rocknhorse: blog 
rocknhorse's blog
house: floors
Published Jan 25, 2009Views: 355
For those who have followed this project from the beginning, you may remember my frustrations over the hardwood floors. For those who have only recently learned of this monstrous project (that I still LOVE), we moved this house during the drought. I can say with all assurance and honesty that the ONLY time it rained during 2007 was when we had this house opened and compromised to the weather.
We hired a company to build the garage and tie in the roof lines. We told them that before they removed the existing roof over the living room to make sure there was NO chance of rain b/c we were keeping the original wood floors and they couldn't withstand the natural elements. So just before Christmas of 2007, our area finally got the much needed rain it had missed the entire year (except the weekend we moved the house, of course). With no roof over the floors, it rained for 3 days straight. We spent much of our Christmas Eve and Christmas day, vacuuming with a shop vac and pushing water out with a squeegy. Needless to say, I was NOT HAPPY!
Many have asked since that time how the floors have fared. We allowed them to dry and we watched and waited. It wasn't time to really 'dig into them' to see if they survived, but we were hopeful.
The time finally came and we began working on the floors. We saved that room for last. (Probably fear that they were beyond repair). We sanded with 36 grit paper in diagonal (both directions) and then sanded along the grain with 36 grit 3 times. Finished with 100 grit on the drum sander. They aren't perfect and there are still many darker places that just would not sand clean. But all in all, I think they look great. The darker places seem to give them an aged look that just fits the house.
The rest of the floors throughout the house are gorgeous (in my opinion). The stairs are stunning! We still need to finish the railing - it will be a darker "gunstock" finish. With white pickets and risers, I think it will be very pretty!
To see pics: http://www.wral.com/golo/image_gallery/4395992/
Filed under: Home & Gardening
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GOLO member since July 2, 2007
January 25, 2009 10:07 a.m.
GOLO member since February 5, 2008
January 25, 2009 10:10 a.m.
Beth
GOLO member since July 2, 2007
January 25, 2009 10:12 a.m.
When we flooded with Floyd, we were redoing the floors. The new boards buckled and warped. The old ones didn't. Of course it was the sub flooring and was plywood, but it still amazed me that the older ones were the ones to hold up.
GOLO member since July 15, 2007
January 25, 2009 10:13 a.m.
GOLO member since July 18, 2007
January 25, 2009 10:15 a.m.
GOLO member since November 27, 2007
January 25, 2009 10:16 a.m.
GOLO member since November 27, 2007
January 25, 2009 10:17 a.m.
Things were made better then is the way I see it. More care put into the production, not cheap stuff not made to last.
GOLO member since February 5, 2008
January 25, 2009 10:17 a.m.
GOLO member since August 23, 2007
January 25, 2009 10:17 a.m.
GOLO member since December 15, 2007
January 25, 2009 10:20 a.m.
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