Althouse: The floor project, end of Day 2.

August 6, 2013

The floor project, end of Day 2.

21 comments:

galdosiana said...: Looking good!! I must say, I am always in awe of the large windows throughout your house. Are those original, or were larger ones put in during renovations at some point? I've only seen a handful of older homes with big windows like those. Truly beautiful.; 8/6/13, 5:35 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Is that white oak or red oak. I cannot tell from here. So far so good- Looks nice.; 8/6/13, 5:53 PM
Ann Althouse said...: The back section of the house, seen here, was added around 1970. The two sections of the house are pretty different. I replaced the windows in back with better quality stuff in 1992. In front, there are double-hung windows with leading, which date back to 1923.; 8/6/13, 5:54 PM
Danno said...: Thanks for sharing.; 8/6/13, 6:27 PM
Almost Ali said...: The Energizer Bunny could take a few lessons from Meade.

And don't think we didn't notice that magnificent "waterfall" over the sidewalk. Stopped me right in my tracks.; 8/6/13, 6:38 PM
Ann Althouse said...: Meade is walking there, but the work isn't his. We hired professionals to do this and it looks like a great deal of skill is involved.; 8/6/13, 6:48 PM
David said...: "We hired professionals to do this and it looks like a great deal of skill is involved."

This approach will be useful if you ever go back to the private practice of law. "Looks like" are the key words.; 8/6/13, 6:51 PM
Meade said...: The work of moving all the furniture was mine, thank you very much.; 8/6/13, 7:00 PM
k said...: I have to agree - you really need pros to do this work. We did it about 27 yrs ago, covering what used to be just plywood, and have never regretted it - have not had to refinish as of yet. And put an addition on about 14 yrs ago, and those addition floors are flawlessly finished with the existing floors -- of northwards of 34 yrs ago. You will love the results, and will never have to worry about that floor. OH! Wait! Do you have to move out when the finish is applied? We did, both times. I hope there's a new accommodation for y'all.; 8/6/13, 9:47 PM
RecChief said...: I'm guessing red oak. very nice indeed. should look beautiful with the natural light from those windows when it is completed.; 8/6/13, 9:58 PM
Ann Althouse said...: Yes, it's red oak.; 8/7/13, 5:40 AM
Unknown said...: We did most of the main level of our house. The installation itself is not hard except that it's hard on your back. The pneumatic guns are pretty fun, actually.

The sanding and finishing are the more difficult parts. And unfortunately those stages are difficult to live with even if someone else is doing it. Even the "dustless" process creates a huge mess.; 8/7/13, 7:10 AM
FleetUSA said...: Smart to get professionals to do the floor. As for your other "leaded" windows replacing them is easy and will bring great satisfaction. We changed ours and it was like a new house.; 8/7/13, 7:12 AM
FleetUSA said...: p.s "Vinyl" windows sound cheap but they work very well and look marvelous.; 8/7/13, 7:13 AM
Ann Althouse said...: "As for your other "leaded" windows replacing them is easy and will bring great satisfaction."

Oh, no, I would never do that. And the Landmarks Commission probably wouldn't let me do it if I wanted it. Much of the character of the house is in the detail of those windows with the leaded panes.; 8/7/13, 7:22 AM
MadisonMan said...: Oh, no, I would never do that. And the Landmarks Commission probably wouldn't let me do it if I wanted it. Much of the character of the house is in the detail of those windows with the leaded panes.

We replaced all the windows in our (1922) house, and it was a huge plus. Of course, we don't live in a "historic" district so we don't have to deal with the bureaucracy. I thought I would miss the detail of the leaded panes. A little, maybe, but the lack of drafts, and the ease of opening/cleaning (well, if I ever cleaned them) more than makes up for it. Way more.

The floor looks beautiful. I (heart) wood floors.; 8/7/13, 8:37 AM
kjbe said...: We extended the red oak living room flooring, this spring (ourselves) into the kitchen. Reclaimed wood from Habitat (after taking down a wall). Took about 2 days and are very happy with the results. We hired someone to sand and finish, though.; 8/7/13, 8:56 AM
Scott M said...: Looks GREAT!

I would leave the shop-vac right where it is when you redecorate the room as an ironic statement of how dusty, dirty, and wet politics have become.

And short.
And round.
And orange.
And...; 8/7/13, 9:40 AM
RecChief said...: when, as a new homeowner of a 1915 bungalow, I pulled up the carpet in our living room I was ecstatic to find a beautiful floor done in a herringbone pattern of 1 1/2 inch strips of oak, with a parquet border. My joy quickly turned to dismay when we got it all out and discovered that they had nailed a tackstrip down the center with 16d nails about every foot. 16d nails are used for framing, and basically destroyed the floor as I pulled that tack strip up. I am a fan of older homes, and hope you don't replace the windows, even if the historic commission would let you.; 8/7/13, 10:51 AM
FleetUSA said...: Give us a picture of the "leaded windows" please.; 8/7/13, 6:44 PM
Almost Ali said...: What does the room look like today? (From the same angle, and the same time of day); 9/10/13, 11:36 PM