Red Oak Installation with Rubio Monocoat, Downtown Smithfield
Existing carpet and worn original hardwood in a downtown Smithfield home. We tore out the carpet, dried the subfloor after water damage, and installed new 2.25" red oak -- lacing in where needed to tie it into the existing wood. Finished with Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C.
Species
Red Oak, 2.25"
Finish
Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C
Completed
2025
This Smithfield hardwood installation project involved tearing out carpet and worn original hardwood, drying and stabilizing a water-damaged subfloor, and installing new 2.25-inch red oak with lace-in work throughout. Finished with Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C for a natural, flat look with no film finish on top.
The Challenge
The home had a mix of old carpet and visibly worn 2.25" red oak underneath. A water damage event had also compromised the subfloor, so before any new wood could go down the subfloor had to be fully dried and assessed. The existing red oak was in rough shape -- worn through in the traffic areas -- so the decision was to tear out the carpet, address the subfloor, and bring in new wood to match the original 2.25" profile, lacing it in wherever the old and new met.
What We Did
Carpet was removed and the subfloor dried and stabilized. New 2.25" red oak was installed throughout, with lace-in work done at the transitions between new and existing boards. The full floor was then sanded and finished with Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C -- a single-coat penetrating oil that cures hard, saturates the grain, and leaves no built-up film finish on top. The result is a natural, flat look that reads warm without any plastic sheen.
Before
During
After
Products Used on This Project
Common Questions
What is Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C?
Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C is a catalyzed penetrating oil that bonds to wood fibers at a molecular level rather than building up on the surface. It is applied in a single coat, contains an added hardener (the 2C refers to the two-component system), cures in 5 days, and produces a completely flat, natural appearance with no plastic sheen. It is Zero VOC and spot-repairable: if a section of the floor is damaged, it can be oiled in place without sanding the entire surface.
How do you handle water damage to the subfloor before installation?
Water-damaged subfloor cannot receive hardwood until it is fully dried and structurally sound. We use moisture meters to establish baseline readings across the affected area, allow drying time with ventilation as needed, and retest before any wood goes down. Boards that have delaminated or lost structural integrity are replaced. Installing over a compromised subfloor guarantees future movement, squeaks, and potential floor failure.
What does lace-in work mean in hardwood installation?
Lace-in means weaving new boards into existing hardwood at a transition point. At each doorway or threshold where new and old wood meet, the new boards are cut in a staggered interlocking pattern and nailed into the existing boards. Once sanded, the seam is invisible. Lace-in is the correct method for tying new installation into an existing floor without a visible seam or threshold strip.
Is Rubio Monocoat durable enough for a main living area?
Yes. Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C with the added hardener cures to a hard surface film within the wood itself. It holds up well under residential use and has the advantage of being spot-repairable. If a section shows wear over years of use, it can be re-oiled in place without a full sand. For homeowners who prefer a natural look over a film finish, it is often the better long-term choice.
Why install 2.25-inch red oak rather than a wider plank?
Two-and-a-quarter inch is the traditional standard for solid red oak and is the common profile in older homes where some original hardwood is being preserved. In this Smithfield project the lace-in work required matching the existing 2.25-inch profile exactly. Using the correct width is what allows new and old wood to blend seamlessly after sanding.
Ready to Start Your Project?
Every project starts with a free in-home consultation. We come to you, assess the floor, and give you a written estimate before any work begins.
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