Can I make my own hardwood flooring?

I am wanting to put hardwood flooring in my kitchen and hallway. However, after pricing some flooring at lowes...it will cost almost $400 to do this. The space needed to be floored is 412 sq ft. However, I can only afford about $200 to do the space... Is there a way that I can make my own hardwood flooring or a place where I can find it cheap enough - like $.50 a sq. ft? I was thinking that if I get nice plywood, and cut it into planks, along with staining them and coating them, I could then glue them onto the floor just like you would regular hardwood floor. This way I could also make the floor match my cabinets... Any websites is greatly appriciated!

Public Comments

1. You can use plywood but I do not recommend it. When you take a close look at the edge of plywood you can see the finished (the top) layer is very thin. It will wear out quickly, and that will leave a real mess. Have you considered laminate flooring? Laminate is less expensive than Hardwood.
2. no, not unless your a carpenter. :)
3. Unless you have an extensive wood shop with a planer, rough, edge sander, etc etc, dont even try it. the process to make hardwood flooring (hard wood) requires very specific parameters as to dryness, hardness, the tongue and groove , the surface prep and finish. not only that the under layment and nailing surface have to be prepared as well. try to find a hobo or flooring clearance center near you they would be the best chance to get inexpensive flooring.
4. Amber, I hate to tell you this, but plywood, even with a hardwood surface isn't hardwood. The remaining plys are softwood... usually pine. Also, the edges would not be tongue and groove. It's impossible to seal the cut edges and almost impossible to seal the surface ply. As moisture sinks in, the floor will warp and buckle. I recently put bamboo flooring down in my hallway. Lowe's and Home Depot wanted about $400 for the flooring, but I found it at discount flooring company in Dalton Georgia and paid less than $200 for it. Try looking for a discount store.
5. By the time you get the tools to make it and buy the wood you would have spent more than $400. If you credit is good get a Lowe's card. They usually have no interest on purchases above $299 for a year and give you 10% off on the first purchase. So you are only spending $360. Charge the $360 on one day and make a $200 payment the next day. You will only owe $160 over 12 months that is $13 a month. That way you get what you want. If this doesn't sound like something you want to do, then break out the phone book and look under flooring. You might also check the classified ads under building materials. Good Luck.
6. you could definitely do it that way but im pretty sure you would not like the result at all. but if want it to look nice you do: 1) go to this website www.lumberliquidators.com/ they have super cheap hardwood and laminate 2) theres a store called ValueCity is pretty much like ross or goody's and i've noticed they are selling laminate hardwood and they're giving people a video.
7. I did it .... cut plywood in strips.. glued it down ... stained it .... then put many coats of poly on it..... every one says it looks good.... it just isn't hard wood flooring ... it is a wood floor..... I'm going to do another room after the holidays.. good luck...