I bought mine prefinished from Huron Hardwood in Canada (www.huronhardwoodfloors.com); however, they do have unfinished. I got select and better white oak solid 3/4 inch (4 inches wide) for $4.23 a square foot delivered. It is incredibly beautiful! There is a 3% upcharge for paying by credit card. There was virtally no waste, and we allowed 5% for waste and had almost 12 boxes left over after installation. The only problem we had was getting the semi truck up the driveway. The owner of the company was incredibly knowledgeable and helpful to us and answered questions at length both before and after the sale. I am extremely pleased with my floors, both for the quality and the price.

Generally, we budget approximately $500-700 per single window opening for material only. This budget pricing practice can be faulty when a project includes multiple radius windows, as curves generally increase the price substancially. Other items that increase per unit pricing would included divided lights, specialty glass or hardware. You are currently reviewing a couple of good window manufacturers. We always accept bids from at least three material suppliers, and make attempts to ensure that the material specifications between manufacturers are similar. In the example of windows, we generally look at Eagle, Kolbe and Marvin, as all three utilize extruded aluminum sash and frame cladding and solid wood construction, and thus are generally rated high in structural testing. We feel confident that the high structural ratings, among other criteria, will provide a solid permanent fixture for our clients. Additionally, when dealing with tight budgets, we never compromise on the permanent fixtures of the home. These fixtures include foundations, framing, plumbing, windows and wiring; items that are very expensive to replace. We've found that it is much easier and less costly to replace wood floors, kitchen counters, light and plumbing "fixtures", roofing, etc., so these are the items that receive attention when budget constraints are in place.

In my area there are a lot of small lumber dealers that don't necessarily advertise in the Yellow Pages or have web sites. One I stumbled on after seeing a small sign in front of his house. Believe it or not, his lumber business is located in the basement of his house. All of his lumber is locally harvested and sawn. He doesn't stock large quantities, nor does he carry a lot of different species, but his prices are very reasonable and the quality of the wood is quite good. Another fellow I know of is well known among local woodworkers and cabinet makers, but doesn't advertise. His business is all word of mouth and is a fairly large operation. My point is that it can be beneficial to find local guy that you can trust. In your original post, you ask where cabinet makers buy their wood. Call a few up and ask them. You might find one of those small, local gems that offers good prices, selection and service to the home woodworker. Good luck.

Pine can be stunning and "rustic" looking. It does NOT like to take a stain! So the best option is a natural (colourless) finish. Basically it likes a nice sanding (careful with the tools...this stuff marks up quickly) and then several coats of your choice of polyurethane finish. In a rustic farmhouse, or shabby-chic/rustic chalet look, this would look just fine.