
Water probably causes the most damage, especially in kitchens and bathrooms. Overflowing taps, unseen leaks, spills, and persistent dripping slowly ruin wood, turning it soft and spongy..
Houses also settle, allowing floorboards to rub against one another or supporting members to create annoying squeaks. Then there's actual material damage from burns, pet urine, poorly conceived alterations, and more. It goes almost without saying that a problem floor usually comes with multiple issues.
In the case of Wendy and Alex Santantonio's bathroom in their American Foursquare house, water leaks had severely damaged about a third of an antique heart-pine floor. The damage was concealed under layers of shoddy materials that had to be stripped away before the floor could be assessed and repaired.
In Gina Bellous' Queen Anne, vertical-grain, tongue-and-groove floors upstairs had been coated in layers of glue, burlap, and paint before more recent desecration by feral cats. Boards were missing altogether or replaced with plywood.
In both cases, the owner approached repairs by thinking through problems as they presented themselves. Thanks to persistence and ingenuity, their floors came through beautifully.
THE PRO TIP
Whether you are scraping, sanding, or chipping away at old flooring layers, be sure to wear a suitable mask that protects against particulates and chemicals. Unknown irritants and toxins may lurk in adhesives, felt, cement, and in flooring materials themselves. If you suspect a layer contains asbestos, test first.
EXCAVATING for GOLD
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der May - June 2023-Ausgabe von Old House Journal.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der May - June 2023-Ausgabe von Old House Journal.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden

uncovering the charm
An eye-popping restoration followed when the owners removed faceless aluminum siding to find a handsome brick exterior with original details intact.

A Touchup for Knotty Pine
More than a simple cleaning, this process removes grime and a tired finish while preserving the mellow quality of vintage knotty pine.

Quick Fixes
Do it fast but do it well.

the KITCHEN UPFRONT
When this 1880s Philadelphia house was built, the kitchen was undoubtedly in a different location.

MORE THAN A HOUSE MOVING
even good smells can be too much Homeowner Jeremy Stock insisted that he and Danielle not only needed a stove vent but that they'd need a very efficient one that would vent steam, smoke, and smells to the outside.

A Pattern Match
The discovery of a patch of historic linoleum led to the re-creation of an 1890s-style floor, using paint and vinyl.

the door IN ITS FRAME
The frame is often overlooked as a key component to a properly operating entry door.

bathroom inspirations TIPS, TRICKS, HACKS FOR ROOMS OF REASONABLE SIZE & BUDGET
Even considering the usually small square footage, the bathroom in an older house is often the most challenging design conundrum during renovations.

Sunshine in a Cottage Kitchen
A happy room demonstrates that simplicity often underlies good design.

A REWARDING EXPERIENCE!
We revitalized a long-forgotten building on a prominent corner and would do it again.