1. Buy mill-direct.  Many flooring manufacturers claim to be mill direct, but they are really just buying someone else's lumber and re-milling it into flooring.  At Hull Forest Products, we are the sole manufacturer of our wide plank flooring from start to finish.  We grow the trees, harvest them, and make flooring with them. It doesn't get any more direct that that. Because we control the entire supply chain, we are able to keep our prices down.
 
2. Choose random widths.  In most cases you will save money by choosing your floor in a range of widths (for example, random amounts of 6", 7", and 8" instead of all 6") because random width orders involve less sorting of the product than orders of equal width or orders of repeating patterns.  Random width flooring also provides a more natural (and historically accurate) look.
 
3. Consider narrower widths.  If you like the look of wide plank flooring but need to keep costs down, consider going with a mix of 3", 4", and 5" widths.  A mix of 3-5" widths is more affordable than wider widths and it costs less to install. 
 
4. Trim ends on site. Choose plank flooring that is not already end trimmed.  Yes, you will have to trim some ends on site, but you will save at least .50/square foot by doing this yourself.
 
5. Be flexible about the product you want.  Love the look of Select Red Oak but want to spend less money?  Consider other grades of Red Oak, such as Country or Character, or check out Mineral Red Oak (which contains some darker areas running paralell to the grain) or Red Oak with sticker shadow (if you like unique character markings, this can save you $$$). Look for the manufacturer's sales and if you only need a small quantity, consider a sawmill's overruns to save even further.