Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Jul 26, 2000 12:46am | #1

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   Hi Daisy,

   Yes the wood flooring should be salvageable and the results can be quiet spectacular and well worth the effort.

   If you've never done this type of project before, it would be advisable for you to contact several floor finishers and get quotes and references and choose the best one and you will be amazed at the results.

   Gabe.

1. 
   Guest_ | Jul 26, 2000 01:59am | #2

   *Ditto Gabe's advice. What kind of flooring is it?

1. 
   Guest_ | Jul 26, 2000 04:02am | #3

   *Betsey,Why don't you find an inconspicuous spot and have a look. A random orbital sander should give you a hint. Hope you didn't get the unit where they colored the boots. You may find a multitude of colored dyes that will appear after you get some of the years off the floor. Talk to your floor finisher (reputable) and maybe if he thinks it might look good, have him give you a cost for the just the first pass. You like it, you go all the way. You two don't think it'll end up right, fire up the alternatives. The warmth of wood is tough to beat.Best of luck.

2. 
   daisylizard | Jul 26, 2000 07:37pm | #4

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   Hi. Thanks for all the advice. Hate to admit this, but the flooring simply appears to be wood (okay, I've done some cabinetry in my time, furniture refinishing, and some vinyl floor stuff, but nothing like this before -- new home owner). You know, it's that old, narrow, tongue-groove kind of stuff.

   The building is a brick Mill built in 1900 (very New England), and was a boot mill. The place was rehabbed in 1987, and the contractors put down some rather cheap, off-white carpeting, which is pretty much dead. Ergo, my idea on doing something with the wood.

   Can anyone recommend an repetuable floor refinshers/people in Northern MA/Southern-Central NH? I'm not from this area, orginially, and I've had some dubious experiences with contractors here.

   Thanks.
   Betsey

1. 
   Betsey | Aug 02, 2000 12:16am | #5

   *Calvin:Hi. Thanks. I'll nab my old man's orbital sander and have a look. Thanks. This is quite a useful idea.Cheers,Betsey

3. 
   daisylizard | Aug 02, 2000 03:14am | #6

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   Hi. Currently, I live in a converted Boot Mill, and the condo is rugged, but there is hardwood underneath with some oil staining, and who knows what else.

   Any ideas or any suggestions on tackling this project? Can the floor be sanded and saved? Or, am I looking at an alternative flooring idea?

   Thanks,
   Betsey

4. 
   Guest_ | Aug 02, 2000 03:14am | #7

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   Betsey, you may not be able to obtain the appearance of a "new" floor, so don't expect perfection. Frankly, I'll bet many of us here would admire the old wood floor with its stains, tack strip marks, etc. which will give it a character which may be appropriate for the nature of the building. You may want to have it sanded down just enough to clean it up to take a new finish. Chances are, it will look great without stain... just finished in natural color.

   Some of us buy old flooring out of places like yours to install in new and remodeled homes, so you just may have something worth preserving.

   Let us know how things turn out...

   Good luck, Steve