Argh.

I *really* wanted to buy from this site but since I'm not paying for the stuff initially I didn't have a whole lot of say in it. "Let's go local if the price is comparable," I was encouraged, and to keep everyone else happy I conceded.

I actually read the rules for the board here and know that I can't mention a product that's not sold by our host. I will say that since ------- carpet is pretty good I assumed the same name for hardwood flooring would be quality as well... <cough>

Boy are they nothing alike. My first warning was before I even opened up the package when I saw "MADE IN CHINA" written on the outside of the box. It went downhill from there quickly.

First off, it's supposed to be 3/4" but it's just over 5/8". The bullnose *is* 3/4", which should make matching it up to the floor rather interesting. Oh, and the rounded part of the bullnose where it hangs over the edge? It's less than 1/8" different from rest of the piece. And it's got scratches in it in several areas like it rode on the back of a truck on 2x4s across the country, but the scratches are not on the finish (which is glossy) but the wood itself. Quality stuff, I tell you. And the bullnose's grain looks nothing like the rest of the flooring.

Oh, and the groove in the bullnose is considerably wider than the tongue on the floor stock, so the flooring can be either higher *or* lower. Actually, it can be both; high on one side and low on the other. Whoopie.

Another reason they wanted to use this product was because the retailer would come out to the house and measure it so I (they) wouldn't have to worry about (me) messing that part up. I'll add that I'm in construction management so measuring floorspace is not quite out of my skill set, but whatever. Well, the idiots failed to include any thresholds for the three exterior doors or around the bricks surrounding the fireplace. I'm sure glad I they got an expert in there to do the measuring!

Not that I'm bitter or anything...

I'm very grateful for this board! Thank you all so much for sharing your expertise!

I decided to read the entire history of posts, or whatever pertains to my project anyway before posting questions lest I ask something that's been discussed time and time again. I'm about two-thirds of the way through it thus far, but I'm pretty sure I can find a way to ask *something* that hasn't been asked yet (BTW, which is better; nails or staples?).

Anyway, thanks again for being here. It's nice knowing I have a life-line of sorts for when I get into a jam.

Oh, a quickie: Is the crappy bullnose going to be a problem I should address before I start? I mean the 1/8" lip part, other than not being able to nail it from below. I'm going to call them tomorrow about the thresholds and demand a non-scratched bullnose, but if it'd be better to tell him to credit me for the crappy one and find one with a better lip then I'll do it.

just curious here.....but, how did you plan on making 3/4" bullnose match 5/8" floor boards? were you going to plane it down to 5/8"?

I don't have a planer so I was going to try and build up the one side with felt. Like I said, there's quite a bit of play in it. The problem is that either side can be too high or two low compared to the other. I'm very open to suggestions.

I'm going to call the guy and complain about the finish of the bull nose today anyway. I have this fantasy that the replacement piece will better.

Again, is the 1/8" lip at the nose going to be too small? If so I can tell him I want a different product, perhaps, and maybe that one will magically fit better.

that 1/8" height difference is going to show up like 5" when you're done. you won't be happy with the looks of it.... it'll stick out like a sore thumb. adding more felt paper, to me, isn't a good idea because nothing is going to promise the felt paper will remain at the same height, especially when the floor is nailed down.

the thing to watch for is the relationship between the tonges of your floor boards and the groove in the bullnose. they must be the same height from the floor.

if at all possible, go back and get another product that all pieces match. sounds like you're going to have problems with that floor that will make the job an installation from hell.

If the T&G matched at either the top or bottom, I'd consider shimming it inside the groove but I can't get it even on either extreme.

Replacing it with possibly a different brand all together sounds like what needs to be done.

Oh, and THIS thread doesn't give me much hope for the quality of the product in general...

< sigh >

If it wasn't for the libel issues, I'd request that you guys start a list of woods to avoid at all costs.

remember the old saying: "you get what you pay for"? that also includes flooring. like i said before, to save a few bucks, you're going to drive yourself crazy trying to "re-design" the flooring and in the end, you won't be happy with it.

load it all up and return it for something better...or better yet, see what this site has to offer. i'm willing to bet you can find what you need right here.

Sending it back and getting something else isn't an option at this point, sadly, largely due to time constraints.

So, I called the store last night and they're going to replace the bull nose because of the scratches, but didn't quite understand why I wanted the rounded end to be bigger. He is supposedly going to look into getting a standard one, but I haven't much hope there, I think. He did say that it should have fit better.

I asked him about the baby threshold and why nothing was provided for the doors. "Oh, I just turn a piece of the flooring sideways and match it up to the door." "How do you allow for expansion?" "I never do."

Did I mention that I'm just outside of Seattle where moisture is always a consideration?

Me: "Not even on the ends?!? Everything I've read anywhere says you're going to have problems if you don't leave a gap." "Well, I can see floating floors needing it but not 3/4" solid like you have." "You've never had any problems?" "Eh, I have seen a little bit of cracking occasionally..."

I don't understand why you guys say not to believe the sales rep...

So anyway, he's going to get me a few pieces of baby threshold as well. I can't wait to see how this all is going to turn out.

Oh yeah, he said if it's in the warehouse (hour away) then it'll be here by Thursday. If it's not, it'll get here a week from Thursday.

And they didn't want to get it though this site because it would take too long to get here...

on my thresholds i did exactly what that sales rep said to do: i turned them perpendicular to the flooring, and, using either the tongue or groove, slid the flooring tight against it. i'm laying 3/4" floor boards and there was no way i was going to leave any gaps in a doorway. i did privide space around the outside edges, maybe 1/2" at the most. i nailed those floor boards down every 8" as we laid them, and for the life of me i can't see how any expansion is going to move them in any direction. i bought extra cleats knowing i'd be using alot of them.

right or wrong...that's how i've been doing it.