Since I'm a girl (surpriiiiise!!!) I can see all the colours in the human visual range. Science tells me that up to 30% of males have SOME form of colour blindness. That is to say they might not see what you see.

I don't mind the pale natural tones of red oak...but I prefer white oak in the higher grade (Select or better).

The home's inherent value will tell you where to spend and where to save. You might do well with a TOP grade Red Oak rather than lower grade of white oak. I like to compare roof pricing to floor pricing. The two line items should be comparable.

With all these multilevel roof lines (useless, showy, expensive) it is reasonable to increase the flooring allotment to have the inside match the outside.

What's the point in having a $55,000 roof when you can barely afford builder grade Berber carpet and sheet vinyl?

Oh, I know you wanted her ^^ opinion. She's smart and an expert in her field.

She is right, but I would like to add, as an observant layperson, that there are SO many threads in these forums of poor souls with un-trendy red oak, trying desperately to lighten it, get the red out, or admit it'll never look un-red unless they darken it a LOT. To a rather dark floor.

I would not install red oak thinking you can get the red out. You need an expert in floors, like SJ McCarthy, to do such a thing, or you may end up doing the work again, and again, and again. The mixing of stains is an art. And no reason to think someone who wants to save money on the color of the oak is going to spend more for a better grade of oak, or spend more for a decently good floor stain, or a really good floor person like SJ McCarthy. Have you asked her approximately what you'd be paying for her to install and stain your floor?

You're spending so much on installation (at least where I live), that any savings in material costs really doesn't amount to much.

SJ is trying to make you appreciate red oak, but she sees the beauty in it. If you don't think those red tones are beautiful, then I don't recommend installing it. I think you will be forever disappointed.

Use white oak, $.25-$.30 per square feet savings isn't worth the frustration.

The difference that we were quoted between a fine grade Red Oak, and lower grade White Oak was more than .25 -.30 per sqft. in our area. We had wanted a wider board white oak...because it is trendy. However, since we are wanting to stain our floors a medium walnut, we went the lower cost route and are going with traditional Red Oak. We have always been pleased with the sturdiness of Red Oak in our past homes.

SJ McCarthy - I would like your expertise of how to achieve a medium walnut color.

@ Everyone who is asking...thank you very much for your kind words. I'm just a 'salesperson' who has educated herself (like...stupid-amount of reading and learning and loving wood) on the steps.

My technical skills end rather quickly. Sorry to disappoint. Wood flooring pros like G&S, Oak and Broad, etc. are much more qualified to talk about the 'how to' achieve a specific colour on a specific species in a specific grade.

I support BOTH white and red oak...but it is a personal decision. What I am trying to point out is to get what you are COMFORTABLE with. Comfort comes in many guises. It comes with having a healthy bank account (sigh...I'm a cheap a$$...so I'll 'put up' with something just because it offers what I kinda want at a price a I REALLY want). For others it comes with having done everything physically/financially possible to see a 'vision' come to life - without compromising on material costs.

To each their own. I support anyone who wants white oak...for them it is REALLY worth it. I support anyone who wants to maintain financial solvency AFTER the build is complete. I get it. I'm there with you - I'm in the Choir!

My 'comfort' zone is very different (because I'm in the biz...and have seen some FANTASTIC 'options' that make my bank account feel healthy). Most people do not have this 'behind the scenes' look. That's why I post such lengthy responses (ohhhh nooooo....did it again, didn't I?).

To manage one's own expectations and creature comforts, one has to KNOW the options and then balance what they feel strongly about vs. the reality of their situation. That's why I point to the 'roof line' concept. The McMansions have made us believe the ROOF LINE is SUPER important for first impressions. I think they are idiotic...because they waste MONEY.

If someone allows a designer (whosoever did the blue prints) to spend all of their money on a roof line, the least the homeowner can do is put the same cost/benefit ratio into the INTERIOR of the home. That means if you have a $55,000 roof line, then you really should be looking at $55,000 (or some such amount) on FLOORING for the interior. With that healthy number, you can have white oak and any stone tile you want.

Thanks for the thoughtful replies. I do hear what you are saying about the cost and I can appreciate that point. Are there any reputable hardwood floor floor suppliers I can look at online for cost comparison and maybe eventually purchase the wood from?

Amy

The easiest thing to do is google "local hardwood mills". You will get a dozen to 100 different mills in your area. These are the places the locals (ma and pa stores) get their product from.

Remember: there are THREE things that are brought together to create 'total cost' for the job.

1. LABOUR - Yep...it's top of the top. Your labour is going to be 1/2 your price and 100% of the 'look'.

2. Finish and stain choices - A low-cost finish is going to save you $1.50/sf. A high-cost finish is going to GIVE YOU the benefits of SUPER TOUGH and SUPER FAST CURING times....and NO ODOUR!

3. The wood - notice how it is LAST? Right. Anyone can 'get' white oak, red oak, hard maple, sugar maple, birch, beech, hickory, etc! Anyone. If it is a N. American species you can get it where ever you live and whenever you want. This is the easiest part of the floor project.

A bad wood can be made to look REALLY good if you pick the BEST stains and the BEST finish and the BEST flooring installer/finisher.

A TERRIFIC wood floor can be made to look like the dog's breakfast if you work with "Joe Cheap" with his 15 year old Minwax cans. Since this is a new build, you will have a GC. The GC's pick will be the talent. The talent then picks the finish. And the homeowner is at the mercy of the build.

Do your diligence and FIND OUT what WHO the GC uses and where his/her talent ENDS. You never want the finisher to run out of talent before s/he runs out of flooring.