Friday, January 13, 2012

Squeaky Clean

Though I love our newly restored wood floors for their timeless appeal, unique grain, and unmatched color, I suspect Jeff is tickled pink because of their semblance to a basketball court!

Photobucket

Okay; I more than suspect, I actually know this because he stated it himself. I can just picture him dribbling down the length of the room and dunking into the fridge cabinet!

Photobucket
I noticed that the floors are so glossy, you can actually
see the cabinets reflected in them! That will calm down a
little bit with time and wear, but it's a nice place to start.

The floors are not quite done, but they sure look pretty. Like everything else we have taken on, the process was not nearly as simple and painless as my research had led me to believe. I have three coats of Waterlox on the heart pine, and now I need to go back and very light sand it all on hands and knees and apply one last coat. Or I hope only one. The pine is really drinking the tung oil up and leaving some rough patches and microbubbles (though not visible unless you really get down on the floor and look/feel). I'm tempted to just let it be, but I can't come this far and then settle for second best. These almost 90-year-old floors deserve better! (Reading the Steve Job's article right before beginning our kitchen remodel has either made us better craftsmen or clouded our judgment about what is achievable for amateurs; I'm not sure which, sometimes!)

Just for funsies, here is a photo taken before the floors were sanded:
Photobucket

6 comments:

  1. I am officially in love with those floors! Absolutely beautiful!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Anita! We really love them also. I get a little exhausted, though, just looking at them and thinking that I have four more (bigger!) rooms to go, plus the hallway. And that is only the downstairs! I had no idea how good we had it that our first historic house had recently restored floors when we bought it. I may be in over my head this time!

      Delete
  2. Truly Incredible floors!
    Sorry we didn't see you this weekend. I fully expected to run in to you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Rachel. Yes, we would have loved to attend the big weekend, but it just didn't work out. I know there will be plenty of time to schedule a trip in the next few months, and we won't be so rushed that way.

      Delete
  3. WOW - gorgeous! And, you'll love it even more I think because of all the hard labour that you put into it! Appreciation. And, just think, by the time you're done with the whole house, it will be time to leave...and you'll get to go back and start all over again :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm hoping I'll appreciate it more because of the work; I'm afraid I might be a little neurotic about it until it gets its first few scratches and dings! A nice little layer of dust and dog hair with take the "newness" off and let me relax and just live with it.

      Delete