I"m no expert - but wider plank flooring provides less seams and a cleaner look. If you want to play it safe, I'd stay around a 5-8 inch width.

I personally prefer wide plank especially in an open concept home (assuming that is what your doing with a new build).

You will need to double your budget or more for materials and install. Wide plank engineered needs nailing and glueing. You will also need to upgrade your home’s HVAC system to a multi zone multi stage with a humidification system. Wood doesn’t like variances in humidity. That makes it move.

i would go with traditional width, finished in place floors for a timeless look. Flooring is one thing that really isn't fun to redo down the road, so sticking with something classic is a good idea.

I like rustic wide plank engineered. Lots of things in your house will require care. Find out what is needed and see if the things you'll like about wide plank are worth it to you. Or you could get a model Y and almost no care will be necessary. But that's an anomaly.

Go with 5” at least. You will love the look!

I like traditional narrow strip flooring, but with everything else in a room "modern." For example, the picture below (from my own house) is done in 1 3/4" wide oak.

Something to bear in mind is that the narrower the plank, the less prone it is to cupping, bowing, buckling (from expansion) and gaps (from shrinkage). For that reason, 90% of the project I do use 3 1/2" plank width or less.

But regardless of which plank width you select, I don't think real wood floors ever look dated.

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Wide Plank is the answer you seek. There are homes over 100 years old in the US with original wide plank flooring. In Europe.. hundreds of years old. It wont be dated. Just make sure you pick high quality product please!

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Also depends on the style of your home. If you want a country/casual/rustic look, then a wider plank floor works well. For a modern or formal traditional look, the thinner plank is better.

BUT as Home Reborn stated, where you live is very important in terms of humidity levels. Here in the coastal northeast US it is quite humid, which is not good for wide plank flooring, as it tends to "cup" due to expansion from humidity.

Again, though, wood floors are classic, and will never go out of style.

I thought wide plank was traditional??

Well...what's the architectural style of your house?

I'm surprised that no one seems to have brought up the installation and maintenance issues of wide-plank solid wood flooring. Lots of potential for movement and cupping, requiring special installation techniques. For wide-plank, many folks tend to think that engineered wood floors may be more durable and stable.

Time for the OP to do some due diligence.

Wide plank are not a fad they have be around for a very long time but I would not do more than 5” for sure and as mentioned the wider the plank the better the install needs to be and your climate definately has an effect on wood flooring.BTW wide plank flooring can go in a ny decor it is not just rustic.

Depends on the style of your home, what may work best for you. As I am in a log home, yes, I have 12 inch wide planks. This would have looked absolutely silly at my old home, standardized late 60s ranch, where narrow wood flooring looked best.

It has only been in for two years, so too early to tell you how it wears, but ATM I do love it. But I wouldn't love it in a house that doesn't work for it. In two years, no cupping yet (and I don't yet have A/C, but that will be arriving...) But I do agree, cupping can be a serious issue, which is one of several reasons A/C will be arriving.

Location location location. Where are you and what are your design preferences. I've lived in Europe where the 300 year old homes have wide planked floors. The GAPS between the planks are ENORMOUS (have a close look at photos from the inside of Windsor Castle or Buckingham Palace....those PLANKS have as much as 1/4" gap between them!!!!!).

I've also lived in 100 year old homes in the Canadian Prairies with narrow plank 2" strip hardwood. Those things were TIGHT...even without HVAC systems or humidity control (10% indoor humidity in the winter and 80% humidity just before a tornado in the summer).

Your LOCATION and TYPE of build (slab construction or wood joist/plywood subfloor system) will dictate the TYPE of wood floor you are allowed to have (engineered vs. solid). And the type of wood floor will dictate some of the maximum widths that would be *ideal in your situation.

Whew! So much depends on the location, the type of house and the type of installation of the wood. It can be VERY hard to decide the finishings if the house hasn't been designed yet.

If you have a few more hints you can throw our way, we would be happy to be more precise. Right now, all we can say is "Sure wide plank is nice...but it has issues with x, y, and z and sometimes a, b and c....and sometimes d, e, f and a lot of g."

I, too, am wanting to install wide plank 7” solid white oak flooring for n a new build, ranch with basement. We live in central Illinois where have cold winters and humid summers. We typically go from heat (forced air) to a/c and rarely open windows. The furnace has a humidifier installed. We do at times, have days where humidity is in mid 50% inside even with air on in summers... We run a dehumidifier in the basement in the summer. Do you think 7” solid is too big and will risk cupping? We’ve used 5” solid in previous home with no issues in 4 years, but I really want wider planks this time. our builder buys the wood and has it installed and finished on site. He used plain sawn boards. Any advice and especially experience is appreciated!!!

@Beth Coleman - I can practically guarantee that a 7" solid wood plank will cup/bow/shrink/buckle in all kinds of unpredictable ways. Anything over 5" wide should be modern engineered flooring, and it must be both glued and nailed down.

Thank you for your comments! I had a feeling, even though the installer will take on the job and said it would be nailed and glued at 7”. I just haven’t been impressed with any budget friendly 7” engineered (typically 3mm). They seem cheaply made to me... As if they look nice at instal but will likely not last long....

Thanks for your comments! I had a feeling 7” solid planks would be unstable but haven’t been able to find someone with personal experience in my area. Even though the installer is willing to do it using a nail and glue install.... I just haven’t been able to find an affordable engineered that looks to be good quality (most are 3mm). I’m afraid it will not last long without spending double the price point we are wanting to stick with.

Sometimes the lighter, perhaps 'cheaper-looking' solution is actually the right one. It's true that solid natural hardwood is more expensive, but any piece of natural wood is full of internal tensions which are always trying to twist it this way and that. When you slice the same wood into thin sheets and laminate it to a plywood and composite base, you get stability without sacrificing durability. Almost all modern wood furniture is made this way - your floors should be too.

i love narrow plank, its some how much more.... varied if that makes sense? it makes me think of hair with highlights vs more monotone look of wider plank. so id go with traditional vs wideplank if narrow (ie strip flooring like I have) is not an option