You know, that's something I'd never even considered. I'm afraid I could probably make a bigger mess out of it trying to do that than by the simple refinishing though. It sounds like one of those, "In theory it's not that difficult just time consuming," things but given that I'm really not all that handy I'm sure I could really mess it up.

Keep the ideas coming though, I'm thinking it will be at least April before I actually start working on them. Contractor is putting in new windows (reframing and the whole nine yards) then (hopefully) and I sort of want to wait until all of that work is done before I hit the floors.

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It takes a gutless mouse to play only when the cat's away.

No love, no friendship, can cross the path of our destiny without leaving some mark on it forever. ~~ Francois Mocuriac

Confucius say, "He who masturbate into cash register come into money."

An optimist looks at the glass and says it's half full. A pessimist looks at the glass and says it's half empty. A Cubs fan looks at the glass and says, "When's it gonna spill?"

Deus Impetitio Esuritori Nullus

When they come to do your windows just tell them to take a couple day between taking them out and putting the new ones in this should give you plenty of ventilation.

__________________
it's only kinky the first time

it's not the orgasm but getting there thats fun

a shot in the bush is worth two in the hand

whip me, beat me, tie me up, break my arm, but please don't break my heart

"The trouble with the world is that the stupid people are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt" -Bertrand Russell

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Though I am different from you,
We were born involved in one another.

For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.

Complete surrender should not just come at moments in which one faces overwhelming odds, but in the calm when it seems one is personally in complete control of one's life.

Unfortunately I don't think I'll have to worry about that. The guys who are doing the work do a great job but speed isn't really their thing. They replaced the front and back entry doors to the house this past fall, in three days.

__________________
It takes a gutless mouse to play only when the cat's away.

No love, no friendship, can cross the path of our destiny without leaving some mark on it forever. ~~ Francois Mocuriac

Confucius say, "He who masturbate into cash register come into money."

An optimist looks at the glass and says it's half full. A pessimist looks at the glass and says it's half empty. A Cubs fan looks at the glass and says, "When's it gonna spill?"

Deus Impetitio Esuritori Nullus

Hey I resemble that remark.

__________________
it's only kinky the first time

it's not the orgasm but getting there thats fun

a shot in the bush is worth two in the hand

whip me, beat me, tie me up, break my arm, but please don't break my heart

"The trouble with the world is that the stupid people are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt" -Bertrand Russell

For once I would have to disagree with OF (unless he was just yanking everyone's chain again)...turning the boards over would likely end up a huge disaster; if these are the typical oak floorboards used since the last half century, they are tongue-&-groove boards nailed tightly together beneath the surface, & the backsides are not flat nor are they finished...they have this molded groove down the middle to make sure they stay flat on the sub-floor even if they warp & cup a little...

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Plug me into somethin'

If the theory does not conform to the facts, then the facts must be discarded.

No good deed ever goes unpunished

Never argue with an idiot. He'll drag you down to his level, & beat you with experience.

Scotz,

The Jarrah floors my sister replaced about 10 years ago were perfectly symmetrical tongue and groove.

If the boards are fancy profiles, the simplest way to refinish them is to have a pro lift them and run them all through an electric plane to take off a few thousandths of an inch. This leaves you the equivalent of virgin boards to stain, wax estapol or fingerpaint as takes your fancy.

Good point, Scotx.

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Calm, quiet, smooth, devastating

I have heard great things about modern wood floor options, especially the pre-finished boards that friction fit together & left floating on the subfloor. I was assuming that IowaMan's home would be similar to mine, since he said he grew up in it, & the floors would likely be the old 1950s-60s grade materials. But since you bring it up, his best bet (if he can handle the expense) may well be to lay down new floors that don't require the sanding or finishing, thus avoiding the dust & fumes factor altogether. Myself, I couldn't bear the thought of covering up those old floors, installed by the last true craftsmen & intended to outlast the homeowners.

__________________
Plug me into somethin'

If the theory does not conform to the facts, then the facts must be discarded.

No good deed ever goes unpunished

Never argue with an idiot. He'll drag you down to his level, & beat you with experience.

Nope Scotz you're not wrong, this is an old home and the floors have been in for quite some time. I really don't want to cover them up.

__________________
It takes a gutless mouse to play only when the cat's away.

No love, no friendship, can cross the path of our destiny without leaving some mark on it forever. ~~ Francois Mocuriac

Confucius say, "He who masturbate into cash register come into money."

An optimist looks at the glass and says it's half full. A pessimist looks at the glass and says it's half empty. A Cubs fan looks at the glass and says, "When's it gonna spill?"

Deus Impetitio Esuritori Nullus