I can’t believe we are done with winter flooring project #4. I also can’t believe that we did four flooring projects this fall/winter! We are done, for a long time. We (mostly Jim!) has now replaced the upstairs carpet and hall bathroom, downstairs mud room/office, and now play rooms.
This project had us ripping out carpet and removing trim. We prepped the room ourselves to save on cost, and did this part the weekend before New Year’s.
I found new rugs that I loved at Costco for great prices. One was in store and one was online in the matched set. They are very soft but easy to vacuum, making everyone happy. Jim had to clarify this process: “We’re ripping out the carpet. And putting in hardwoods. And then you’re buying new rugs to go over the hardwoods.” Yes!
The rooms were ready for installation late, late on New Year’s Day.
On January 2, the hardwood guy and his assistant showed up and laid the entire floor. They are so fast!
On January 3, we moved out (and I had LASIK done, separate post!). The varnish was beautiful but soooo smelly and they had to turn the gas off to our house because even a pilot light can ignite it, apparently. So that meant no heat, no hot water, no range to cook on, and no clothes dryer. Hmmmm. Fortunately Jim’s parents’ house was vacant so we packed up food and overnight clothes every day and I worked from their house during the day. We had picked this week to get the floors installed knowing this would all work out!
On January 5, Friday, we could move back in. And now it looks like this!
Hot tip: Jim found out that putting cans of coffee grounds around the house will absorb the smell of the varnish. And yes, it works. We are now three days in and can’t smell any varnish at all. When you consider how bad it was, this is amazing.
White Water Hardwoods did an amazing job matching our current floor (bottom of this next photo) with the new finish. It looks amazing and I love it!!
The Keene Family 