Knotty pine flooring is found in many styles of homes, cabins, and cottages. Pine has been used for centuries in America and Europe as a favorite flooring material. Its affordable cost and ease of installation are just a couple of its many benefits.
If you are building a new home or replacing old floors, consider knotty pine. Red pine, also called Norwegian pine, is one of the best varieties to use. Let’s explore why this natural product is ranked so high by so many people.
What Is Knotty Pine Flooring?
Knotty pine flooring is milled from straight and tall pine trees that grow naturally in forests and on tree farms. Once trees are harvested, sawn into boards, and kiln-dried, they are milled into flooring and sanded. The common dimensions for unfinished flooring are ¾” thick and 4”, 5”, and 6” wide. The lengths vary from 2’ to 8’ to add variety to floor layouts.
The best pine flooring has the tongue and groove end-matching design for easier and faster installation. A tongue is milled on one side and end and a groove is shaped on the opposite side and end of each piece. Two pieces fit snugly together on the sides or ends and nailed into place in the grooves on subflooring.
Knotty pine flooring is available in sanded unfinished and pre-finished conditions. Each has its benefits and costs for you to explore.
Knotty Pine Flooring Is A Favorite
It’s no secret why knotty pine is such a favorite flooring material. Its benefits make it a splendid choice for homeowner and contractor use. Here is why its sales are high:
- Affordable Cost – Knotty pine costs 1/3 to 1/2 less than hardwoods and exotic woods
- Gorgeous Appearance – The dark knots, wood color, and grain patterns are beautiful
- Ease of Installation – Less measuring and sawing are required and the boards are nailed to the subfloor with a nail gun
- Kiln-Dried – Each piece is properly kiln-dried for moisture content and staining
- Defect-Free – Each piece is hand-inspected to be free from defects
- Factory Sanded – The boards are sanded at the mill so you don’t have to sand them
- Easily Stained – Knotty pine flooring can be stained in a wide range of colors
- Durable – This wood is durable, stable, and can be easily resanded to change colors
- Homeowner Installation – Homeowners with woodworking knowledge and skills can install and finish this product.
“Pine has been used for centuries in America and Europe as a favorite flooring material.”
New Construction Or An Upgrade?
Knotty pine flooring is a super product whether you are building a new house, making a room addition, or replacing an existing floor. There are some things to consider before installation:
New Construction – Contractors and homeowners must ensure the floor joists are spaced the correct distance apart for supporting the floor and everything that will be put into the room. The subfloor material should be ¾” thick and adequately screwed into the floor joists so it lays completely flat and level.
The flooring boards are typically installed so they run the same direction as the longest wall, although this is not mandatory. The first row is nailed into place with a nail gun that serves as the base point for the rest of the floor. Make sure it is square to the desired wall so the following rows are correctly installed. After installation, put the baseboards and door trims into place.
Replacing Floors – When replacing an old floor, carefully remove the baseboards and remove the nails by pulling or driving them through the holes so they come out the backside. Remove the old flooring material and recycle it if possible. If the existing subfloor is securely screwed or nailed to the joists, level, flat, and undamaged, you can proceed to clean it and lay the new floor. You should replace any damaged subfloor before laying the knotty pine flooring. After installation and finishing, replace the old baseboards or nail up new baseboards.
Unfinished Or Pre-Finished Knotty Pine Flooring
The best flooring mills offer the choice of sanded unfinished flooring, pre-stained, and pre-finished with a clear coat only. Use these pros and cons to help make a decision:
Unfinished | Pre-Stained | Pre-Fished Clear Coat Only |
Pros |
Pros | Pros |
Least expensive | Stain already applied | Clear finish already applied |
Joy of finishing wood | Order with clear coat or | No need to sand between coats |
Already sanded | Order without cleat coat | Fast installation |
Many stain colors available | ||
Fast installation | ||
Cons | Pros | Pros |
Longer installation time | Cost more than unfinished | Cost more than unfinished |
Buy finishing materials | No finishing material cost | No finishing material cost |
Clean finishing tools | No mess to clean up | No mess to clean up |
May need to hire painter | No painter to hire | No painter to hire |
In summary, knotty pine flooring is a perennial favorite because it is a durable, beautiful, and affordable material. When compared to hardwoods, it’s a great buy.
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