I'm buying new floors for a house I'm buying next week. I'm going to install them myself because it'll save me $2000-2500. I called around and found 2 great prices on hardwood floors. I'm having trouble making a decision with my current options and need some help from anyone that might know the best deal.
Option 1 Cabin Grade Oak Floors @ $4800 (sales tax added). This option includes tavern grade wood without filled knots, but comes with a 5 year finish warranty. It expected that 15% of the wood won't be usable.
Option 2 Tavern Grade Oak Floors @ $3914 (no tax, but $250 shipping) This option is the same as above, but comes without a warranty. The same 15% waste can be assumed. Since it's a closeout and from out of state, I may have to order extra to make sure I have enough and the floors may look rough in spots.
Option 3 First grade white oak (the others are red) with a 25 year warranty for $4234. The color of the stain is not as golden as the others and this has squared edges and ends. The problem is if the floors aren't level under the carpet, there may be exposed edges of the floor if they rise up. Think...walking along and feeling the corner of a board in sock feet.
This would be slightly better quality overall than what I could buy from Lowes for $7128....but the Lowes wood has a microbevel.
The question I have is about Option 3...it's a much better deal than the others based on grade (warranty is more of a indicator of the grade of the wood and lack of mineral staining since the finish is typically the same process). Has anyone here installed squared edge prefinished floors?
Thanks.
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