Installing Hardwood Flooring

When you have an addition/extension or home built, you will get quoted an average price per square foot.  In our area it ranges from 150/square foot and up.  So, take the 400 square feet we put on and multiply that by $150.  Now, that did not include a bathroom, so a bathroom would (and did) bump up the price.  Most general bathroom installs start at about 10k and move up RAPIDLY once you start changing what tile and fixtures you're using. 

For example, our proposal had an allowance of $2/square foot for bathroom tile.  I signed the contract and then eventually went tile shopping.  Guess what?  The tile in the dumpsters behind Home Depot costs more than $2/square foot.

Anyway, the price you're quoted often does NOT include floors, paint, or light fixtures.  The added room off of my living room is a home office (for me) and occasional guest room for our out-of-town relatives.  Dave did the floors in the two added bedrooms, but the office is different.  Our living room has laminate flooring.  On it's own, it's not the worst thing in the world.  (How's that for laminate advertising??) 

What I Hate About This Floor

It was installed next to our lovely hardwood floors (pictured right).  It's not the same color and it's no going in the same direction.  In addition, the idiots that put it in didn't fix the height of the floor so there's a slight gap between the hall and living room which is perfect for collecting debris like smooshed goldfish crackers.

 

Room Without a Floor

The room in the far back of this photo is the office.  That large opening is fitted for french doors.  This will give me (and our guests when they are using it) privacy.   Of course, my kids will likely be in college by the time we do all this, so I may not need them.   However, we can't put those in until the floor is put in.  In case you missed it:

1. Can't install french doors until office floor is installed.
2. Can't install office floor until the floor in living room is installed.
3. Can't install any floors until they are all same level.
4. Can't do any layering to the office floors until they have busted through the old basement through to the new basement.  For now, that's the only way down in there.

The office does not have a floor.  It's subflooring (plywood).  I have put an area rug over it to cover it for now.  However, it's not the same level as the living room (we've had lots of stubbed toes).  It's off by a solid 1 1/2 inches.  It's probably too hard to see in this photo below, but the floor in the office needs to be built up, the living room floor needs to also be built up to meet up with the floor.  (It's done with layering sheets of plywood--which honestly isn't cheap).

What I Want

I'd like the floor specialists to come in, level out all the floors and install oak hardwood to match up with the rest of the house.  I don't want want any thresholds going from room to room--all one smooth surface.   It can all be done--by the pros anyway.  THEN, I'll be done.  Oh wait.. I forgot about....  ;)