Help! Wood flooring width issues

8 years ago

We are renovating our kitchen and removing most the wall to the dining room. The floors in most of the main floor were done 2 years ago in Hickory with a Toffee stain. We want to continue the same flooring into the new kitchen.

We have 3 boxes left - about 60 sq ft. The kitchen is 170 sq ft. We got the floors from a local flooring factory. I called them to order more but they no longer make the 2 3/4 inch width we used in the dining room. The closest is 3 1/4”. They have some 2 3/4 in stock but it’s a different finish and stain.

Help! Can we mix the two width? Do a border in the narrower width?

The kitchen is now a grey ceramic tile which I don’t like. It continues into the hall on the other side and through to the front entrance. My husband does not want to replace the hallway flooring and I don’t want 3 different types of flooring on the main floor.

Any and all advice welcome.

Thanks

Featured Answer

PRO

JAN MOYER

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Forget the three boxes and toss them. Do the entire kitchen in the wider 3 1/4 width. Get enough to do the HALLWAY. N.O.W. Please.

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Comments (9)

fallensnow
8 years ago
I would go wider but only if its the same color. Replace the hallway too if you don"t he'll regret on the resale side.
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missymum
Original Author
8 years ago
Fallen snow - yes they can match the colour. Should we lay it perpendicular to the dining room? I’ll be working with a designer but just found out about the flooring and am a bit panicked.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
8 years ago
Do that.
missymum
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks.

I like having tile in the entry and hall for practical reasons - winter, kids, dog. I just don’t like the tile that’s there now. We will eventually replace it with different tile.

So, generally wider wood in same stain and finish laid perpendicular will look ok?

Thanks
PRO
JAN MOYER
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Yes......... But this is why God made area rugs in wonderful forgiving patterns. So .........don't come back in a year with shoulda woulda coulda done the hallway.....lol

I am sure even your TILE has a couple rugs on it. And if your designer was asked for brutal truth? She might say the same thing. One type of flooring visually expands space and unifies space.
missymum
Original Author
8 years ago
Yes we have rugs here and there. The 3 boxes of leftovers would be enough for the hall if we ever change our minds about the tile. The hall has front entrance, powder room, coat closet and garage entry so it is very practical to have tile with husband and kids going in/out and to powder room, rugs notwithstanding.
Thanks for the advice.
SJ McCarthy
8 years ago
A perpendicular install can work. I prefer a DIAGONAL install when the widths are close but not quite right. It is a personal choice. Not everyone likes a diagonal install. It requires 15% waste + 15% more for the labour costs (lost of cutting).

As for the tile...I understand the want to stick with it in the areas that you have. I like the look of slate or "slate look" porcelain tile up against a wood floor. It is very handsome.

I'm sorry your designer did not explain the logistics of "splitting" a hardwood flooring installation. A factory finished floor (like yours) has a *shelf life of 18 months. You can source the product for roughly 18 months. And then it is gone - forever. It looks like you fell into the trap that MANY homeowners run into: unable to source MORE of the factory finished flooring they started out with 2-5 years ago.

A SITE FINISHED hardwood (installed raw and then sanded and refinished over several days) can be added to during future renovations. A factory finished floor cannot (that includes hardwood, laminate, vinyl, linoleum, porcelain, ceramic, carpet, etc).

Good luck. Purchase a box of the new stuff and decide whether you want a perpendicular install or a diagonal install. Then purchase the amount needed to complete the install of your choice.
PRO
JAN MOYER
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
No diagonal install please unless your home is very contemporary ?!

im not saying waste money but sixty sq feet is pointless to save. Donate or toss. Or save for the event of damage in the original install.

And consider that hall . Again