Anyone who lives in a home with hardwood floors knows the beauty and warmth they give to a room. With its rich good looks and durability, it's no wonder oak strip flooring is one of the most popular choices. Yes, it's more expensive than laminates, but it's a long-term investment you'll enjoy for as long as you live there.

A flooring contractor will charge $1,115 to lay unfinished oak strip flooring in a 12-by-15-foot room. If you have carpentry skills and tools, you can buy the materials for $510 and do it yourself, and save 54 percent.

No matter who does the work, the first task is to empty the room of all the furnishings; then remove the base shoe molding around the room with a hammer and pry bar, and thoroughly vacuum the floor. The new oak strips require a base of a clean and sound subfloor. The random strips of oak are milled to fit together as tongue-and-groove boards that are nailed together with a flooring nailer; they're available at most rental centers. Sanding and finishing the new floor completes the job.

The American Hardwood Information Center at www.hardwoodinfo.org is a good Web site with useful how-to instructions on hardwood flooring.