Buy from a local mill. LL. Is complete and utter junk.

THIS IS YOUR SECOND POST ON THE SAME TOPIC. You have a master bedroom already installed. A perfect install with junk product. You can keep asking, but you already have answers.

You can't turn water to wine. There are no miracles, you will get what you pay for in both looks and longevity.

I would not want to chance needing to do you your floors a third time. If you want to roll the dice up to you but personally LL would never be a consideration for me. Box Stores more than likely either without a crap ton of research.

Thanks for the info. I was just checking to see if all unfinished floors are similar enough as will now be sanding and staining and polyurethaning rather than using the pre-finished stuff that got us into trouble with the upstairs. I hear that it seems like most responding are not fans of LL--I Guess I'm trying to understand more about how quality of unfinished oak can differ enough to cause any trouble. Not meaning to annoy, just trying to learn. Very much appreciate all feedback. Thank you!

Make sure when you compare products that it's apples to apples: check board length, for example. Ask your installer for their experience with the product. If 25% of the boards are imperfect, it's not such a great deal.

As to all oak being the same, what in life is like that? All steaks, all tomatoes, all toilet paper? At least the last gets used and flushed. Your floors should be good for a lifetime.

Thank you for clarifying! We will go with local mill yard. Thx for all your help!

I'd also add, if you're looking for low maintenance with 4 kids, a super dark floor is definitely not the answer.

IMO dark floors have no bearing on actual life of the floor and I love them But LL is famous for rejects in their flooring so an issue for sure. Since the space you are doing is very visible I would look for a choice that has longer boards and not sure why red oak there are are other types of wood. BTW I hate oak. So ignore my last comment if you want to.

You have all the info on why NOT to buy floors from LL. That being said, I would NOT get a dark stain with 4 kids (and I love dark stained floors) -they will show every spec of dust and dirt. You will be a slave to them. You've also got dark cabinets in the kitchen - you want some contrast. I'd put in oak floors that are natural - No stain but finish with a WATER BASED topcoat like Bona HD

It all depends on whether the flooring is Select & Better per NOFMA or NWFA. If it is, there should be little difference. The grading specifies what is and isn't allowed in regards to milling, appearance and average lengths. Therefore, if you get wood from that is certified to meet that grade, it should. The only exception would be if another mill provides wood that is cleaner or longer than the minimum required.