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#1 Mike in STL

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Posted 17 July 2014 - 11:59 AM

I dont know if there is a thread for this kind of stuff. But does anyone have any experience in sanding and refinishing hard wood floors?

Here's the thing. Just bought a house. I have one month to the day that I have to be out of our apartment. The previous owners were heavy smokers and so we want to take up all the carpet and repaint the walls. Replace the carpet with laminate wood.

Come to find out we lift the carpet and beautiful hardwood is underneath. BeautIful except where there is paint blotches on it from where probably 50 years ago someone painted and didnt bother using a drop cloth since they were going to carpet over it.

Of course my fiance thinks you just sand it and stain it, piece of cake because she wont be the one doing it. But things ive read online lead my to believe I should hire a professional so its done right. Pros can probably have it done in two days, meaning it would take me two weeks, or more. Plus having to rent the tools, and covering all your a/c vents so the dust doesnt go into you HVAC system. Im not looking forward to doing this project in July with no a/c.

Would I be getting in over my head, or is it really not that hard? Im waiting to hear back on an estimate but im hoping its under $1500. Or im looking at around maybe $500 to DIY and the added stress and possibility I screw it up.
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#2 JeremyStrain

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Posted 17 July 2014 - 12:10 PM

I dont know if there is a thread for this kind of stuff. But does anyone have any experience in sanding and refinishing hard wood floors?

Here's the thing. Just bought a house. I have one month to the day that I have to be out of our apartment. The previous owners were heavy smokers and so we want to take up all the carpet and repaint the walls. Replace the carpet with laminate wood.

Come to find out we lift the carpet and beautiful hardwood is underneath. BeautIful except where there is paint blotches on it from where probably 50 years ago someone painted and didnt bother using a drop cloth since they were going to carpet over it.

Of course my fiance thinks you just sand it and stain it, piece of cake because she wont be the one doing it. But things ive read online lead my to believe I should hire a professional so its done right. Pros can probably have it done in two days, meaning it would take me two weeks, or more. Plus having to rent the tools, and covering all your a/c vents so the dust doesnt go into you HVAC system. Im not looking forward to doing this project in July with no a/c.

Would I be getting in over my head, or is it really not that hard? Im waiting to hear back on an estimate but im hoping its under $1500. Or im looking at around maybe $500 to DIY and the added stress and possibility I screw it up.



We paid a pro to do it. It was around $1000 for our entire house and was absolutely beautiful when it was finished.
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#3 Oriole85

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Posted 17 July 2014 - 12:18 PM

My two cents is for $1000 (even $1500) on a longterm investment like this as Jeremy said it costs him, it's probably better for a pro to do it. And I'm usually someone who tries to cut costs when possible. 


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#4 Mike in STL

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Posted 17 July 2014 - 12:19 PM

We paid a pro to do it. It was around $1000 for our entire house and was absolutely beautiful when it was finished.



That's amazing to hear. I think we were willing to spend $1500 to put new floors in so getting them re-finished is practically the same thing. Probably about 700 square feet of space.

Did yours need a lot of work? Did you have to rip up the carpet and tacks for them?
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#5 Mike in STL

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Posted 17 July 2014 - 12:20 PM

My two cents is for $1000 (even $1500) on a longterm investment like this as Jeremy said it costs him, it's probably better for a pro to do it. And I'm usually someone who tries to cut costs when possible. 



Im the same way.
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#6 Mackus

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Posted 17 July 2014 - 12:34 PM

I had a pro do it in a rowhouse I renovated.

 

I think you could do the staining yourself pretty easily, but the sanding seems like a nightmare.  You're gonna spend 1/3 to 1/2 of what the total job costs just in renting the large equipment and stuff to help ventilation.



#7 Mackus

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Posted 17 July 2014 - 12:35 PM

Also, refinished hardwood will end up looking 100 times nicer than laminate (which personally, I hate) and be much better for long term property value.

 

Congrats on the new house!  Your first?



#8 JeremyStrain

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Posted 17 July 2014 - 01:04 PM

We paid a pro to do it. It was around $1000 for our entire house and was absolutely beautiful when it was finished.


