[Greenbuilding] Old flooring

[Clarke Olsen]

I have a floor like that in a building that used to be my shop: a former insane asylum with a 126 year old yellow pine floor. It was brought up to an acceptable level of industrial distress by caulking the gaps (caulk comes in many colors) and sanding with an abrasive pad or wire screen, leaving enough of the different layers to be charming, then given a coat of varnish. Water based polys don't impart that amber hue that is so homey on most wood, but less appealing over paint.
Clarke Olsen
clarkeolsendesign.com
373 route 203
Spencertown, NY 12165 
USA
518-392-4640
colsen at taconic.net




On Feb 20, 2013, at 2:58 PM, Benjamin Pratt wrote:

> I appreciate all the wisdom.
> Trying to get a trendy look for cheap, but based on your advice, I am wil probably tell them the best option is to refinish the floors. Any recommendations for a durable finish that has a trendier look?  Maybe a grey  stain?
> 
> Students are not going to be doing the remodeling, just the design.
> 
> Ben
> 
> 
> On Wed, Feb 20, 2013 at 1:47 PM, Clarke Olsen <colsen at fairpoint.net> wrote:
> Using plywood for flooring is a bad idea. The only way to make it worse, is to cut it into strips.
> If you are determined to use sheet goods for flooring, 
> put down 5' x 10' sheets of OSB and paint it a beautiful color.
> Clarke Olsen
> clarkeolsendesign.com
> 373 route 203
> Spencertown, NY 12165 
> USA
> 518-392-4640
> colsen at taconic.net
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Feb 20, 2013, at 1:23 PM, Benjamin Pratt wrote:
> 
>> I'm leading a small team of students to do furniture and interior
>> design for a local internet cafe that is opening up. They came to us
>> because they have a tiny budget. My university gets grants to help
>> local businesses, and we work for cheap.
>> The existing floor mostly maple and oak, is in bad shape, with a lot
>> of holes and
>> other damage. There is also a 1" or so level change where there was a
>> wall. My two ideas so far are in the links below.The first could
>> possibly bridge the level change and would definitely cover the holes.
>> I was trying to find a floor I saw in another store that seemed to be
>> rough-sanded lumber, with no appearance of any finish at all. I
>> couldn't find it, but the second link is close.
>> Any comments on my ideas, or have any other recommendations?
>> 
>> 
>> http://www.picklee.com/2012/12/12/farmhouse-wide-plank-floor-made-from-plywood-diy/
>> 
>> http://wormtracks.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/beautiful-wood-seen-at-anthropologie/
>> 
>> 
>> -- 
>> 
>> 
>> b e n j a m i n p r a t t
>> 
>> professor art+design
>> the university of wisconsin stout
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> 
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> 
> -- 
> 
> 
> b e n j a m i n p r a t t
>  
> professor art+design
> the university of wisconsin stout
> _______________________________________________
> Greenbuilding mailing list
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