floor sanding is a grind.......

[rnch]

literally, mentally and physically.

i've been sanding and (soon) varnishing all the heart of pine wood floors in the bywater money pit here in unflooded new orleans (yes, in spite of the slanted news media coverage, there IS areas of nawlinz that did not flood!) since wednesday.

a slow, tedious but rewarding project. lots of breaks needed...

all the late 1800's floor boards are in great shape......even, no bowing, no termite damage..but coated with LOTS of paint and evil black tar-like glue.

back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.................

6 months form now this renovation will all be a fading memory......

 

[alien amp pharm]

Stop yer bitching and get back to work

 

[SlimJim52]

literally, mentally and physically.

i've been sanding and (soon) varnishing all the heart of pine wood floors in the bywater money pit here in unflooded new orleans (yes, in spite of the slanted news media coverage, there IS areas of nawlinz that did not flood!) since wednesday.

a slow, tedious but rewarding project. lots of breaks needed...

all the late 1800's floor boards are in great shape......even, no bowing, no termite damage..but coated with LOTS of paint and evil black tar-like glue.

back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.................

6 months form now this renovation will all be a fading memory......

HEY, when you get the hang of it, I have this VERY old house in VERMONT. Big pine floors that need redoing. Come on up and have a go at it. Only 2700 sq. ft. and about 2/3 of it is wood flooring.

Hope it looks great when you are done. NOthing like a good finished wood floor.

 

[Raina]

I'm jealous and not jealous all at once. Old floors like that have SO much character. What species is the floor?

There's something about working your ass off on your house though that is so fulfilling. I may have hated a lot of the work I've put into my own but there's a huge sense of satisfaction in sitting in the completed project knowing it was your work that made it that way.

 

[SlimJim52]

Old house is almost all Maple, except for a newer floor. Immagine boards from the sill to the roof on a colonial, 1 3/4 inch thick and 14 inches wide, all Maple. Some big f'n trees.

Newer floor I believe is Yellow Pine, but not sure. Finish up nice, but pine is too soft. Should look into doing Maple again. Have nice White Oak in the CT house which I refinished some years ago.

 

[Raina]

14" boards. That would be so nifty looking. That's the kind of thing I love about old floors.

I did red oak in my kitchen because that's what the cabinets are. If I had unlimited funds I'd want walnut. I love the grain of walnut and the color. I'm also a HUGE fan of clear stain american cherry. I know people usually stain the cherry the dark "cherry" color but the natural wood has such a nice color to it.

 

[SlimJim52]

This be the house. I'll see if I have more pics of floors and such and put them in the album. Lots of work, but love the place.

http://www.killingtonzone.com/forum...name=gallery&file=index&include=slideshow.php

 

[jimmy d]

if you think that is bad try laying a new hard wood floor

 

[HumorMe]

This be the house. I'll see if I have more pics of floors and such and put them in the album. Lots of work, but love the place.

http://www.killingtonzone.com/forum...name=gallery&file=index&include=slideshow.php

Damn nice house! What is the age? How big is the cellar?

That house could keep me busy for a quite awhile. Very nice looking.

 

[wootoom]

is this belong on the anabolic forum

 

[RADAR]

if you think that is bad try laying a new hard wood floor

And if you think thats bad try cementing /mortering a wall of stone.

RADAR

 

[SlimJim52]

Damn nice house! What is the age? How big is the cellar?

That house could keep me busy for a quite awhile. Very nice looking.

We think it is pre 1765 when the town started keeping records, but haven't found any confirmation. Now has a full basement with stone walls all around. damp down there so tough to use it. May work on cleaning it up for exercise room, but that is in the future.

YES, it is my new LIFE project. Sills, windows (replaced 9 already) new front door, on and on. But you have to love it.

 

[SlimJim52]

And if you think thats bad try cementing /mortering a wall of stone.

RADAR

YEAH, but who was the lucky grunt mixing and carrying all that mortar and stone. I labored for my brother for 2 summers. Man that is hard work.

 

[RADAR]

YEAH, but who was the lucky grunt mixing and carrying all that mortar and stone. I labored for my brother for 2 summers. Man that is hard work.

Sure is my man.

RADAR

 

[rnch]

Sunday morning update:

today will be the final pass wth 100 grit paper, a thouough clean up of ceiling fans, windows, walls and floors, and then the first coat of varnish late this afternoon.

the floor sander isn't TOO bad once you get the hang of it; but using that edger machine....OOF! talk about make you sore! i fell outta bed this am and hobbled around like an arthritic old man until the coffee and tylenol kicked in.

 

[HumorMe]

We think it is pre 1765 when the town started keeping records, but haven't found any confirmation. Now has a full basement with stone walls all around. damp down there so tough to use it. May work on cleaning it up for exercise room, but that is in the future.

YES, it is my new LIFE project. Sills, windows (replaced 9 already) new front door, on and on. But you have to love it.

That is a diamond in the rough!

Waterproof the walls in the cellar and put a dehumidifier in there if you plan on using that space.

Rome wasn't built in a day so take your time and do it right. My house is not quite that old but I have been busy with it for quite some time. Patience is a virtue and deep pockets also.

Good luck!

 

[HumorMe]

Sunday morning update:

today will be the final pass wth 100 grit paper, a thouough clean up of ceiling fans, windows, walls and floors, and then the first coat of varnish late this afternoon.

the floor sander isn't TOO bad once you get the hang of it; but using that edger machine....OOF! talk about make you sore! i fell outta bed this am and hobbled around like an arthritic old man until the coffee and tylenol kicked in.

Been there done that!

Edging is a bitch. I was thinking 120 grit would have given it a smoother surface to work with?

Is someone helping you with it or are you consulting with someone on the steps?

Are you going to polyurethane them after you finish with the varnish?

Several coats (3) is recommended for polyurethaning. First coat then let it dry. Then screen disk them and then another coat. Then screen disk them again and apply third coat. You have to screen disk them since polyurethane won't bond to itself.

Good luck with it!

 

[gonelifting]

My brother just finished his new wood floors today. He made a mistake by getting high gloss. He's always wanted semi or even less, but his wife and the contractor talked him out of it and he's kicking himself. Tip for anyone doing this.... DON'T get high gloss on your floors. You see every blemish and scratch and the thing shines in your face as soon as you walk in the room.