CAROL EDWARDS
  • Carol Edwards
    • About the Author
    • Upcoming Author Visits & Library Testimonials
    • Meet the Author & Photos
    • Digital Press Kit
    • Rescuing Love Novel 2014
    • Seeds of Hope Novel 2016
  • Everything Healthy - Blog
  • Professional Services
    • Share Your Stories: Memoir Writing
    • Writing Workshops & Retreats
    • Conferences and Public Speaking Engagements >
      • Find Your Path Find Your Purpose Guided Seminar
      • M.O.S.T. Women's Conference
    • Graphic Design
    • Editorial and Author Support Services
    • Holistic Directional Consultant
    • Red Barn Writers' Guild
  • In the Works : Novels, Trainings and Workshops
  • Links

eVERYTHING hEALTHY

bLOG

Time to start recycling wood floors again

6/17/2013

2 Comments

 
Picture
Last summer we started fixing our wood floors.  We reclaimed vintage wood floor boards from houses that were being torn down, found some at a restoration warehouse, and used what my father years ago tore out of the house I grew up in. Then we stripped them and installed.  No professionals needed...just good friends to help with the gunky work of cleaning the boards and a father-in-law willing to crawl around on his knees.  Thanks Dad! Here is what they looked like right after being torn out of a house.  Really icky in the tongue and groove area.  But as you strip them it's incredible how the natural beauty just seems to leap right out of the faded boards.  Now that the rain has stopped and we've got some warm weather consistently, it's time to strip this load that's left in my garage from last winter.

Picture
Here is what our floors looked like when we bought the house about 6 years ago.  The living room was covered in a really gross carpet that had to go. When we pulled it up we found the original wood floors in pretty bad shape with water damage and plywood cut outs.  We also found that our house had no subfloor under the dining and living rooms. Just one layer of the original wood floors. Our house was built in 1918 so it's worked but we noticed some sagging and soft spots. We strengthened from the underside and decided to use the original floor as the new subfloor. We didn't feel too bad as we are putting in wood floors just as old and even older in some cases.

Picture
Last summer and fall we completed the dining room and most of the living room.  We were just a few rows shy of being done when the cold weather hit. So, we called it quits for the season. You can see the new old wood we are laying over the original floor. Again, we did it ourselves with no professional help. This will take a weekend finish up.

Picture
Before we called a halt last winter we completed the dining room floor. We decided we liked the natural beauty of the wood.  This is quarter sawn southern heart pine. It's beautiful. What a shame for this kind of lumber to end up in landfills! We sanded and then put 4 clear coats over it. It's super tough and has stood up to lots of wear already. We are going to do the same in the living room as the two rooms connect via a double pocket door and then the floor will look seamless. 

2 Comments
Missy
6/17/2013 08:27:58 am

Beautiful!! I love wood floors, and can't believe that people cover them with carpet or linoleum or whatever else...

Reply
Carol Denekas
6/18/2013 01:47:46 pm

Missy, I couldn't agree more. I think about it from a health standpoint as well. From the chemicals in the carpet, carpet pad and carpet glue not to mention the dirt, pet stuff and spills etc. you can't get out of it. We have allergy sufferers in our house and it's much better to have the wood floors. My goal is to get a large braided rug to put down under the dining room table. I think the wood tones around that would be a very peaceful, rustic...a kind of old fashioned feel. Best of all...you can clean a rug when you need to:)

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    I grew up and have lived in Iowa until recently when I moved to a small town in Illinois to begin a new chapter in my life which includes a loving supportive husband and numerous grandchildren to spoil.  I have three beautiful daughters and a Miniature Schnauzer. I'm interested in anything that supports healthy families and healthy lifestyles.

    Archives

    January 2020
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    September 2015
    August 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013

    CATEGORIES

    All
    Baking
    Book Signings
    Camping
    Canning
    Chemical Free
    Dehydrating Foods
    Exercise
    Family
    Flooring
    Gardening
    Genealogy
    Humor
    Organic Eating
    Organic Food
    Pest Control
    Pet Care
    Preserving
    Recipes
    Rescuing Love
    Restoration
    ​Starting Plants Indoors
    Writing

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Carol Edwards
    • About the Author
    • Upcoming Author Visits & Library Testimonials
    • Meet the Author & Photos
    • Digital Press Kit
    • Rescuing Love Novel 2014
    • Seeds of Hope Novel 2016
  • Everything Healthy - Blog
  • Professional Services
    • Share Your Stories: Memoir Writing
    • Writing Workshops & Retreats
    • Conferences and Public Speaking Engagements >
      • Find Your Path Find Your Purpose Guided Seminar
      • M.O.S.T. Women's Conference
    • Graphic Design
    • Editorial and Author Support Services
    • Holistic Directional Consultant
    • Red Barn Writers' Guild
  • In the Works : Novels, Trainings and Workshops
  • Links