Before & After: Historic Shreveport Home Gets White Oak Hardwood
The Home
A 1940s bungalow in Shreveport's South Highlands neighborhood — the kind of home with nine-foot ceilings, original millwork, and a story you can feel in the bones of the place. The owners had been living with carpet over the original subfloor for years. They suspected there might be wood underneath. There was — but it wasn't salvageable.
They wanted new white oak hardwood that would honor the character of the home without trying to fake something old. The right call.
What We Found Under the Carpet
Old homes surprise you. Under the carpet was a layer of 1970s vinyl tile, under that a layer of original fir subfloor. The subfloor was structurally sound but uneven — decades of foot traffic and Louisiana humidity had left a gentle roll across the living room that showed clearly when we ran a straightedge across it.
Moisture testing showed elevated readings near the exterior walls — typical for an older Shreveport home with a crawl space. We addressed ventilation recommendations with the homeowners and installed a vapor barrier before any wood came in.
Acclimation
The white oak sat in the living room at normal living conditions for six days before we began. We documented moisture content of the wood and the subfloor each day. When both readings were within range of each other, we started.
Skipping this step in northwest Louisiana's humidity is how floors cup and gap within the first year. We don't skip it.
Stain Selection
The owners wanted a natural look that would age gracefully with the home. We brought samples on the estimate visit and tested three options on the actual subfloor. They chose a light, barely-there stain that let the white oak's natural grain come forward — exactly the right choice for the bones of this house.
The Result
Three days of installation. The floor flows through the living room, dining room, and hallway without a single awkward cut at a door threshold. The grain and the light in that house now work together the way they were meant to.
Planning a Historic Shreveport Home Project?
We have extensive experience with older homes across Shreveport's historic neighborhoods. Free in-home estimate, written quote. Call Kevin at (318) 250-4948.