That's amazing to hear. I think we were willing to spend $1500 to put new floors in so getting them re-finished is practically the same thing. Probably about 700 square feet of space.

Did yours need a lot of work? Did you have to rip up the carpet and tacks for them?


Yeah ours was around 800 sq ft. There was carpet in 2 bedrooms and we pulled everything out so it was just in, sand, and seal for them. They were done in a day, we let it dry overnight and it was 100% done a day later.

They were pretty gross, so dirty the floor looked grey/black. Came out a gorgeous light brown oak when it was done.
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#9 Mike in STL

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Posted 17 July 2014 - 01:30 PM

Also, refinished hardwood will end up looking 100 times nicer than laminate (which personally, I hate) and be much better for long term property value.
 
Congrats on the new house!  Your first?



Thanks Mack. Yep. First home. Its a nice little "starter home" as they call it. It also means I get my first man cave! Pretty stoked.
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#10 NewMarketSean

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Posted 17 July 2014 - 01:30 PM

I also recommend hiring someone to do it, especially if you need to remove the existing poly and stain. Just make sure they come with good credentials. I recently hired a guy through word of mouth to re-do our floors and wasn't happy with their work.


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#11 Mike in STL

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Posted 17 July 2014 - 01:33 PM

I also recommend hiring someone to do it, especially if you need to remove the existing poly and stain. Just make sure they come with good credentials. I recently hired a guy through word of mouth to re-do our floors and wasn't happy with their work.



I was looking online last night and found a guy with great reviews. They have before and after shots on their Facebook page. Hoping to hear back from him and get an estimate.
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#12 Mackus

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Posted 17 July 2014 - 01:38 PM

I was looking online last night and found a guy with great reviews. They have before and after shots on their Facebook page. Hoping to hear back from him and get an estimate.

 

Find 2-3 different people and get estimates.  Moreso than the price, just get a feel for who comes out and talks to you, more often than not you can weed out people who either don't really know what they are doing or who are going to be a hassle to deal with just by talking to them through the estimate.


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#13 Mike in STL

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Posted 17 July 2014 - 01:40 PM

 
Find 2-3 different people and get estimates.  Moreso than the price, just get a feel for who comes out and talks to you, more often than not you can weed out people who either don't really know what they are doing or who are going to be a hassle to deal with just by talking to them through the estimate.



Good idea. Ill do that.
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#14 SammyBirdland

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Posted 17 July 2014 - 01:49 PM

Anyone who's friends with me on Facebook knows I'm currently obsessed with this deck rebuild project in my backyard.  My wife says I've been talking about deck construction in my sleep.   It's a two tier deck with a little 12'x10' deck that steps up into a wrap-around L-shaped deck.   Here are photos showing where I'm at right now.  Unfortunately I didn't get any good before pics.

 

LvpfatV.jpg

 

 

I went a little crazy digging posts because I was only able to use 2x6s for the bottom part of the deck due to the low height.  Yes, that is 17 posts, dug 2 feet into the ground and concreted.

 

 

rzyNmB9.jpg

 

cA1UVaP.jpg

 

BiPL6HZ.jpg

 

cU88FZ8.jpg

 

gZISePg.jpg


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¡Hasta la vista, pelota!

#15 fishteacher

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Posted 21 July 2014 - 08:45 PM

I dont know if there is a thread for this kind of stuff. But does anyone have any experience in sanding and refinishing hard wood floors?

Here's the thing. Just bought a house. I have one month to the day that I have to be out of our apartment. The previous owners were heavy smokers and so we want to take up all the carpet and repaint the walls. Replace the carpet with laminate wood.

Come to find out we lift the carpet and beautiful hardwood is underneath. BeautIful except where there is paint blotches on it from where probably 50 years ago someone painted and didnt bother using a drop cloth since they were going to carpet over it.

Of course my fiance thinks you just sand it and stain it, piece of cake because she wont be the one doing it. But things ive read online lead my to believe I should hire a professional so its done right. Pros can probably have it done in two days, meaning it would take me two weeks, or more. Plus having to rent the tools, and covering all your a/c vents so the dust doesnt go into you HVAC system. Im not looking forward to doing this project in July with no a/c.

