Are herringbone wood floors worth the extra planning and cost? For many homeowners, the answer depends less on the style itself and more on how it fits into the renovation budget, the rooms being updated, and the flooring that’s already in place.
A few smart choices can make a big difference. these Dessert The projects show how homeowners dealt with herringbone in their own renovations.
Key takeaways
- Pre-cut herringbone flooring may provide another option when custom-cut materials are more expensive or take longer to obtain.
- Using herringbone in select rooms can limit the amount of specialty flooring required.
- Wood species and stains can greatly change the look of the same style.
- The original herringbone flooring may be worth evaluating before considering replacement.
- Flooring changes made after construction has begun can affect both Renovation budget And the schedule.
1. Cut costs by using pre-cut white oak
At Janet’s A boutique hotel in Brooklyn has been renovatedThe existing floors were covered in vinyl and old carpet. She wanted natural wood instead and chose white oak with a herringbone pattern.
Her first plan called for this Custom cut flooringBut the material came at a high price and a lead time of approximately two months. Instead of abandoning this style, Janet found pre-finished herringbone flooring for about half the price.
This change allowed her to keep the flooring she wanted without paying for custom manufacturing. You can see how the finished floor matches Janet’s exposed beams, dark cabinets and other materials Home renovation.
This is also the type of sourcing decision that can benefit from early conversations with a general contractor. An experienced contractor can help homeowners compare available flooring options, understand lead times, and see where material choices may impact the construction schedule.
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2. Save walnut for main living spaces
In a Brooklyn BrownstoneNazli chose walnut wood for the flooring of the main hall, including the kitchen and adjacent living spaces.
Walnuts were a splurge, so she didn’t keep eating them around the house. Less expensive white oak was used upstairs instead. I was also considered a hake Tiles for kitchen Before you decide to carry the walnut flooring across the entire salon level.
Using more expensive wood allowed her to selectively place it in the part of the house she wanted without repeating the same material upstairs.
The flooring is part of a down-home renovation of a Brooklyn brownstone, which shows how flooring options can change from one level of a home to the next while still feeling like part of the same project.
3. Make room in the budget to change the flooring
Flooring wasn’t originally one of my biggest expenses Jeremy Hudson Yards renovation. The existing maple flooring was expected to remain, while most of the initial budget was focused on the kitchen.
Once work began, the flooring decision became less clear. Add new hardwood In the kitchen that meant either trying to match the maple wood that Jeremy didn’t particularly like or reconsidering more of the existing flooring.
After about a month of construction, and with demolition already underway, he expanded the project to include an espresso-stained white oak herringbone plank floor. The change increased the cost and delayed the renovation process by about a month, but the floors ended up being one of his favorite parts of the finished apartment.
Evaluating such changes can be easier using a A contractor who understands How one decision affects the rest of the job. Flooring can touch on demolition, material orders, room transitions, and scheduling, so knowing these influences before agreeing to a change can help homeowners make a more informed decision.
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4. Use the pattern in shared living areas
The herringbone pattern doesn’t have to continue in every room.
in Renovate this Laurel Canyon homeA zigzag through the open living and dining rooms was used as part of the home’s Old Hollywood-inspired design.
Matching wood flooring continues in the foyer and bedrooms. Wood remains visually connected throughout the home, while the change in pattern gives the main common spaces a distinctive look.
This can be one way to use herringbone wood flooring without carrying the pattern throughout every part of the house. It also gives homeowners more flexibility when deciding where a specialty flooring style makes the most sense for their design and budget.
5. Restore the original herringbone oak floors
Not every herringbone floor needs new installation.
Kasey was specifically looking for a pre-war Manhattan apartment with original oak floors. The apartment he considered was carpeted, but he saw other units in the building where the original patterned flooring was still there.
During the final inspection, Casey lifted the corner of the rug and found an oak herringbone underneath. The floors were in good enough condition to be part of the renovation rather than being covered or removed.
His project involved sanding, sanding and refinishing it. Once restored, the original flooring was once again a visible part of the apartment’s pre-war character.
Kasey’s Park Avenue apartment renovation It is a good example of the need to evaluate existing flooring before finalizing replacement plans.
A general contractor can help coordinate this evaluation with the rest of the renovation, especially when old flooring is hidden under carpeting or later finishes. If the flooring can be saved, this decision may also impact demolition, refinishing, room moves and other nearby work.
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6. Replace the existing fishbone with new dye
Barbara took a different approach to the flooring in her Kensington; Brooklyn co-op. Instead of introducing a new pattern, the floors were refinished, so that their original herringbone design became more pronounced again.
An oak stain was used throughout the apartment. The new finish changed the look of the wood while keeping the pattern already in place.
Barbara was surprised at how much of a difference the refinishing process made. The updated flooring also fits into the broader renovation, which brought brighter finishes and updated many areas of the apartment.
For homeowners who already have weathered floors, it may be worth discussing refinishing before replacement. Sanding and changing stains can significantly change the appearance of the wood while leaving the original pattern intact, as long as the condition of the floor allows it.
Herringbone wood flooring considerations
Choosing a style is only one part of the flooring decision. The type of wood, how it was obtained, where it was installed, and the condition of any existing flooring can affect the project.
Before finalizing the plan, consider discussing these points with your general contractor:
- Check the existing flooring first. In an older home or apartment, find out what’s actually underneath subsequent carpeting or flooring before assuming everything needs to be replaced.
- Compare types of wood. White oak and walnut produce significantly different results, and their prices can vary.
- Ask about prefabricated and custom flooring. Janet’s project shows how pre-producing gave her another option when custom-cut flooring was more expensive and slower to source.
- Think about where the pattern should go. Herringbone can cover an attached living area or be limited to specific rooms, while matching wood flooring continues elsewhere.
- Look at stain options besides wood. Stains can dramatically change the look of an existing or newly installed floor.
- Plan your flooring early when possible. Jeremy’s project shows how a flooring decision made after demolition can add time and cost to the renovation process.
Flooring decisions are rarely made on their own. It can affect cabinetry, transitions between rooms, demolition, finishing, scheduling, and other finishing options. An experienced general contractor can help homeowners understand those connections before materials are ordered or the work progresses too far.
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Frequently asked questions
What types of wood can be used for a herringbone floor?
Many homeowners use white oak and walnut for their herringbone floors. Wood species affect a floor’s finish grain and natural color, while stains can further alter its appearance.
Can existing herringbone floors be refinished?
Yes, if the condition of the floors allows it. The original Kasey oak floors were exposed, sanded, and refinished, while the existing Barbra floors were refinished with a Weathered Oak stain.
Can flooring options change during a renovation?
Yes, but subsequent changes may affect the budget and schedule. Jeremy added herringbone floors after demolition began, expanding the scope of the project and delaying the renovation by about a month.
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