That looks like oak strip flooring. That is still readily available in my area, but it is not prefinished and it needs to be top nailed. I can't tell...I dont see nails in yours so perhaps it is tongue and groove. I would remove the cork and the parquet and go back to the subfloor to try and get the new flooring to the same level, not go over top if thats what you were thinking.

What is keeping you from using cork again? It seems like it would be in keeping with the style of the house, and you could run it in the kitchen too. It is quite durable although since it is resilient it does indent a bit.

Hi Paul, and welcome!

Question: will you be doing this work yourself?

Another question: what style is your house?

A tile foyer can be problematic when it comes to slipping. It's also not particularly stylish, unless you live in a Florida-type house.

I love the expression you used, "be proud" for saying that the floor would stick up! Is that a regionalism where you are?

Floor height changes can be a real tripping issue. I wouldn't recommend it.

It would be best -- not knowing anything else -- to install oak tongue-and-groove flooring, matching as close as you can to what you have. Since you're refinishing what you have, you can install the new oak, then bring in the sanders and do the whole thing.

You might have to rip up what's already there, but that shouldn't be a big problem.

I like as much consistency in flooring and carpeting as can be managed. Talk to professionals at some point about the different floor heights. There are transition pieces that can make it look right. I have the same hardwood as you show, and black matte slate in the foyer. I think it is a good combination.

Wow--this is definitely a more active forum than flooring!

Palimpsest, it is oak strip--no nails, but it looks (to me, at least) so much better than what I've seen in stores--there's a translucence to some of the planks that really sing in the light (you can see that in one plank on the lower left in particular)--normally I don't like oak, but I LIKE this floor--reminds me much more of red birch, almost.

Perhaps I'm wrong, but it looked like the kitchen and hall tile (kitchen was originally black and white linoleum, replaced some years back with the parquet which, incidently, is also oak) is on the subfloor--my original thought was that to match the wood I'd have to put in a new, lower sub floor in order to keep the height the same, and so I could pull some existing planks so the transition would not have a 'seam' where all the planks lined up, and that's more work than I am capable of (or have budgeted for). Removing the parquet and cork would only leave a small gap--perhaps 3/16 or so--below the existing hardwood.

Perhaps there's an additional spacer there, after all--I'll have to pull some tiles off and see what's really under there, I guess.

Didn't think initially of replacing the cork with more cork because when I first saw it I thought 'bulletin board', but if I have floor height issues I will rethink this (and go look at more cork as well) because the height difference would really bother me, I think, even though the only transition that wouldn't be in a doorway would be from the hallway to the living room.

I enjoy cooking, and the idea of standing on cork in the kitchen is starting to sound like a good idea, actually...

mclarke, Thanks for the welcome! I've actually lurked here for years--used the appliances forum to help select my Miele washing machine nearly ten years ago...

In answer to your questions, I'd like to do as much of the work as myself (more time than money after closing), but I will NOT do something myself that is beyond my capability--I have too critical an eye, and would only see the blemish which would drive me bonkers...

The house is a ranch (around here they call it a 'California ranch'), living room and attached dining room in the front of the house in an 'L' shape, kitchen filling in the 'L', entrance on the side of the house opposite the kitchen (back door is in the kitchen) with a small foyer leading to the middle of the house where one can enter the living room to the left, kitchen straight ahead, or hallway to the right that leads to the bathroom and three bedrooms. Outside is half brick (tan) topped with cedar shingle stained dark red. The house originally had a floor-to-ceiling picture window in the living room, which lent it just a little bit of prarie-style architecture (particularly with the stone fireplace), but that window was replaced with a giant bay window which only comes down to seat height now. Architecturally it kind of dumbs down the house a little, but it is a neat place for plants and things, and the bump-out makes it roomier as well, so I'm not complaining too loudly about it...

Regarding the foyer, I was thinking more of a coarse, textured tile--specifically with Chicago winters in mind (I think we're on our 6th winter this year already)--the foyer is usually pretty messy from the glop on one's shoes, and I would like something durable and easy to maintain. I am concerned about style, though--I have the proverbial little house on the big block--I don't want to put in something tacky that doesn't fit with the neighborhood in terms of potential resale.

