Flooring Time

         After finishing all the painting, we finally decided on which flooring to use (after waiting pretty late).  We found a prefinished, hand distressed White Oak floor with a light brown stain.  The lumber is Rift & Quarter Sawn so it looks different than average oak flooring.  This looks closer to nice oak furniture, probably like your parents' antique cabinet. The difference comes from how the lumber is cut.  If you're looking at a log straight on like a circle, plainsawn lumber is cut horizontally, like cutting bread.  R&Q is cut all the way across the center like a pizza.  That may not mean much to you but it makes a big difference in how the lumber looks and reacts to moisture.  We're really happy with how ours looks and are grateful for all the help we've had in installing it ourselves, especially from Dad.

Here you see we laid out a layer of roofing felt paper that helps the flooring sit tighter to the subfloor and sound more solid.  We then snapped a chalkline across the back of the living room/kitchen and started at it.  I have more pictures of this process but they're on my Dad's camera and he's on his way, with Mom, to Washington state.  I'll try to add them later.

As for the bathrooms and garage entry area with bathroom and laundry room (aka: mudroom), we wanted tile floors but didn't want to add that cost.  So, we had some lower end vinyl flooring installed by a friend's company.  We like how it turned out and expect it to last for a while.  When we're ready to install tile, we'll be able to lay it right over the vinyl.  In this picture it looks sort of pinkish - it's not.  It's mostly cream and brown.  And that hallway wall isn't green.  I don't know why it looks like that in the picture.