I have worked in construction for most of adult life, since 1970, as a builder, currently semi retired do to injury, now over the years, I have never layed a hard wood floor, never had a call for one,

I am doing it for my self in our 100+ year old farm house, and thought I had it figured out, how to proceed, but as I have been reading forums I have started to question my thoughts.

any way here is the question, my old house has fir strip flooring as the floor,(the way I remember about 3" wide) none currently exposed, (no sub flooring) jsut the t&G fir floor, I was going to remove all old roll vinal and other flooring and hard board underpayments down to the fir floor,

my first idea was jsut to put the oak (2 1/4" strip) down over the old fir, and in the same direction as the fir as that is across the joists, but as I read about expansion and so forth of the new flooring's, and woods, I have been second guessing my original thoughts.
(I have some defects, in one location 6" of no flooring as the original floors did not run under the walls more of a balloon type framing).
other wise I may jsut try to sand out the old fir flooring and use that. thus the new wood.

how would you in the business suggest to proceed? I would prefer not to build up the floors any more than necessary,

I guess my main concern is laying the oak in the same direction as the fir flooring? if that will cause or potentially cause a problems? the fir is of course running across the joists.


Thankyou for your thoughts,