Is it worth saving?

[catnapper]

We're redoing the livingroom floors to either completely refinish the existing pine floors or lay down laminate.

My memory told me that the floors were in terrible shape. Actually, I think the floors are in MUCH better shape than previously remembered (hey, its been 8 years since I last saw them!)

They are solid pine, no knot holes, and very few major gauges.... but there are some serious stains. Like RB Sammie's favorite potty spot in the livingroom.... Oh-my-GAWD! You should have smelled the floor as we rolled the carpet and padding off her favorite area!!!

This is the most obvious divot, by the fireplace.


Mystic and Mikey are showing off the spot where hubby demolished a half wall. You can kinda see the outline where the half wall was. You can also see where the Dining Room was previously finished, whereas the livingroom was not.


Water and.... ummmm.... other stains


Random paint and marks


The Dining room, where the old finish still shows as a halo around a huge area where the finish completely rubbed off.


We've found a large floor sander for $45 a day to rent. I don't mind the dust and work (because hubby's going to be the one doing all the work! ). I can only imagine the HUNDREDS of tiny paw prints running through my newly stained floor or at the very least, the THOUSANDS of cat hairs falling and settling into the stain!


Soooooo, do you think its worth saving hte pine floor? Or just go the easy route and cover it with laminate?

[Pinot's Mom]

If they're solid pine - SAND THEM. That being said; have you ever done this? If not, practice with that thing somewhere before attacking solid wood floors; it needs to be done with a light touch.

[Grace]

I don't know if it's worth saving, but it you do cover it with laminate make sure you really scrub the original. Otherwise those smells might linger and some 4-legged creature might decide to try and cover it up

When our neighbors put in new carpeting, they scrubbed the plywood and I think there is some preparation you can coat the areas with - to eliminate old odors.

[catnapper]

I don't know if it's worth saving, but it you do cover it with laminate make sure you really scrub the original. Otherwise those smells might linger and some 4-legged creature might decide to try and cover it up

When our neighbors put in new carpeting, they scrubbed the plywood and I think there is some preparation you can coat the areas with - to eliminate old odors.

Oh we're already ahead on that one! We have a gallon of Mr. Clean and a gallon of Simple Solution.

Funny thing, Allen's favorite potty spot isn't anywhere near where Sammie's favorite spot was. The carpet pad completely covered Sammie's smell - it wasn't until we removed the old carpet and padding that we were knocked out by the smell.

[jennielynn1970]

Your floors remind me of my floors.... and I've been thinking about redoing them as well. I still haven't made up my mind, even though it's going to be at least a year or so down the line.

One suggestion, for the stains and smells, look up Bac-A-Zap on line. I've found it works miracles and does a much better job than the Simple Solution and all the other things I've tried. It's used by exterminators and other people who have to clean up biological waste. It is safe to use around animals and is non-toxic. It's $$ but worth it.

[Edwina's Secretary]

The old house we had in Chicago...one Sunday we decided to pull up the carpet...we found hardwood floors.

We stripped, sanded and stained. It was very hard work (we did the front entry way, hall and stairs.)

Some things I learned....

Do not sit in wood stripper. It hurts.

If the cat (we only had Edwina then) escapes from the room in which she has been "locked" and runs across the wet stripper - she will not like getting her feet washed.

But it WAS worth it!

[blue]

Go ahead and save it, real hard wood floors are awesome.