Jeannie in NJ Posted December 15, 2012 Share Posted December 15, 2012 I know nothing about sanding and refinishing hardwood floors. We would not be doing it ourselves, we would be paying to have it done. Our floors are 40 year old 3/4 inch oak. Main question is would we have to leave our home while this is being done? This would be almost impossible to do with our 8 cats. How long does everything take? Would we be better off just putting in pergo or something over the hardwood floors? Or taking out the hardwood floors and putting in something else, but not carpet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
butterflymommy Posted December 15, 2012 Share Posted December 15, 2012 We stayed in the house while our floors were being done, but we live in a 2 family house. So while one unit was being done we lived in the other unit and vice versa. We could smell the sanding and varnish but it wasn't too bad. Some of the chemical fumes kept setting off smoke and CM detectors though. You could perhaps have a few rooms done at a time-- ask the company, I'm sure they've dealt with similar situations. Our floors were so bad they suggested we just put a new wood floor on top of it. We said no way and they went ahead and did the old floors. They had to replace some sections but overall it looks incredible. Nothing beats old wood floors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laughing lioness Posted December 15, 2012 Share Posted December 15, 2012 We left for a week when our first floors were being done. It took 2 days to sand (we had heavy staining and several days to coat and dry. We lived in the house when we did our 2nd floor, but the 2nd floor was empty, we were "living" in the basement/first floor. I would board your cats while they are being done. You don't want paw prints in your poly. 3/4" oak is unusual these days and if I were you I'd make the effort to get the floors done. The floors that we paid to have done only have 2 coats of poly on it. We put 5 coats of quick dry on the 2nd floor and wish the first floor had more layers of poly. Here are pics of our very gorgous (imho) floors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pehp Posted December 15, 2012 Share Posted December 15, 2012 You would probably have to move out for a short time. I would board the cats. It would be well worth it to get the floors re-done! 2 years ago we put down wood floors in our entire house ourselves. My husband sanded every inche with a hand sander. I stained the floors on my hands and knees (while pregnant!). Then I used bona traffic to finish them. And we had a 3 year old. And had to live with my in laws for 2 weeks while we did the main room. I would do it again in a heartbeat--I LOVE the floors!!!! So I would encourage you to finish the ones you have, even if it means moving out for a few days (a pro can do it SO quickly!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted December 15, 2012 Share Posted December 15, 2012 they should be able to drap everything with plastic sheeting to contain the dust from sanding. If you have a swedish finish, you will need to take the cats and leave while it is applied and allowed to dry. If you do a water based finish - you don't have to leave. when I was investigating which type of finish -I asked many people who had hardwood floors. the green friendly woman who gave much consideration to environmentally friendly stuff and had the water based finish said "get the toxic one". eta: with hardwood floors in good enough condition to only need refinishing, pergo would be unthinkable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wapiti Posted December 15, 2012 Share Posted December 15, 2012 Then I used bona traffic to finish them. Big thumbs up for Traffic! I asked our builder to use that finish on our wood floors when our house was built. Six kids and 7 years later, it looks pretty good considering that we have done literally nothing to it. It gets wet-mopped once per week. Just recently it's starting to look worn in a few busy areas in the kitchen, and I'm wondering whether to bother having a few coats applied or whether to wait a few more years (till we're ready to move or something lol) and then refinish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyof4ks Posted December 15, 2012 Share Posted December 15, 2012 I would leave the house. If you have central heat turn it off and cover the vents with plastic. Cover all closet doors with plastic and furniture. The dust from sanding like that is very fine and gets everywhere. Plastic makes clean up soooooo much easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denisemomof4 Posted December 15, 2012 Share Posted December 15, 2012 It depends. Is there a way for your family to live in the house but not step on the floors? We built a little ramp to go from our stairs directly into the mudroom with slate flooring. The mudroom has the door to the garage. We couldn't access the kitchen so ate out until done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.