Upstairs Hardwood Floors...Everything Old is New Again!

Our lovely contractors finished everything they could do for us and were on their way a few weeks ago.  Although we were sad to see them go as they are two of the nicest men I have had the privilege of spending time with, this to us means that we are very close to being done and officially moving in. 

The biggest job we have had to wait to complete has been the hardwood floors upstairs.  With numerous tools and people around we did not want something to happen then have to fix our work.  Better to just wait.  This past week and into this weekend we were finally able to get these done.  First we needed to sand the outer edges with the palm and mouse sanders.

This took FOREVER with the hand held sanders but it needed to be done this way.  We knew we were going to rent the large floor sander and it can't get too close to the walls.  Renting the floor sander was some of the best cash we have spent.  One full day and we had the majority done.

While all this sanding was going on, we also needed to remove the screws and nails that were from the plywood/carpet that someone ages ago decided was a good idea instead of leaving the hardwood.

Once all the screws and nails were removed and everything was sanded, we needed to fill the holes that were left with wood putty.

There was no better way but to lie on the floor, and fill each whole individually.  This job was a little messy, and VERY tedious.  By the end I was SO done with it.  William caught a photo of me and Atlas filling holes and you can just tell how much I wanted this to end!

After days and days of sanding, pulling, filling and feeling like you've smoked packs of cigarettes from all the dust here was the final look of the wood.

Sorry to say but we were still not done with this little project.  From there, we needed to vacuum up as much of the dust as we could, then mop up the remainder.

Finally today we were able to varathane the wood.

First room done.

And here is the hardwood with its first coat of varathane.

We have coated with a second coat of varathane but I forgot to bring my phone with me to take a picture, and now we are waiting for it to dry.  We are planning on three to four coats total.  Finished pictures to come.  With this done we are feeling like we are in the home stretch!  Fingers crossed we will officially be Indian Head residents by the end of the month!