wood floor questions/paralysis!

15 years ago

Does anyone know where I can get good information about site finished wood floors (techinques and finishes)? I am stuck, stuck, STUCK with decisions and want to move forward.

Short story: our downstairs floors are 70 year old, nailed in place, white oak strips. Each room has a four board-wide border. The floors are stained nutmeg and have a water finish (which mutes the natural tones of the wood a bit).

We want to extend the wood floors upstairs and have them site finished. Contractors have given us divergent suggestions. Contractor #1 suggests matching the downstairs nailed in place look, arguing that it would match the downstairs better and make it easier to install similar borders. Contractors #2 says that nailed in place strip floors are infereior because they only can be sanded 3 times and are more prone to squeaking. He suggests using overlays instead and not install borders.

The contractors also differ in the types of finishes they recommend: Glitsa, waterbases, Waterlox, poly.. .

Where can I get good info?

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Comments (9)

Oakley
15 years ago
How experienced in wood floors are the contractors? Will you being buying your own wood and having them lay and stain it? Sometimes they don't want to do things out of sheer laziness.

You could always go to a floor store and ask these questions. Most floors have warranties, but if you don't have one of their professional installers do the job, then the warranty will become void if something goes wrong.

Good luck to you, I can't wait to see the finished product!
deltabreeze
Original Author
15 years ago
both contractors come well recommended and would be installing unfinished white oak, sanding the floors on site, and putting down a finish. The contractors just have different perspectives about how to do it.

The stores are great for people putting down pre-finished floors (which I would do happily but they wouldn't match my existing floors). I need to find someone who can answer questions about site-finished products. Thanks for the encouragement.
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moremoremore
15 years ago
Well, I have no advice as to technique, but I say no borders...it's nice downstairs, but upstairs where rooms are likely smaller, I'd leave it continuous with no borders...also, I wouldn't worry about only being able to refinish 3X. If you stay in that house and have the need to actually finish it more than 3X, you've done something wrong (i.e., stop wearing soccer cleats around the house haha)....
lyfia
15 years ago
Try the flooring forum
lionessqueen
15 years ago
My house is also 70 years old, and the downstairs originally came with the same border you speak of. The upstairs doesnt have it at all, my guess is the formal rooms have the more formal treatment. Our entire house is original oak hardwood. I think you should go with Contractor #2's suggestion, since chances are it won't be enjoyed as much, well maybe in the master bedroom but none of the other rooms.
threedgrad
15 years ago
My house in WI was over 80 years old. The living and dining rooms had oak floors, the kitchen, bath and two bedrooms in rear of house had maple floors, the attic (used as master bedroom) had pine floors which could not be refinished - so I painted the attic floor.
Upstairs can be totally different than downstairs. Maybe you need a third opinion.
yayagal
15 years ago
When I had an antique house, we did the upstairs very different wood from the downstairs. It sold with no problem.
bigdoglover
15 years ago
Delta, if you're in the Dallas area I can recommend the most wonderful flooring store/people in the world.

I also second what lyfia says. There are some really knowledgeable people over on the flooring forum.
moonshadow
15 years ago
3rd the flooring forum, or perhaps even Building A Home forum here (it's very active).

wood floor questions/paralysis!

Comments (9)

Oakley

deltabreeze
Original Author

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wood floor questions/paralysis!

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deltabreezeOriginal Author

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deltabreeze
Original Author