[Greenbuilding] floor refinishing on the cheap

Thu Feb 21 16:38:40 CST 2013

FWIW - we see a LOT of floors discarded, so I've seen many "formats".  From
a programming standpoint, I think it would be AWESOME for your students to
embrace and value the _existing_ material and work with it.

I really like Gennaro's idea of just repairing the existing.  It makes for a
good story and minimizes cost.  Quite seriously, if the original material is
quality, then the refinished floor will continue to wear well.  Unless the
space is a highly refined interior that won't work well with a 'character'
floor, then just go for it.

I think a close second is the Jackson Pollock idea of paint, plus splatter.
I've seen this done beautifully, and I think that is a GREAT idea.  It
sounds horrible, but it's not, and I've got closeup photos of a floor we
reclaimed that had the splatter treatment.  We sold that floor for $1/s.f..

Best of luck, and I'd love you to write back to the list with whatever
approach you choose

Amy Bauman
Director
greenGoat 
501(c)3, WBE helping building owners spare waste
PO Box 441911 / Somerville, MA  02144
abauman at greengoat.org
617-504-2095

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Message: 1
Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:20:28 -0500
From: Clarke Olsen <colsen at fairpoint.net>
To: Green Building <greenbuilding at lists.bioenergylists.org>
Subject: [Greenbuilding]  Old flooring
Message-ID: <8DA97C3C-EC57-44CC-98D4-1FD3B4610D22 at fairpoint.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

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:

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Message: 2
Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:51:04 -0500
From: Jason Holstine <jason at amicusgreen.com>
To: Greenbuilding Listserv <Greenbuilding at lists.bioenergylists.org>
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Cheap flooring
Message-ID: <CD4AA168.2A354%jason at amicusgreen.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

A grey, whitewash, or ebony stain with a natural/low sheen finish will (a)
completely go with the theme of the reclaimed and rustic look, (b) be
trendy, ( c) repairable, (d) healthy chemistry.  Look at the OSMO line
(www.osmona.com).

On 2/20/13 2:58 PM, "Benjamin Pratt" <benjamin.g.pratt at gmail.com> wrote:

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Message: 3
Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:56:29 -0800 (PST)
From: Beatrice Dohrn <beatricedohrn at yahoo.com>
To: Green Building <greenbuilding at lists.bioenergylists.org>
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Cheap flooring
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I would agree with the responders who suggest re-finishing the floor. I add
that if you get a few drill bits and hole saws that correspond so that you
drill the hole in the floor with one and manufacture a "plug" that fits well
in that hole the other, ?you can patch the holes quite nicely by making them
into standard "dots" that you fill with either a similar or contrasting
wood.... Gets sanded down and goes with the look.?
?
Beatrice Dohrn

________________________________
 From: Gennaro Brooks-Church - Eco Brooklyn <info at ecobrooklyn.com>
To: Green Building <greenbuilding at lists.bioenergylists.org> 
Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2013 11:10 AM
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Cheap flooring

If that picture is an indication of your existing floor then I would say you
have a great floor. Patch the large holes with wood the small holes with saw
dust/wood filler/stain, sand it all down, patch medium holes with old tin
like they did in the old times, oil it with four layers of tung oil and
citrus solvent (lay it on thick and remove ALL excess 20 min later, repeat
24hrs later). The results are priceless.

Gennaro Brooks-Church
Director, Eco Brooklyn Inc.
Cell: 1 347 244 3016 USA
www.EcoBrooklyn.com
22 2nd St; Brooklyn, NY 11231

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Message: 4
Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:56:30 -0500
From: marian dombroski <mdombros at gmail.com>
To: Green Building <greenbuilding at lists.bioenergylists.org>
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Cheap flooring
Message-ID:
	<CANCZ747h1yBZSJkN+c-6YDye2N4iUd0axitpPPV1p8FsH7=6yQ at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

do everything you can to save the oak and maple floors.  You can use black
rubber reducers to take care of the transition.  it would probably look
cool.  Putting sheet goods over the floor with unresolved levels will just
exacerbate the problem.

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Message: 5
Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:07:11 -0800
From: "John Salmen" <terrain at shaw.ca>
To: "'Green Building'" <greenbuilding at lists.bioenergylists.org>
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Cheap flooring
Message-ID: <002a01ce0fb6$a1cbde00$e5639a00$@ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Paint splatter floor (Jackson Pollock is due for renewal)  that way you can
use simple floor patch and leveller and make it disappear

The splatter covered floor of painter Jackson pollock's studio at the
Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center in East Hampton,New York7/21/2010.
(Michael P. Farrell / Times Union ) Photo: MICHAEL P. FARRELL

From: Greenbuilding [mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org]
On Behalf Of Benjamin Pratt
Sent: February-20-13 11:58 AM
To: Green Building
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Cheap flooring

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

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Message: 6
Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2013 22:46:30 -0500
From: Clarke Olsen <colsen at fairpoint.net>
To: Green Building <greenbuilding at lists.bioenergylists.org>
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Pollock underfoot
Message-ID: <06F731EC-0FA9-4C83-B70A-3C2B04645E28 at fairpoint.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Don't dismiss this approach: it can be seamlessly repaired and adjusted.
With this treatment, you have carte blanch to accent areas, shape your
spaces, and make the floor more then a place to park chairs.
Clarke Olsen
clarkeolsendesign.com
373 route 203
Spencertown, NY 12165 
USA
518-392-4640
colsen at taconic.net