Would I be getting in over my head, or is it really not that hard? Im waiting to hear back on an estimate but im hoping its under $1500. Or im looking at around maybe $500 to DIY and the added stress and possibility I screw it up.

My opinion:  Sack up and do it yourself and find out.  I've done so many projects (gutting my kitchen, renovating my bathroom in my old house, renovating my kids bathroom, etc) and I had no idea really what I was getting myself into...guess, what it may have taken me a bit more time, took me a bit more money than I hoped or budgeted, but when people say it looks professional because of how anal I am about how it looks, it feels pretty good...all while keeping a lot of money in my pocket.  And you know what, if it's not perfect, chances are 90% of people won't know the difference, and when yout ell them you did it yourself they'll then start asking YOU to do theirs!  Good luck with your decision.  I can't imagine it's TOO difficult.  I'll rent a sander and do my own when it needs done in 5 years.  Just my opinion Mike.  Good luck!


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#16 fishteacher

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Posted 21 July 2014 - 08:47 PM

Anyone who's friends with me on Facebook knows I'm currently obsessed with this deck rebuild project in my backyard.  My wife says I've been talking about deck construction in my sleep.   It's a two tier deck with a little 12'x10' deck that steps up into a wrap-around L-shaped deck.   Here are photos showing where I'm at right now.  Unfortunately I didn't get any good before pics.

 

LvpfatV.jpg

 

 

I went a little crazy digging posts because I was only able to use 2x6s for the bottom part of the deck due to the low height.  Yes, that is 17 posts, dug 2 feet into the ground and concreted.

 

 

rzyNmB9.jpg

 

cA1UVaP.jpg

 

BiPL6HZ.jpg

 

cU88FZ8.jpg

 

gZISePg.jpg

Nice work..now get to work on weeding around your pool, ya slacker!  ;-)


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#17 Mike in STL

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Posted 21 July 2014 - 09:02 PM

My opinion:  Sack up and do it yourself and find out.  I've done so many projects (gutting my kitchen, renovating my bathroom in my old house, renovating my kids bathroom, etc) and I had no idea really what I was getting myself into...guess, what it may have taken me a bit more time, took me a bit more money than I hoped or budgeted, but when people say it looks professional because of how anal I am about how it looks, it feels pretty good...all while keeping a lot of money in my pocket.  And you know what, if it's not perfect, chances are 90% of people won't know the difference, and when yout ell them you did it yourself they'll then start asking YOU to do theirs!  Good luck with your decision.  I can't imagine it's TOO difficult.  I'll rent a sander and do my own when it needs done in 5 years.  Just my opinion Mike.  Good luck!



Im getting close to having to do this. I have an estimate scheduled for tomorrow. I have a feeling if I pay someone else to do it, my fiance will be pissed that there isnt anything money left over to do all the stupid stuff that provides no value to our home whatsoever she wants to do.

It wouldnt be bad if she would just listen to me....said every guy in a relationship ever.

If you dont mind me asking, renting the equipment, all the sand paper, the stain, what did the whole job cost you and how long did it take to sand? About 500 square feet for me. I really feel like I could stain it no problem, but the sanding is giving me nightmares.
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#18 Cisc-O's

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Posted 21 July 2014 - 09:06 PM

The spots that are painted over could be a sealer when they had a dog or cat.  It covers the smell of urine when you put the new carpet over it.  The wood may be rotted underneath, speaking from experience.  If you have to go the new route I would look at bamboo.  The sealer looks like a white paint.


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#19 SammyBirdland

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Posted 21 July 2014 - 09:26 PM

Progress.   Still haven't weeded around the pool, fishteacher.

 

 

QPT8RyB.jpg


¡Hasta la vista, pelota!

#20 SammyBirdland

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Posted 23 July 2014 - 07:43 AM

5wtHOqs.jpg

 

nGemC8Y.jpg


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¡Hasta la vista, pelota!




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