refinish hardwood floor
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100 year-old kitchen maple hardwood floor: refinish (~$2k) or replace with oak (~ an add'l $1k)?
We're doing a kitchen remodel on our 100 year old American foursquare. After removing a vinyl & a linoleum floor, we came to a maple floor, with a layer of paper (from the linoleum?) glued to it. There were also nails between every board, along the joists; evidently added to reduce the squeeks before the linoleum was laid. The kitchen is about 240 sf.
The floor expert said the paper wasn't a problem; it should sand off. But he said he'd have to sand off each nail head before refinishing the floor, which would probably loosen up the floor & leave lots of nail holes. He recommended replacing.
Our cabinet maker suggested countersinking all the nails, refinishing, and enjoying the patina.
When our contractor countersank a few nails, it pushed the boards apart (tightening them, but also creating an ever-so-slight gap). It was also hard work; he recommended replacing.
What to do? Refinish the current maple floor (~$2k), or remove & replace (oak is ~$1k, maple ~$2k, extra)?
DO NOT REPLACE. Sorry... Hundred year old maple is irreplaceable, even in the condition you describe. Maple is hard, durable, beautiful... if you haven't seen your floor finished properly, I gaurantee you want to visit some sites and see the visual difference between oak and maple.
What you describe is called "Rustic" and if you don't want rustic, that's easy enough to fix. Take out all the nails with a v-tool. Save money, do it yourself. Fill the holes with wood putty. Now you need to set the boards so that they don't move... so use finishing nails (the kind with the small heads) and countersink them. Add putty to the tiny little holes. ALL wood will move and gap depending on humidity and temperature. Make sure that the floors are sealed on a day when the gapping is minimal. Wait for it, it's worth it. The more humid a day is, the tighter the boards will fit together. You can treat the boards with water to cause them to expand, but I don't know how that's done. You could probably look it up, or ask your contractor. Seal and finish.
Check the prices on antique wood, even the kind with nails and flaws, and you'll see that what you have is actually worth the love and attention. Besides, maple shines when done right, and it doesn't dent or scratch like other woods can (which is why cutting boards are traditionally made of maple). That's why the work is hard, by the way. Power tools make it easy though.
I'm wondering if you're contractor isn't interested in salvaging those boards for his own use? Seems as a contractor he'd know the value of the original antique hardwood floors. In fact, I'm restoring a one hundred year old oak floor, and they had problems matching the grain because the hundred year old boards have finer grain and better color because they are "Old growth" timber, unlike comercial grade woods nowadays. I did all the work on the nails myself, and it did take a couple days... but the floor is almost done, and it is GORGEOUS.
Oh, and my contractor had NO problem restoring the oak floors, which were uncovered after a House Fire. So, if mine are salvageable, I can't see how yours aren't.
Good luck.
Detailed Question Concerning Pet Urine and Hardwood Floors...?
Hi. I'm debating buying a house that needs some cosmetic work. It has a slight "pet odor" inside. There are carpets over hardwood (oak probably) floors. If it's from urine, can the smell be removed by sanding and refinishing the hardwood? Do all the floors need to be completely replaced? Trying to gauge what I have to do if I purchase. Thanks for your inputs.
Thanks for your advice. Just a side note here: For anyone who may have input, please refrain from suggesting any "enzymes" or "pet odor removal potions". These gimmicks flat out don't work. They just don't. Anyway, thanks everyone!!
You will be hard pressed to get the smell out completely, depending on how much it soaked in. Pets have a tendency to use the same spot ….but if you sand it and seal it with a varnish you should be fine
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