I bought the wood flooring from the surplus store.

Our installers purchased it, or the GC, I'm not sure. What went wrong?

I have done site finished red oak in three different batches/rooms over the past 25 years and have always purchased from a true lumber yard that specializes in flooring, trim, molding etc. Two of them actually buy the logs from the logger, cut and saw their own, and dry it. One of my prettiest floors came from a small lumber yard out in the middle of the boonies beside an old railroad track. They have since gone out of business.

One of the places is just a mill-works type store that is a distributer for the big lumber companies. I really like doing business with them because I can go in and have custom pieces made based on whatever project I might be working on. Example - they cut me a beautiful transition board between my DR and LR (LR is an add-on, floor a little "off"). They also custom made fluted door facings for all my interior openings that don't have doors. That was a life-saver for me because none of my walls are the same thickness (the joys of remodeling old houses).

EngineerChic, the installer didn't acclimate the engineered flooring, even though I told him that's what I read was the correct procedure. In winter, they brought the boxes from an unheated warehouse and installed them. After a few weeks they started checking and buckling.

ahhh - it sounds like the wood was good (or at least not to blame) but the installation was wrong. Even nail down hardwood that is finished in place needs to acclimate, ours was here for a week before they installed it. It took up a fair bit of space in the dining room & living room, but that was okay.

We bought our floors from Carlisle. Our floor was finished onsite but I think Carlisle now also sells prefinished flooring.

Marti also, if you are on a slab, engineered wood is not recommended. I trust your house has a crawl space. Can you complain to the store about their installation practices and get it re-done?

We bought from a local flooring store and were very happy with the installers and the flooring. They've been there since I was a kid, so maybe that says something?

There are a lot of flooring available in some areas that can help you to get the bet that you want.

stinky-gardener, I think engineered wood is the only thing you are supposed to use on slab. With slab there is no crawl space.

Their installation was done incorrectly, that wood should have been acclimated prior to installation. I would go back to the installer, or the store that sent them to you, and demand that it be made good. We have engineered wood flooring that we purchased direct from a flooring distributor, installed locally by a local installer. They insisted that the wood needed at least a week in the house prior to installation. No problems whatsoever!

Last time we did it, we bought directly from the importer, and had it installed by a local installer we found on Angie's List. Went very well, but we were only able to order from the installer because we already knew exactly what we needed (it was extending an existing floor with the same product).

Our installer bought the oak flooring and did acclimate it. We've been very happy with it.

My house was built in 1895 and it has the original heartpine flooring. Next time I buy a house I am going to build a new one, with wide blanked antique heartpine as well.

Marti, you live in Texas, no? They use to grow a lot of cotton there, have you ever thought of contacting a demomolion or salvage company that sells antique wood from one of those big cotton mills? It's gorgeous and just a thought.

.....Jane

nanny2a, we did go back to the floor company. They blamed the product and the manufacturer blamed the installer. Neither would do anything. We thought we would do so much better dealing with a locally owned company, and they didn't stand behind their work at all. Now they're gone.

Yes, we're in TX, and in cotton country, but it is recommended that solid wood not be used on slab, only engineered.

Oh, that's right I forgot.

We bought our oak flooring through our installer, and he acclimated it for about a week before installing. I think the brand was Robbins. No problems at all.

I bought my solid wood floors at Lowes, it was Bruce, the installers did a fab job and we love it.

Yes, Marti, I realize a slab has no crawl space. I live on a slab! I just don't know what you live on.

There is the issue of a using a vapor/moisture barrier when installing the engineered wood on a slab. That is important. Did your installers do that? (if you have a slab.) Also floating the boards over the slab rather than glueing can lead to more noise and uneveness. Have also read the boards need to be absolutely straight

Techniques may be open to debate, but your installers need to be mindful of your needs in this regard. Slab and what grade it is, & use of a moisture barrier need to be considered. ( None of this may apply to you.)

Good luck! I wish you could get the floors changed that you're not happy with, and I think the installers should be held accountable for shoddy workmanship on some level.

I bought mine at Costco. Same manufactuer with a wider plank was 9 more a sq ft, my floor was 3.50 a sq ft.

sorry stinky-gardener, I didn't realize I didn't put that we are on slab.

We bought prefinished flooring through our builder, who I think got it from a large, local/independent, building supply company.
The floors have held up amazingly well over twelve years with two smallish (beagle) sized dogs and three humans.

We recently had a water pipe break under the main floor sink and flood our finished basement. Although the floors on the main floor got wet, everyone has told us that the floors still look good because of the factory finish.

And I'm getting new floors downstairs, btw. Laminate, but hey, I had a blast picking out the new flooring and am excited about them. (Mohawk Ellington Rustic Amber Oak- for those who want to know).

There are plenty of wood flooring in the market that will develop a best views in achieving a good result for the space that you plan to put it. It is also cheaper even the installation.