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Which width for hardwood floor planks?

14 years ago

The one I selected -- Gemwoods California Classics engineered maple in San Diego (medium brown) -- is available in all 6 inch planks and a 4,5,6 inch combo.

Which is a more classic, upscale look? The rooms are fairly large and the house is California/Spanish style.

Thanks!

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Comments (5)

bonniee818
14 years ago
After working p/t at an interiors store, I would say the wider width is alittle more rustic than the normal width. Just depends on your personal taste & style which I think with California/Spanish.......any of the above widths would be great but I would go wider more so than normal I think. Good luck! check out some pics you like in magazines or on the web for the look you are wanting maybe too to can help.......bonnie
kyjo
14 years ago
I have solid hardwood 4 inch planks. I was going to go with the 5 inch but was told they can bow or buck up more easily.
Also the person that installed the floor wanted to charge more money because they had to nail and glue the 5 inch as opposed to just nailing the 4 inch planks.
I did'nt know if this is was true or if he was just telling me that. So I called another installer and they told me the same thing.
Maybe engineered flooring is different? Mine is solid 3/4 thick. That could have been the problem. But if you like the wider planks go for it.
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Here's one part: "DUCHATEAU Hardwood Floors must be installed according to the National Wood Flooring Association's installation guidelines in order for this warranty to be valid. " From this link: https://duchateau.com/documentation/#install " For cementitious subfloors, the moisture should not exceed 3lbs per ASTM F1869 Calcium Chloride test or 75% rh per ASTM F2170 or a suitable moisture mitigating system be used. " And more: " Duchateau accepts no responsibility nor does it ever warrant issues from either too little or excessive moisture, regardless of source unless specifically in written form." DuChateau refers to the NWFA Guidelines AS WELL AS using an NWFA Certified Wood flooring installer. DuChateau is VERY particular about the adhesives used. You have 3 choices (depending on the place of installation) and those are NOT to be replaced by anything else. I can guarantee it. A 7" wide plank is a MASSIVE width (4" or wider is considered 'wide plank'). They carry heavy price tags. The adhesives are expensive. The NWFA Certified Installation professionals are expensive (for very good reason). All of this is adding up to an EXPENSIVE mistake if a wood floor is glued down below grade. And to be clear, the 'calcium chloride' test requirements (3lbs/1000sf over 24 hours) is a B!TCH to achieve below grade. It is considered 'drier than the Sahara'. It is nigh-on impossible to reach these numbers with a slab below grade. Here is a REALLY IMPORTANT OPTION: " Only Duchateau engineered floors 7.5” wide or less may be floated. " If you have 7" wide planks I HIGHLY recommend you float the floor. I really really do.
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It looks like you have red oak in a traditional width plank (2.5" - 3" width). The grade and cut to be determined by your flooring professional. The FINISH on the old hardwood is ready to give up the ghost. I can see wear-through has already occurred in that small photo. I'm going to guess the high-traffic areas have the same wear or worse. You may not want to hear this...but it is GOOD NEWS for your project. Nope. Not kidding. Hear me out. The IDEAL TIME to add new hardwood to a home that already has hardwood = when the old hardwood is READY for a full sand/refinish. It keeps the costs DOWN. Yes. It keeps the costs in check. The flooring pros are already in your house. They are on site lacing in your NEW hardwood (matched with species, plank, cut and grade). That's when they sand down EVERYTHING at once (because they are already there) and then finish/stain everything all at once (because they are already there). I HIGHLY recommend you ignore the trends and bring in more of the IDENTICAL wood (species, plank width, cut and grade) and have it laced into your existing floor. Then have everything sanded and finished with a SUPER TOUGH 2 part water based product like Bona Traffic HD or Loba 2K Supra AT. You will love it and your floors will look amazing!
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User
14 years ago
Whichever. Having a uniform width is a bit more formal. I personally like a mix of widths.
spiceislands
14 years ago
Michele, we had planned on going w/all 5" but our installer recommended combining 2.5" (2"? Don't remember the exact sizes they are available in) and 5". I don't recall the ratio but it was more 5" than 2.5; maybe 3 to 1? I believe doing it that way also reduced the cost. Someone came into the house the other day and said they really liked the wide plank floors, lol! I think the fact that we didn't use the grooves helps disguise the fact that different widths are used.
pps7
14 years ago
I like the variable width look. I think it looks older and a bit more rustic. Uniform look will be more formal or contemporary. We are doing 8-12" variable length. I'm nervous, can't wait to see how it tuns out!

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