Struggling with engineered wood floor choice, please help!

10 years ago

Hi all,

For weeks I have been searching for the right engineered floor (I live in Miami, and this is being installed on a concrete slab on our second story floor). I want an Oak or a Hickory with a plank that's between 7-8" wide, is made in America or by a highly reputable company that I don't have to worry about chemicals, has a highly durable finish (I would not re-sand the floors in the future, so wear layer is less important to me as a durable finish), and is smooth to the touch (it can be lightly wire-brushed, but not rough, and no hand-scraping -- I don't like the look). I thought I finally found a floor that was my perfect color (brown with a gray undertone, no red), and met every one of the above criteria ... it's the GreyBridge Hickory from the Choice Collection made by From the Forest (link). The price also happens to be very good (under $6 per square ft). The color on their website doesn't look anything like it does in real life on the sample board. (See below).

The problem is that I can't find any reviews on the web, on Houzz, anywhere. It is making me question my choice. I have searched high and low, and have found nothing I like as much, or that meets all of the criteria -- and that includes every major name brand. I am also willing to get a light colored floor, as long as it has gray undertones, and none of the blue, pink, or yellow undertones I have seen on almost every light floor.

The only major brand I have not seen is Lauzon, because no store around me carries, it, and their Urban Loft collection has a few interesting colors, but I would have to see them in person. I know it's pricier, but I'm willing to spend more to get a better quality floor (up to $10 a square ft) since I never intend on getting another one, if at all possible.

Any suggestions for a floor, or anyone with experience with From the Forest???

Thank you for reading!

Featured Answer

cpartist

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

Did you look at Kahrs floors too? Also you might want to consider going a bit lighter as darker floors show Everything.

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Comments (11)

R S
Original Author
10 years ago
cpartist, yes, I looked at Kahrs and fell in love with a small sample of the Oak Nouveau Gray, ordered an entire box of it, and it was awful. The color was so different when I got the big planks from the 5" X 7" sample I received. I wanted to love it. Even though I lost the money buying the box, it saved me from a huge mistake. I ordered a bunch of other samples from Kahrs, but the only one I liked was the Nouveau Gray. No one near me even has the samples in their showroom so I can't browse through the entire line.
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jellytoast
10 years ago
I had a sample of Lauzon's Urban Loft (exposed oak) and it was gorgeous. Lightly wire-brushed and a lovely matte finish.
R S thanked jellytoast
R S
Original Author
10 years ago
jellytoast -- did it feel smooth? It looks beautiful in pictures! Thanks for the response!
PRO
National Hardwood Flooring & Supplies
10 years ago
Somerset Floors offers a few colors you might like in their wide plank engineered. Also Mercier flooring they have design program, you pick species, color, finish & width, only up 6 1/2" in their engineered though.

Hope it helps. Good luck.

http://www.somersetfloors.com/pages/widePlank.html#../images/collections/roomScenes/wideplank/room_wideplank_natredoak.jpg?v=2

http://www.mercier-wood-flooring.com/en_us/products/colors#/color-tone=light-tones,medium-tones,dark-tones&color-category=our-browns,our-golds,our-greys,our-naturals,our-oranges,our-red&widths=7&technologies=Engineered
jellytoast
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
R S, yes it felt smooth, but not "slick" smooth. It does have texture, but nothing like hand-scraped. You can feel the texture of the wood through the finish. I had the Lauzon wire-brushed sample and a sample of the Hamptons series "natural" white oak here at the same time. The Hamptons sample is not wire-brushed and has a semi-gloss finish. I could not feel the texture of the wood under that finish. They definitely felt different underfoot and Hamptons flooring was smoother feeling. The wire-brushed is really beautiful. I would not order a whole house full of flooring based on the sample, though, because I'm not quite sure it's a true depiction of the actual flooring. I've always believed that flooring companies use their very best material for the sample boards, so I'd want to look at a full box before committing. If you do get a box, be sure to post what it's like!
jellytoast
10 years ago
National Hardwood, the Mercier white oak "natural" color looks very dark, much darker than the red oak "natural." Is white oak normally that dark? Does it darken over time?
PRO
National Hardwood Flooring & Supplies
10 years ago
@Jelleytoast red oak has a bit of a pinkish tint is a little bit lighter than white oak. White oak tends to be a bit browner, darker and more yellow, red oak tends to have stronger graining than white oak hardwood. Darkening would depend on the type of finished used an oil based would amber more than an UV waterbased urethane.
PRO
National Hardwood Flooring & Supplies
10 years ago
RS

New line just arrived,

Our Camden Collection features 7.5" White Oak in 8 beautiful exclusive stain colors; Boardwalk, Sandstone, Shell, Breakwater, Driftscape, Harbor Mist, Rock Cliff, & Sea Salt.

The floors in our Camden Collection are designed expressly for challenging installations – above, at, or below grade. – whether floating or affixed with standard staples or adhesives.

As with all of our hardwood flooring, the Camden Collection is proudly manufactured in the United States.

www.mainetraditionsflooring.com/page/856-1353/camden-collection-white-oak
rkrutledge
8 years ago
What did you go with?! I just fell in love with the Grey Bridge Hickory, then started trying to find reviews, etc, and found your post. Did you do it or get nervous? Do you like what you picked? Thanks!
R S
Original Author
8 years ago
Hi rkrutledge -- I actually went with Mirage Hopscotch in Cashmere fininsh

https://www.miragefloors.com/ENG/hardwood-flooring-handcrafted-white-oak-r-q-hopscotch/

LOVE IT!