Sunday, November 15, 2009

Cheap Wood Flooring

So here is some of what has been keeping me so busy lately. We have been laying new floors in our home. I did this same floor in my living room 20 years ago and still liked it today, so we finally laid it in the rest of the house . It is not flooring that one can just go and buy, no, it is yellow pine 1x8 plank boards. It's cheap, if you don't count your blood , sweat and tears . . .

The first thing you have to do is sand all the edges and check for bad places. I do this and check each side to make sure we use the best side. Then you want to lay it randomly with floor glue and square head nails. These are the type of nails used in rail roads. I think they are called "concrete nails". They are wedged shaped, and hard to use, but nothing else will do for the look we wanted. You then have to stain them, followed by 3 coats of poly. This is a DIY job, but it is not easy! I just love how they look old and beat up. Everyone loves them and can not believe they only cost 70 cents a ft.

37 comments:

  1. Your floors are gorgeous. Tell me, what would you call your style of decorating? I have not seen enough of your home to be able to figure it out. I do love the look of what I have seen. Hugs, Cindy S.

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  2. cindy, go back in my post to Feb. "Who am I" and Mar. "A touch of Spring" and "House Tales" These should give you a good ideal about my style. And then, You tell me what style I am...I would love to know myself...Anyone else want to play? Everyone is welcome too. P.S. in the Mar. Post, "House Tales" the horse died this past month...so sad.

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  3. They are beautiful, Vicky! I don't know if I would want to put such blood, sweat and tears into a project like this at this point in my life, but I can certainly appreciate their beauty.

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  4. Very beautiful! Those are what a want bad... They look so rich and luxe.
    Thanks for sharing,
    Michelle

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  5. Oh my, these are unique and lasting beauties. All that work will all be worth it. I think I'll suggest this type of flooring to my son who is about to remodel his house. Are there instructions anywhere?

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  6. It does look beautiful! Deliciously rich but at the same time instantly worn and not-too-fussy. Thanks for the photos! Diane

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  7. Oh they are just gorgeous and so worth all the work. I love it. Hugs, Marty

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  8. What a fantastic job. They look so beautiful. I will go back in your blog and try to figure out your style. This will be fun!

    ~janet

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  9. Ok Vicki, this is what I've come up with. And remember I'm such a novice.

    First of all it appears that you and your husband designed and built the house yourselves. Just amazing because it is so beautiful. It seems that you really love traditional decorating. It looks rich and traditional with a touch of country french. You are definitely not a minimalist and you love rich colors. Your garden is to die for as are the views. I don't know if you are, but you appear well-travelled. The mural in the dining room gives me that impression. I can't tell whether it is painted or wallpaper but it is beautiful. So how did I do?

    I'm in the process of seriously making my home MINE. I know it will not appeal to many but it is important to me at this time in my life that it reflect who I am. Thank you for the reminder and inspiration to stay on this path.

    ~janet

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  10. Hello from Kansas!
    Your floor looks wonderful and you did a terrific job!
    I've never laid wood floors, but have refinished wood floors and know that floors are work, but worth it.

    I'm enjoying your blog.

    Thx for visiting homehaven and sharing about your daughter. Being a grandma is wonderful and I pray that all goes very well.

    God bless you real good,
    d

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  11. I, love, love, love your new floors! What a great price too!

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  12. Great job, Vicki! Floors with character...and on a budget.

    Shannon

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  13. Love the floors and I love your "updated" take on French Country.

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  14. Wow
    They are beautiful.
    hard work to be sure but well worth the trouble!!

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  15. I love your floors, of course that is my style.
    They may have been allot of work, but so unique and worth every minute of it.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Sandy

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  16. Hi Vicky,
    My goodness. Those floors look so rich and beautiful....you did a wonderful job. Your blood sweat and tears certainly paid off!
    Take care, Laura

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  17. Your floors are gorgeous, Vicky! They may be inexpensive but they look very luxe! You did a fabulous job!

    Cheers,

    Tina

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  18. Wow!! 70 cents a ft! They look wonderful too -you're blood,sweat and tears sure paid off! :0)

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  19. Looks great! Goes to show you can get lots of great design for just a little bit of money if you're willing to do the work yourself. Very inspiring.

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  20. Wow, your floors are gorgeous Vicky! I bet your knees are worn out after all that hard work!

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  21. Oh your wood fllor look so pretty, Vicky. What kind of stain do you use? We have wooden oak floors. Do you think I can stain them too?...Christine

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  22. ...and ninety cents in 'Canadian' funds :) Ms. Vicky, but nevertheless the floor is absolutely S-T-U-N-N-I-N-G. You did an ultimate fanastic job! They are beautiful.
    Hugs -Brenda-

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  23. I like these, a friend did this it looks great!
    Leslie

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  24. Hi Vicki! I had to come a runnin' when I saw " Cheap Wood Floors" Cause I ned some!! But your floors looks anything but cheap! I'm down for some blood sweat and tears, so I'd love to give them a try! Can I ask what color and type of stain you used? I LOVE their color! Vanna

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  25. I'm with lvroftiques, I was almost trampled when "Cheap Wood Floors" come up on the screen.

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  26. Oh my those floors look great. What a wonderful idea to use the 1x8 planks. I would have to say they look like a million!

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  27. WOW...you did a fabulous job! How's your back?

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  28. * Now, THESE are MAGNIFICENT FLOORS, no matter WHAT the cost, Vicky!!! And, as you know, we just had any/all floors in our house, that WEREN'T travertine, done in wood... oh-so-$$$, but sooooooo wonderful to look at & touch!!! The fact that y'all PARTICIPATED/DID YOURS yourselves makes yours EXTRA special!!! (And PROBABLY in need of a few good manicures, huh?)~

    ...they turned out ABSOLUTELY, FABULOUSLY BEAUUUUUTIFUL, tho!!!~~~~~ Just STUNNING!!! The TIME & PATIENCE required to tackle a job of this magnitude astounds me to the point of deciding we need to make up some sort of "SPECIAL AWARD", just for YOU & those in the family that helped!!!

    I missed your last two postings and those "houses" were, I think, EVERY WOMAN'S REEEEEAL "DREAM"!!! (But with the white flowing curtains, NOT those overdone "curtains"! Grins!)...

    Have MISSED YOU the last several days~ should be more around now!

    Love n' hugs (to darlin' Miss Brenda, TOO!!!)
    Linda *

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  29. Thanks everyone and linda, I need a manicure, massage and a marriage counselor...lol

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  30. omg!! these are beautiful!!! i want to put wood in our colorado house, and we've been looking at samples. but i think I want yours -- and you. this doesn't look easy. i am sooooooo impressed! darn, you're talented. 70 cents?!!! oh wow. my husband would love the price, for sure!

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  31. these are so gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!! i can't believe its' a diy! wow - gorgeous.

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  32. I love your wood floors. Talk about blood, sweat and tears! Just beautiful! Delores

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  33. i really like this article please keep it up. hardwood tips

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