had the impression that verazzano probably a mid-range number, but maybe not. I may be exaggerating our Sq feet tho–the whole floor is 850 and a lot of that staircase and hall of course.
I once tried to sand my own floor, and let’s say not a great success….
Roark, how complex a DIY project is laying a wood floor? I’m a good painter and my husband a very competent mechanical type. Neither of us expert DIY. Floor sanding is definitely beyond us, though my father-in-law fairly handy and can be called in to help for carpentry.
thanks
If that $4000 price is to install nailed-down 2 1/4″ x random length x 3/4″ #2 or better Red Oak with new rosin paper over the existing subfloor, sand it and finish it that is a very low price.
Even at $3.00 PSF for home cheapo crap = $2250 (assume NO waste) + paper + nails + sand paper, finishing supplies + tool rental or purchase + tax + delivery = well over $4000. Forget about your labor. $4000.00 for 750 Square feet installed is cheap.