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I bought 1964 house in a very blue collar neighborhood. I have pulled out the carpet, tack strips and staples. I don't mind how the floor looks except for 5 or 6 boards near the front door that have some old termite damage. The floor has some light scratches, old poly that is flaking off and of course the little holes from nails holding down the tack strips/staples. Again, this doesn't bother me because you can't really see it unless you get on the floor and I don't care about having a perfect looking floor in a house this old. There are also some very small gaps between some of the boards.
I'm wondering if I can:
1. fill in the spots from termite damage and gaps between boards with wood putty (mostly near the front door which will be covered with a mat anyway)
2. sand wood putty flat
3. rent a floor polisher to screen all the old poly off the floor/rough the wood up a little
4. apply 3 coats of oil based poly
Does this sound like something worth doing? I do have someone that will refinish the floors for $1.40/sq ft, but considering I don't mind how the floors currently look and 75% of them will be covered by rugs it doesn't seem like money well spent.
I have done steps 3 and 4 with great success on a 1920's bungalow. Used a buffer pad made of steel wool, vacuumed up the debris, used a tack cloth for the remaining, then 3 coats of poly applied with a lambs wool applicator. Looked wonderful. The advantage is that compared to sanding, the buffer pad removes very little of the wood fiber.
I have done steps 3 and 4 with great success on a 1920's bungalow. Used a buffer pad made of steel wool, vacuumed up the debris, used a tack cloth for the remaining, then 3 coats of poly applied with a lambs wool applicator. Looked wonderful. The advantage is that compared to sanding, the buffer pad removes very little of the wood fiber.
Yes, that is one of the things I was thinking about...I sorta want to preserve the floor. Right now, I just want it structurally sound and showing a little wear consistant with age.
I'm no expert but from what I've read, oiling is more maintenance right? Will oil protect the floor? Also, if I later on decide to use poly, will the oil prevent me from ever getting it to stick?
My plan was to fill in the bad spots with putty and sand them a little with sandpaper to make it flush. You would still easily see it, but at least there wouldn't be a hole. Then use a floor polisher to screen the floor and ten apply the poly (1 coat as you say).
Does this sound like a diy project? I know you mentioned sanding too much but isn't that difficult to do given the screens aren't that abrasive?
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