Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with woodfloor

Flowers in the Attic, without, you know, THAT.

desjardins — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:44:07 -0800

We're finishing an attic to use as a living space. Said attic is ~400 sq ft and has sash windows and skylights, and Mr. desjardins is going to put white beadboard paneling around the walls. The floor is old, dark wood in bad shape, but we do not have time/money to sand/refinish. What colors should we paint the paneling and floor? The walls angle in dramatically so I don't want to feel claustrophobic. Assume I am a complete idiot about paint and interior decorating.

Some ideas about the furniture: The bed is metal and modern (similar). The dressers and nightstands are this color cherry wood. We have this floor lamp. The couch is mission style like this with these color cushions. We have a rug that's roughly similar to this, though I'm fine with scrapping it. I think that's about all we're going to be able to fit up there.

As you've guessed, I like modern and contemporary stuff but don't want to go too far out on a limb.

Help save my wood floor's finish!

a22lamia — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:20:01 -0800

Apparently, we've done a few things you aren't suppose to do to our fairly newly finished (last year) wood floors including using a jute rug with a rubber rug pad under it. Last week I noticed the tassels on the rug were scratching the finish so I took up the rug and pad. In addition to the finish being scratched, it looks like the pad left some sort of residue on the floor. How do I get the nice finish back on our floor (the finish is a standard 3 coat poly finish)?

Hardwood floor in the bathroom?

evoo — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 07:10:04 -0800

Experiences with hardwood floors in the bathroom? I have decided I want to install hardwood flooring in my bathroom. If you have ever lived with wooden bathroom floors, please let me know if there is anything I should be aware of. I am about to remodel my bathroom and I want to try wood on the floor. I have done a bunch of research on this subject and I'm still not sure if I want to use actual hardwood or some kind of laminate wood. I'd prefer actual wood, but I'm open to suggestions. I have lots of experience with wooden floors (my whole house, including kitchen, is floored with 100 year-old Fir and Oak) but I've never lived with wood in the bathroom.

The bathroom is relatively small, about 6'X8.5'. There is a tub, vanity and toilet. It is used every day by two adults. It is not very humid and there is never water left standing on the floor. I don't see any reason why I couldn't use wood, but I'd love to hear of other experiences before I go for it.

Also, if you have ever done this yourself, what type of wood would you recommend?

Thanks!

OK to put a rubber surface directly on top of an unsealed wood floor?

GrammarMoses — Fri, 17 Jun 2005 19:49:38 -0800

Our kitchen floor is wood that was last painted at least 12 years ago. Gradually, with years of hard use, the paint has flaked off in patches, exposing the bare, splintery wood underneath, which is warped and uneven (old building). Can I cover the floor with click-together non-adhesive rubber tiles without having to seal/finish the floor first? We live in a rental, so don't want to invest too much in refinishing, etc. But if we don't seal the wood somehow, I worry that we may be setting ourselves up for future problems. For example, I envision moisture (spills) seeping down through the cracks and being unable to evaporate properly now that the floor is covered with impermeable rubber -- thereby damaging or weakening the wood even further.

For that matter, do I need to fill in the depressions somehow before laying the floor? If the floor is uneven, might that cause the joins to open a bit, or leave room for trapped moisture...?

These are the rubber tiles in question: http://www.ifloor.com/group_11364/RB-Rubber-Bump-Top/Arobitile/group.html

How do I clean wood floors?

sdis — Thu, 02 Jun 2005 08:59:23 -0800

My apartment is wood floor and tile. Hell, my whole building is wood floor and tile. How on earth do I clean all of this (particularly the wood)? What's the best way to clean large amounts of hardwood flooring? (If devices are suggested, any specific brand/model suggestions?) It's tons and tons of beautiful australian cyprus, covered in polyurethane. I bought a Bissell 35758 Cleanview Bagless Special Edition Upright Vacuum, which apparently lacks the feature to pick up, say, dust. I've tried mopping (sponge mop, Murphy's oil soap), but the only way I can really get the streaks out and a neat reflective floor is by getting down on my hands and knees and buffing it with a dry towel.

want to get wood floors installed, looking for local but not bank breaking

hummus — Tue, 13 Apr 2004 08:36:33 -0800

Does anyone have any experience with having wood floors installed. I just got a quote for almost 3k to install maple strips in less than 200 sq. ft. Home Depot does installations, and although I would like to patronize a small company, I can't do it for double the price. Any ideas?