Regarding the expression 'proud'--if it's regional, I think it's regional in occupation more so than geography--I'm a tool-and-die maker by trade, and in the toolroom referring to something sticking up a little as being 'proud' is not uncommon--didn't give it much thought, though it is kinda funny, now that I think about it. You can actually feel a difference in height of about three thousandth of an inch, believe it or not.

And yes, the floor height difference is my largest concern, for aesthetic as well as safety reasons. Initially, I assumed matching the existing floor would be a major undertaking resulting in a major expense as well, but I do want it done 'right' and if that's what I have to do...

andee,

I agree with you regarding consistency--before closing, I saw too many homes that had some sort of harlequin design theme going--every little nook was done in a different manner, and the resulting patchwork of mis-matched color and texture was quite an eye-sore and really emphasized how small the space truly was. If I can do something that makes it seem larger, I'd be pleased.

I'm excited to hear that you have slate in the foyer and like it against the wood--I, too, like slate (I'm partial to the dark blue stuff). How does it hold up? How often to you need to reseal it (Chicago winters come to mind). Also, is your grout visible, and if so, what color? I saw some dark slate once done with a light grout and it was quite striking, though I've also seen it butted edge-to-edge, which was also quite nice...

Thanks again, everyone, this is helpful to me.

Paul

Paul, we are DIY and know the term 'proud' and use it all the time. :) Firstly, welcome to the forum.

Your floor looks like tongue and groove white oak, and it's a very good quality, judging by the lack of knots.
It could be red oak, but it so closely resembles our white 50+ year old oak, (from the photo anyhow) that I think it's white oak.

In our house we put in a cream colored tile in the foyer and kitchen (24 years ago) When he did this Cliff took a piece of oak flooring routed the edge that faces the oak,
and straight cut the edge that butts against the tile. It is proud of the oak and looks fine. Also it's an easy transition (on the feet)and not a tripping hazard. You can just walk onto the oak strip and it's not uncomfortable because of the routed edge. It's much better than a regular straight edge saddle.

We refinished our floors several years ago and also stained them a little darker, so that's why it doesn't look like your floor in the photo. He also did the same thing with the 'saddle' he put by the French Doors he installed several years ago. Made the saddle from oak flooring.
There is another option for you if your interested... you can put oak flooring in the foyer and kitchen as well, if you're interested in that option, provide more photos of the way the foyer meets the oak in the LR and the kitchen, put them up and maybe I can give you more ideas.
In the meantime, here is a pic I took for my woodworking forum to show the way Cliff wrapped the bottom round step in oak.(it was white and I didn't like it.)
It shows a bit of the proud molding between the time and oak. Joann Hope this helps.

Joann, Thanks for replying, and the pic, too!

You are probably right about the wood--the house was built in '56 I think, so our floors are consistent in age. I assumed 'red' because it is red to my eye as opposed to some very white oak bookcases I have, but I've not seen oak similar to this in grain or color.

Regarding knots, I can't recall seeing any, now that you mention it. I suspect the whole house was 'upgraded' in building, I think, as there are some differences when compared to some of the neighbor's homes, the walls are plaster, not drywall, and 1" thick at that, the fireplace--all stone, even the back which is the foyer wall, and there's a steel subframe, too--I-beam in the basement with steel posts as opposed to lumber more typical in a ranch house. The interior doors are all birch, and match the floors nicely...

Paul, our house was built in '56 as well.
It sure does look the same wood. I imagine that grade of white oak, was what was around at the time. Since in the 1950's bare wood floors we're not really in...everyone had wall to wall carpet, it surprises me that they used such nice clear oak back then, you'd think they would have used the builders grade (lots of knots)

We have dry walls, and steel beams in the basement as well.
They built home well in the good old days!

Good luck with your new home, your adventures are just beginning! Joann

Thanks! Hopefully there will be more good adventures than bad... :^)

I've been reading a bit about cork flooring, and now I'm thinking about just redoing the flooring with cork as it was originally done. I'm going to order a few sample pieces to see what it looks like in person...

I also have my colors picked out--there are three shades I like--all neutral, pretty similar in tone. One's kind of a light tan (more of a warm grey, close to the stone), one's a little on the green side, sort of a light sage, and one's on the yellow side.

I will likely only use two as I don't want the house too busy--either the tan or sage for the living, dining and halls with the same (or a shade lighter) in the bedrooms, and the subtle yellow in the kitchen to make it a little warmer, keeping the baseboards and trim a lighter shade.