We discussed it, fleetingly, a dozen or so times: should we re-do the hardwood floors now, or wait? I'd settled firmly in the WAIT camp; others were for going ahead. You have no idea what a nightmare the process is, I told him. Nightmare.
He made the executive decision to go ahead, so we did. It is easier, after all, to get it done before the furniture crowds the place. So the sanding commenced.
First, we had to remove four layers of linoleum in the kitchen floor. And then, glue. Glue everywhere. We scraped and sanded and scraped and sanded. We used shovels and scrapers and fingernails and hammers and drum sanders and hand sanders...
Two and a half days into the process, someone's stomach got upset and he retired to the air mattress for the day while I hand-stained, on hands and knees, the entire floor. The next day, when he returned to work, I began sealing it. And look! Look at that same kitchen floor now:
I applied four coats of polyurethane to the three large rooms and prayed (Tuesday) that it would be enough. Now that the obligatory 24 hour dry time is up, it's obvious that four coats won't be enough for the parquet floors in the front and the dining room. Y'all. Instead of moving in these rooms this weekend, it looks as if we'll still be applying poly and waiting for it to dry. I'm disappointed, but determined to keep my chin up.
In light of the news, I feel such an urgency to get this place liveable. Such an urgency. But it will get done, and it will be worth it, the insan(d)ity of it all. Won't it? Please nod. Yes. Yes, it will.
We'll get through this, y'all. We will. We're all going to get through this.
Hang in, and happy July 4th. May God's mercy triumph over His judgment in America this Independence Day. -Brin
12 comments:
Oh, Brin - I hear you. Loud and clear. And YES - it will be worth the doing and the waiting. And whether you realize it now, it will get done and one of these days you will be able to sit back in your gorgeous rooms and say you were glad you did every single, little bit of it. All of the coats of poly and everything will be worth it, my friend. Your floor is gorgeous. I'm about ready to tear out the dirty carpet I must shampoo so I can have beautiful, wood floors, too. The problem? There's no wood under my carpets. None at all when all the homes that were built at the same time - next door and all around me - ALL have beautiful hardwood floors. So, I'll clean my carpets and enjoy seeing yours as you make progress. Hang in there - you'll be glad you did it now instead of after the furniture is all in place.
~Adrienne~
the restoration process is wrought with frustration, tears, wounds, and finally peace. that floor is gorgeous. bless your sweet heart. :)
sherry from andwearpearls.blogspot.com
Any restoration project is lots of frustration, hard work, some anger and some blood, sweat and tears. It's oh so worth it when completed.
Hang in there, you're both doing a great job ~ FlowerLady
What a treasure!! And so much work to get to it. But wow, Brin, I admire you for sticking with it. You'll be in and settled before you know it.
its coming along nicely...just hang in there and it will be done...
have a safe and beautiful holiday weekend..
Thanks for posting it; I so look forward to updates. I think of home renovation like childbirth--you forget the pain after it's over and you get the prize. I just scraped off four layers of paint in my living room and painted the ceiling and trim (one coat of oil-based primer and two coats of latex paint) plus two coats of latex on the walls. The pain, the dust, the feeling that it'll never be done.
Now I just sit back and look at the beauty of my accomplishment. You will, too.
Brin, that hardwood looks fabulous! What an amazing treasure under those layers of vinyl and glue - such a tough job, but kudos to you for sticking to it. Remember how you felt a few short weeks ago when you were waiting to move in...so much accomplished already - and you'll never have to do those floors again! When you get discouraged about the tasks still ahead, don't forget to peek behind at how much you've already accomplished. Grab a glass of iced tea and walk that stone path, check your butterfly bushes, and gaze at that gorgeous floor!
I'm so glad you posted this update - been checking daily and wondering how it's going. Your home is really taking shape, and you and Josh are truly making it yours.
What a job!! I'm yelling with you:) But so worth the effort.
The hard work paid off because the floor is just beautiful! I for one do remember when you sanded floors at Freeman House. The job in the new house looks like it was much more difficult. Does the new house have a name yet?
Yes, yes it will.
Keep your eye on the prize! It will be totally worth the blood, sweat, and tears.
Saying some quick prayers for your san(d)ity. Looks gorgeous!
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