Wide plank flooring in European oak

Our library floors come in planks from 6 to 14 inches wide, in random lengths of 6 to 10 feet or 10 to 16 feet, in 28 colors of European oak. Wide, long boards mean fewer joints, and the grain of each board reads across the room.

Width, length and the room

Wider boards suit larger rooms and long sight lines; in a narrow hallway, a board of 7 or 8 inches, or narrower, often looks better than a 14 inch one. Mixing two or three widths gives a floor the look of an older house. Long boards show best when the room is long enough to let them run.

Engineered or solid in wide boards

Wide boards move more with humidity, so in apartments with steam heat we recommend engineered boards, which stay flatter and show smaller seasonal gaps. Every floor in our library is engineered, with a 5 mm oak wear layer.

Subfloor and installation

Wide planks need a flat subfloor, because a long, stiff board bridges dips instead of following them. We level the subfloor before installation and glue the boards down over concrete, or nail them over plywood in townhouses.

Grade and surface

Width shows every knot and color change more clearly, so grade matters: select for a quiet floor, natural for some character, character for knots and color movement. Brushed, hand planed and nature dried surfaces add texture that hides everyday wear.

Compare widths full size at our showroom in the D&D Building.