Just got done putting down 3/4" unfinished oak in the hallway and for the first time doing it I am quite happy with the results.



However, there was one unexpected problem I encountered and after the research I did (2 books from a library, dvd video, youtube, forums) I am surprised I never came across this. What is sold as 2.25 oak can vary quite a bit in width. I realized this after a couple rows when I ran into this...see photo below:



No matter how hard I whacked on it with the nail gun or how hard I shimmed and tried to pry it straight, that gap was not closing. So I started measuring widths with my micrometer and came up with a range of 2.17 to 2.27. I discarded everything outside the range of 2.24 to 2.26 and that took care of my problem. It was time consuming but for a floor that should last the rest of my lifetime I felt it was worth it.

Is this normal? Do the pros have access to better grade wood where this is not a problem? I bought mine at Menards for 3.28 per sq ft. and now I am wondering if I should spend a bit more for my next project...the kitchen. I saw some Bruce flooring at Home Depot for a bit more...would that be better in terms of dimensions / quality? Any other tips on where to buy good unfinished 2.25 oak strip?

Thanks

You'll get better quality by buying outside a big box store. Many guys in this business will stick with the same source for decades regardless of price. It's just a matter of finding the good sources. Looks like you've done a great job by the looks of it.

I just installed 2.25" prefinished red oak that l bought from Hosking. The product was manufactured by Muskoka and the milling was excellent. I paid approximately $5.46/sq foot. Hosking has a web site, is family owned, and very good to deal with.

Like Ken said, there are good and bad sources for material. As pros, most of our suppliers carry good ,average and below average products .

Frankly, the whole planet is in a hurry to get everything done and I rarely see flooring or lumber that is milled as good as it was back in the 60's and 70's. When I install a brand of flooring with mediocre milling , I simply tell my supplier that I don't like it and then I don't buy it again. And premium grade lumber is still out there but comes at a premium price.

That's the problem for most consumers that it comes with a price. They think Why should I pay this for flooring when I can get this other brand here for this much less. You get what you pay for, same with installation this other guy will do it for this much less. Why should I pay more.

It is normal to have areas that may need wood patch to fill a minor defect.
Use putty just before the final coat of finish or pre-finished wood patch if you have laid pre-finished flooring.
The flooring may have been perfect as it was leaving the mill, but changed dimension after it was acclimated. You can always save out pieces that don't match and use them near the wall.