I currently have natural oak floors in my living room and running down th hall to three bedrooms which are carpeted. I plan on installing hardwood floor in the bedrooms now and have decided on Tarkett satin prefinished red oak boards. My question is if it is correct to use a different flooring in the bedrooms as it is connected by the hall. Again I am using prefinished red oak which is a warmer stain and grooved whereas the hall and living room is natural and ungrooved. I suppose it all comes down to a matter of taste but I would appreciate opinions as this could be an expensive error.

Also, any opinions on Tarkett hardoods?

Thanks,

Ed

That is a hard one to answer Ed. I take it you have a sand on site natural finish oak floor in the living room and hall and the three bedrooms have carpet that you want to use a prefinished micro beveled edge oak in a different shade.

The color issue would be a personal preference and whether or not you plan on moving in the near future. On occasion I have done jobs similar to this with good results. You will need a good clean transition directly underneath each door when it is shut to pull it off. How you do that depends on what the original installer left you to work with, and whether the floor is run parallel or perpendicular at each door.

Another way to do this where it may actually add more to the resale would be to use two different colors of prefinished in each bedroom. That would involve using a natural finish to bring you into the room, lay all the field wild (either straight or diagonally) in the darker shade, cut all the field allowing for a 1,2 or 3 board border, slot cut and spline right on the floor and run the perimeter boarder in the natural finish. That would look outstanding but its going to cost you and you will need an installer who is capable of doing that with a prefinished.

Thanks Jerry, I appreciate the advice. Do you any opinion on the Tarkett brand?

Ed

Tarkett has different price points like most brands offer. The majority of my jobs have been the Capital Strip label. I don't recall any problems with the milling or finish.