Hi Everyone,
I began this post yesterday, Tuesday, October 1, 2024.
Today was stressful and busy as the plumber returned to hook up the washer-dryer. However, he didn’t do it right, and while it works, the machine shakes like a magnitude 7 earthquake. And it barely spun dry the heavy blanket and towel in there.
The radiator also finally got hooked up.
Beautiful, isn’t it?
Well, it didn’t start working until this morning!
So, let’s get to the main topic—the hardwood floor issues—and what we’re going to do about them!
Oh, I’ve talked about it plenty. The finish is dull and lifeless and lacks depth. At best, it looks like there’s a coating of cheap plastic over it. That is not the deep, rich luster I had with the old floor and wanted to keep.
I have been mourning the loss of the beautiful finish on my old floor. It was one of the things that gave me joy as I looked into the living room from the deceased horrid kitchen.
Above, the old red oak floor in 2022, more than a year before the renovation began.
This is the hardwood floor after the refinishing in August. True, this is a daytime shot, but it doesn’t shine at night, either.
Other hardwood floor issues include:
- The new floor sticks out like a big zit on the forehead of a blushing bride.
- Although the wood grain is a good match, the grain is rough under the finish. The old floor was as smooth and silky as it looks in the photo above.
Okay, I made another video today. It begins downstairs amidst an assault to your ears if you’d like to feel what it’s like to be me for a few seconds. You’ll see some very interesting camera work. lol. This is not a tour of the upstairs just yet. To escape the noise, the second half of this five-minute video is me on the floor—in the den. The template for the chandelier is what’s on top of the ladder.
Because I aim to please, here’s what I have done for today.
I have given you a choice of video via my ad network or via YouTube. If the ads don’t bother you much and it makes you feel good knowing your watching has allowed me to earn a nickel, haha, then please choose this first version of today’s video.
If you think the videos with ads are akin to chewing on ice cubes right after you’ve had your teeth cleaned, then please watch the YouTube video. (below) However, please understand that the day I qualify for ads, it’s all over. lol
Video #1 (below) is the complete YouTube video. Video #2 (below video #1) leaves off the grating background noise.
Thankfully, Brendan saved you from my rambling non sequiturs! lol
Below is without the noisy intro.
So, did you see the floors? They’re dull AF, although they look better in the video than in real life.
What are you doing about them now, Laurel?
I can’t tell you.
It’s confidential info.
Laurel, what are you smoking?
Nothing. I’m dead serious!
What I can tell you now is that the new floor guys came in the early afternoon to begin the process of fixing the hardwood floor issues.
Step one is screening the floor.
Screening, if you don’t already know, means the top layer of poly was removed. This allows Chris to correct the color of the boards, which are way too pale.
The handrail does not stick way out past the guard rail. It’s only the angle of the photo. This is just before the screening.
To be continued…
I promise to fill you in on all the details– very soon! Chris and I have developed a plan to fix the hardwood floor issues, and to make them up to the level of the rest of the place.
I can tell you that the result of our mission is that the floors will be a shade deeper and have a beautiful sheen that mimics a beautifully polished wax sheen.
Impossible Mission – Hardwood Floor Issues
awww…
“As always, should you or any member of your renovation team be caught or killed, the secretary will disavow all knowledge of your actions. This tape will self-destruct in 5 seconds…”
In closing, a proper tour of the upstairs is forthcoming. I can’t wait to share it with you!
xo,
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29 Responses
Watching the first video – I am really struck by the play of the shadows of the rail on the stairs. Lovely, lovely.
Yes, I understand about the ad revenue. I am going thru your site to Amazon.
You have a surprisingly calm and interesting speaking voice; guess I imagined something different. Perhaps animation work is in your future?
I don’t know why they didn’t use reclaimed red oak in the first place. Boston is the placed for architectural salvage. I got a whole truckload of reclaimed red oak some where south of Boston to match a hundred year old floor, after being refinished you couldn’t tell the difference between the old and the “new” old.
Hi Rhonda,
Oh dear. Salvage? From the ridiculous to the even more ridiculous. They removed all of the old wood from the entry and THREW IT AWAY! That happened during the first six months when I wasn’t living there.
Based just on the picture your “new” floors look great in my opinion; way better than the old floors. The old floor look too red and too shiny. Everything is so beautiful.
Laurel, I loved watching Mission Impossible as a kid – wore my hair like Barbara Bain’s in HS 🙂 – so, I think considering everything – your place is looking quite good. I am empathetic about “screening” the floor. The fine dust gets everywhere even with the air scrubber and no matter how well you cover up the doorways. However, I find you forget these pains once you begin living in your space. Which, I think, you are very close to doing. The reno is amazing and really, really gorgeous. PS: it was hard to see the color difference of the hardwood on my screen except for one quick shot in the video. That would drive me crazy too.
Hi Marlene,
The floor was screened two days ago and I didn’t notice any dust at all! There are images in an older post that show the difference in color, but I have to go just now.
