Flooring in Log home - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

C.C.R. · 08-30-2006, 01:35 PM

I have a client that wants me to finish the interior of a log home he's had framed, and I have a couple of questions about the flooring. It's going to be Southern Yellow Pine throughout except baths.

I would like to see him put a more dense wood in the kitchen due to traffic and items dropping. I suggested Ash but I want it to go with the pine (open floor plan) either matching or complimenting it. Cabinets are hickory. Maybe go with hickory?
The 2nd floor sub-floor is that 2 1/2" thick t&g . According to the design he has the flooring running parallel to the T&G. I'm seeing big seperation down the road. Right? I think the flooring should run perpendicular. Or am I worrying for nothing?

Thanks for any and all advice and oppinions.

Big Dave · 08-30-2006, 06:03 PM

C.C.R, go with the pine but distress it so that when something is dropped on it in the future the new dent will disappear in the sea of other dents. The southern yellow pine is harder that white pine which is what I lay. The flooring should be laid perpendicular to the floor joist.

Make sure to have the air conditioning on and have the wood in the house about a week and a half before installation to acclimate to the temperature and humidity.

They also need to know that the humidity in the house needs to be maintained at between 35 and 45% or else the flooring will cup or shrink.

I've got a couple that have small children that ride their tricycles on the wood floor and to date no visible damage yet, and that is white pine.

The other option is to put in a rough sawn wood floor. These have been very popular of late and I have been installing and finishing several. I've got one that is 2700 square feet in a million dollar home coming up in about 4 weeks.

Here is a picture of one of my distressed pine floors.

Dave.

edit: I didn't see your post about the second floor subfloor being the 2 1/2" thick. I would just sand and finish it, if it's pine and not plywood.

Big Dave · 08-30-2006, 06:12 PM

Oh I forgot, here is a picture of the only yellow pine floor that I have done. I distressed it also. The homeowner has small children and she said she wanted it beat beyond recognition. It took me and my wife 8 hours to beat up the floor which was about 1400 sq. ft.

Dave.

dayspring · 08-30-2006, 08:09 PM

Very nice floors Dave. I'm working on a log home right now with pine floors in it. They are about 13 years old and look beautiful.

**Floorwizard** · 08-31-2006, 08:45 PM

it doesn't look distressed. I see a high gloss which seems to me to be high maintenance.

looks awesome tho.

Big Dave · 08-31-2006, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Florcraft

it doesn't look distressed. I see a high gloss which seems to me to be high maintenance.

looks awesome tho.

Look at the pictures again.....the little black marks are dents in the floor where they soaked up the stain and turned darker. The finish on both floors is a satin also.

Dave.

Mr. D · 08-31-2006, 10:04 PM

i've done a lot of log homes w/ pine floors. they always look nice distressed or regular. They will become distressed eventually. it's mostly personal preference. you can help them out with some high quality finish products for sure. i personally am a big fan of mixed hardwoods. ash, beech, cherry is a fun mix. all in all "wood is good" is my motto.

as for the second floor, i agree with dave on that one sand and finish and wha-la. but if you do have to put something on top of it i would run perpendicular to the 2x.

**Floorwizard** · 09-05-2006, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Look at the pictures again.....the little black marks are dents in the floor where they soaked up the stain and turned darker. The finish on both floors is a satin also.

I see that.
I guess because I have many children and would want to just live on my wood, I would consider distressed more like a handscraped or wire brushed look.
More matte finish never sand stuff.

but seriously, those floors look amazing.