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I am going to use some old pine floor boards from an architectural salvage yard. Each board is about the size of a 2×6 and 10′ long. The problems are that the surfaces are pretty dirty (particularly the ones at the top of the stack), and they have been outside in the rain for a while (a couple of years at the most) and are undoubtedly water logged. They are strong, straight, and usable.

Q: How long do they need to sit (if at all) before I install them? Should I sand them before I put them down and after or only after? (The home-owners want to paint the floor) What is an effective way of drying these things? Is there any way to accelerate the process?

Thanks

Dave