Flummoxed over Flooring

Rob-Portrait351I have had a project on my to-do list for over a year now. In fact, if you had asked me at any time in the past year what the next task on my docket was, I would have told you without hesitation, “I am putting in a new wood floor in my living room/dining room.” And I would not have intentionally been lying about it!

But here it is over a year gone and that really tatty off-white carpet is still on the floor and not a stick of wood has been purchased for the effort. Why is that? Well, there are a couple of reasons. First, and perhaps foremost, I am a member of the Procrastinators of America Society (established 1974, our first meeting will happen soon). Second, I can’t decide what species of wood I am going to put on the floor. For several months, I was dead set on quartersawn long leaf pine … I had it sourced in Georgia and nearly pulled the trigger. Then I got the shipping estimate and said “Whoa, Nelly!” (I also belong to the “I am an exceptionally cheap woodworker” support group.)

Since that time I have “decided” on black ash flooring, curly maple, reclaimed hickory, locally harvested elm and bamboo. Yet the crummy carpet remains. So my question is this … how can I move from this spot of indecision? Which species should I choose? I am looking for guidance, and I think this is just the right group to ask.

Rob Johnstone, Woodworker’s Journal

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