I recently purchased a condo and am trying to decide what to do with the floors. I want to have floors that I can walk around barefoot and not get my feet dark/dirty... as you know, in NYC many wood floors seem to be "permanently dirty" that even mopping does not clean for long. Trying to decide whether to steam clean the floors - if that's possible - or sand and stain. I realize that the cost of... [more]
I recently purchased a condo and am trying to decide what to do with the floors. I want to have floors that I can walk around barefoot and not get my feet dark/dirty... as you know, in NYC many wood floors seem to be "permanently dirty" that even mopping does not clean for long.
Trying to decide whether to steam clean the floors - if that's possible - or sand and stain. I realize that the cost of sanding and staining will be higher, and it takes more time. But, since I hope to live in the property for years, I want to have floors where I don't feel like I have to wash my feet before getting in bed...or white socks don't become very dirty after ten minutes walking around. I'm not sure what kind of wood the floors are made of, but it's a pretty basic wood floor. The building is a converted warehouse and the floors are about 20 years old.
Replacing the floors seems possible and would certainly solve the problem but may be unnecessary and too expensive.
Searched these boards and found good advice about staining and sanding but not with this "dirty feet" question. Any advice is much appreciated.
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Response by Primer05
over 12 years ago
Posts: 2103
Member since: Jul 2009
I think, without looking at the floors that you should sand ,stain and poly the floors. A good flooring co will charge you 3-4 sq ft
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Response by sp21
over 12 years ago
Posts: 99
Member since: Feb 2013
Thank you! I'm assuming that your company could contract that out if I used you for other renovations? (Ex fixing walls, replacing light fixtures etc)?
You need to clean your floors regularly, just as you do everywhere else in the world. So no advice about what kind of floors/refinishing you can do will change that. However, water is the enemy of wood, so don't ever steam or wet-mop.
But you want advice about floors/refinishing. And here is the correct advice: Summer is coming. You want a beach-house look. You can paint your floors in a high-gloss deck paint, just like the most delightful 125-year old seaside shacks you've ever seen. They withstand grit -- literally, in the form of beach sand -- very well. You probably don't even need to screen the floor, let alone sand.
To make your decision easier, I give you these two color choices: bright white, or sky blue. Go.
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Response by Guywithcat
over 12 years ago
Posts: 329
Member since: Apr 2011
slippers
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Response by Sonya_D
over 12 years ago
Posts: 547
Member since: Jan 2013
I have had floors sanded and refinished before. If you have the money and time, I recommend it. They end up looking beautiful. IF you get competent guys, of course.
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Response by sp21
over 12 years ago
Posts: 99
Member since: Feb 2013
Sonya_D, great to hear. Anyone have recs for good floor people? (For sanding/staining.)
Alanhart, we are not looking to paint it sky colors, but we are hoping to stain it a relatively light color.... Something that makes the room warmer and brighter. If anyone has a stain they like (obviously not ebony or something that dark), much appreciated.
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Response by alanhart
over 12 years ago
Posts: 12397
Member since: Feb 2007
Then go natural (no stain) with non-ambering water-based poly.
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Response by Sonya_D
over 12 years ago
Posts: 547
Member since: Jan 2013
Sorry sp21, it's been ages and I am not too familiar with who is out there these days. Primer or some others may have a good recommendation for you though ;-)
I think, without looking at the floors that you should sand ,stain and poly the floors. A good flooring co will charge you 3-4 sq ft
Thank you! I'm assuming that your company could contract that out if I used you for other renovations? (Ex fixing walls, replacing light fixtures etc)?
Living now 2 years in my apartment and not fond of chronic cleaning, I love walking around barefoot and have your same dirty feet annoyance.
Found my solution 4 months ago, the mint robot sweeper.
It's not cheap but it get used. I run it every 3rd day, a damp run once every 2 weeks, my feet are spotless.
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?sku=18665743&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&device=c&network=g&matchtype=&gclid=CIm1ornribcCFcZlOgoddnIAhA
You need to clean your floors regularly, just as you do everywhere else in the world. So no advice about what kind of floors/refinishing you can do will change that. However, water is the enemy of wood, so don't ever steam or wet-mop.
But you want advice about floors/refinishing. And here is the correct advice: Summer is coming. You want a beach-house look. You can paint your floors in a high-gloss deck paint, just like the most delightful 125-year old seaside shacks you've ever seen. They withstand grit -- literally, in the form of beach sand -- very well. You probably don't even need to screen the floor, let alone sand.
To make your decision easier, I give you these two color choices: bright white, or sky blue. Go.
slippers
I have had floors sanded and refinished before. If you have the money and time, I recommend it. They end up looking beautiful. IF you get competent guys, of course.
Sonya_D, great to hear. Anyone have recs for good floor people? (For sanding/staining.)
Alanhart, we are not looking to paint it sky colors, but we are hoping to stain it a relatively light color.... Something that makes the room warmer and brighter. If anyone has a stain they like (obviously not ebony or something that dark), much appreciated.
Then go natural (no stain) with non-ambering water-based poly.
Sorry sp21, it's been ages and I am not too familiar with who is out there these days. Primer or some others may have a good recommendation for you though ;-)