hardwood floor...how best to get the look?

[Scooter]

Don't want linoleum in my tear, something like a hardwood floor in a house would look nice. What are some brands and methods of tile or other ways to get that look? I'm not averse to laying actual tongue and groove wood in there either. Whatever the case, it MUST appear genuine. Hate the fake wood look.

[Scooter]

Thinking further, a nice varnish on the standard plywood floor might look pretty good. Thoughts? Pics?

[Steve Frederick]

Scooter, Look at the outside walls of my stripper. They are maple veneer with a clear finish. You could get the same look on the floor, just use the ply of your choice, and varnish. Minwax Helmsman is my choice.

[john]

I chose to put down toung and groove. I was in the flooring section in lowes and came across a single 35sf box of engineered oak flooring for 15.00. 35sf was all I needed and the price was right. It's not in yet and won't be untill the weather drys. I'll post pics once it's glued in.

There was also another single box of flooring for the same price. It was not oak (forgotten what it is now) and there was only 25sf. Enough for the galley, though. Cheaper than a premade counter top or linoleum. Got pics of it here. http://photos.yahoo.com/johngwalkerjr

[BrianB]

I like how you did the walls, john. What type of plywood did you skin the inside and outside of the walls with?

[fornesto]

Look around at some of the discount "Pergo" like products. They look just like wood, lay in place without glue and don't swell or waterlog like wood. Also, don't require the maintenance of wood. I've done 'em in my house and highly recommend any of these products.

[john]

Brian,

Been busy with the political blogs of late. I'm sorry for the delayed reply.

The walls are made with 3/4 ugly cheap ply
3/4 foam
1/4 hard board ext. (to help support the skin)
1/4 import hardwood int. (at least they call it import hardwood at lowes. It is $11 plywood with a pretty side. It may be what some call luan. Not sure of that, though. I used it to cover all visible plywood. It's hard to match, being that the supply of the stuff looks different every time I go back to get more.)

The above thicknesses are approx. It all totals 1" thick with the glue, maybe 1/32 over here and there.


john

[Arne]

I thought about wood over the 3/4 base, but wood is heavy... went with shortnap commercial carpet... lighter and warmer on those cold evenings.