WOW -That noise would make me crazy! But luckily you have your beautiful walls to look at 🙂
Hang in Laurel, you are going to have the most fantastic home!!!
Hi Maggie,
Fortunately, it isn’t like this every day and there will be very little of that going forward, except maybe when the closet work is being done. I’ve gotten pretty good at tuning it out, just like I did, my children. lol
As a Realtor, I make lots of home tour videos. Whether in still photos or video, we always use the landscape (horizontal) camera format which shows a wider view of the room than the narrow vertical. In landscape format you don’t have to move the camera around as much to capture the space.
Hi Susan,
You know, I tried holding the camera horizontally, however, I found myself having to move it up and down because the field of vision didn’t show enough of the wall. This video wasn’t a tour, so much as it was me showing the work being done and me talking. However, in the much longer tour, I did hold the camera vertically.
I’ll certainly be willing to try it again, horizontally, but this format is easier for me to hold the camera and talk at the same time.
Hi Laurel, it maybe cold comfort for you, but here in Europe shiny floors are considered not done. Otherwise love your design taste 🙂
Hi Ines,
I don’t think they’re using water-based poly. Those are usually hard wax oil finishes which are not what I have. However, my favorite hotel ever, the JK Place in Capri has nearly black, super-shiny hardwood floors. I’m not doing high gloss, but I am going for the look of a paste wax highly buffed finish.
The color in the den is GORGEOUS! I adore everything… ❤️
You old picture of your floor was beautiful.
I think you need a richer stain on the floor. I have oil poly satin and provincial and red oak floors. Do a test and see if you like it.
Hi Debby,
Indeed, yes! Please stay tuned.
I had a dishwasher disaster and a puddle of water ended up on my (dark) hardwood floor, and now the floor seems warped. I don’t even know what to do about it. We had the whole house refinished before we moved in three years ago, and they told me the floor only had one refinish, maybe two left in it. I admire your perseverance in handling all the things that have gone sideways. Right now I’m mostly in denial.
Hi Lucy,
Oh, I’m so sorry! I feel your pain. Would insurance cover any part of the damage?
Hi Lucy,
I don’t have a choice but to persevere. However, I hope your home issues get resolved quickly.
Hi Laurel,
I hope all the noise didn’t carry on too long. That would drive me crazy.
Will your floors be done before your new sofa is delivered? I’m hoping your place will be done for the Holidays. Wishful thinking I imagine.
Ditto on Christine’s and Diana’s posts about transport restraints needing to be removed. My neighbor bought a new stackable washer and dryer and the washer did not operate properly. Fortunately for her, the installer called his boss and was instructed to remove the transport restraints before he left. He found them and removed them and the washer worked perfectly. I don’t know if this is your problem, but definitely have installer come back before you use washer again to make sure those restraints were removed.
I loved that pic of Chris Audley’s work. He is so talented. And you really need a good noise cancelling headset!
I again switched to Firefox to watch your videos and they were great. I don’t mind the ads at all.
As Diana said above, the transport rods need to be removed. If not they can damage your machine. Oh, and usually there is a spot the save them on the back of the machine to use if you move the machine to another location. Secondly, they machine have to be level, in every direction. like up down, left right, diagonally. I have another German brand and love them.
Hope you get the floors perfect. Your kitchen counters are wonderful.
Regarding your Bosch washer and dryer: I have a set of the Bosch 800 Series in each of our two homes, and while I truly love them, they are not without their issues.
First: DON’T use the washer again until the plastic transport screws are removed from the back! The installer should have known to do this! I experienced this with one set, and the other set had a capable installer that I had an eagle-eye on so he wouldn’t make the same mistake. Also, when you use the “Bulky/Large load” setting, always ensure that you have the spin speed set to “High”; the default setting is “Medium”.
The dryer has its own set of issues, but I typically use the “Cotton Normal“ (unless it’s sheets or towels, then I use “Bulky/Large”) setting, with the Wrinkle Block setting chosen. Because it’s a condensation dryer, it just takes longer, then the Wrinkle Block setting kinda finishes it off so the clothes feel dry.
Be sure to read the manual for both, very helpful! Also, let me know what else you might have issues with; I feel sure that I’ve experienced all of them.
Just curious about all the redos – painting, floors, etc – do the contractors charge more to redo? Very stressful!
Such beautiful work you’ve done! It’s all the little details that add up to a beautiful space. Thank you for sharing it with us! I know the videos aren’t your priority, but when you take more, can I beg you to consider tilting your phone so it’s horizontal? Think of holding it the way you view your tv, as that’s the way to fill the screen. Thanks for considering.
Oh, and I started the video with the ads, muted it, then actually watched it on YouTube. Best of both worlds 🙂
You haven’t mentioned your GC in quite some time. Are you finished with his “services” and are now employing the subs directly? You’ve achieved amazing results with your care and perseverance.
I don’t mind watching the ads, if you can make a buck or two. Yeah, I’m just that kind and generous. : )