RESTORING HARDWOOD FLOORS AFTER YEARS OF NEGLECT
SRestoring hardwood floors can be challenging. Years of traffic, dropped items, scratches from bedposts, fires, and floods leave behind damage.
Refinishing the hardwood floors in our home meant dealing with all those things. Over the last century, these floors saw everything. I still insisted on salvaging them They were the only historical pieces left in the entire house and I did not have the heart to tear them out
Luckily oak is wood that can stand the test of time. If you can find old oak floors, the likelihood of restoration is high.
Even if you think your hardwood floors are beyond repair, you may be able to breathe life back into them.
The floor in the kitchen was beyond restoration (so they said). We found evidence of a flood, a fire, and a DIY attempt that went wrong. Whoever attempted to restore these floors gave up midway. They tossed down a 1/4 inch of leveling compound, some linoleum and called it a day.
I present to you our floors as proof that anything is possible when you’re working with wood. Many people told us they were beyond repair. Good thing I’m stubborn.
The floor in the kitchen was beyond restoration (so they said). We found evidence of a flood, a fire, and a DIY attempt that went wrong. Whoever attempted to restore these floors gave up midway. They tossed down a 1/4 inch of leveling compound, some linoleum and called it a day.
Restoring this floor would prove to be a challenge.
Our living room was in slightly better shape. For how it was done, the link is attached. I present to you our floors as proof that anything is possible when you’re working with wood. Many people told us they were beyond repair. Good thing I’m stubborn.
OUR HARDWOOD FLOOR RESTORATION THE BEFORE & AFTER
Can you believe they are the same hardwood floors? The after photos all look different colors, but all the floors are a warm brown like the very last picture. When I took these photos, I was using a potato.
Was it worth it? YES. I love my floors. It cost us 1.00 (Canadian) a square foot for the sander rentals, sandpaper, stain, and polyurethane.
They are not 100% perfect, but I’m okay with that. These restored hardwood floors have a rustic charm that adds a lot of personality to the house.
If you’re sitting on hardwood floors that are covered up by linoleum or carpet, you should have a peek. You might not have to repair anything. Your floors might only need a refinishing job.
Although our hardwood floors took months to restore, the actual sanding, staining, and sealing happened over one single long weekend.
If you have any questions about our floor restoration, feel free to drop me an email or leave a comment.
