renovate my house

Here is the floor after an application of clear stain. It says it dries in 4 hours but I should let it cure for 24 hours before applying the polyurethane. But I am in a hurry! Peter is home Thursday at 4 so I want the polyurethane to have at least 24 hours to cure before that. I think I’ll push it and apply the polyurethane Wednesday morning and that will allow more than 24 hours before he gets home, which means I can move the furniture back just before he gets home. I should have started earlier!

This was the worst section, by the kitchen. I have (I think) sanded out all the black and once I stain and polyurethane it, it will look great.

I stripped the wax build-up on the hallway floor, using mineral spirits. Peeew. The worst part was wearing a mask and goggles, as I am sweating anyway and they just cause the sweat to roll off me. Next came the sanding. I have one of those small hand sanders (not a palm sander but the bigger one). I have made the command decision to feather the stain and polyurethane into the dining area, as it has been under a carpet all this time and shows no wear. Then it will go back under a carpet and show no blend line. The worst part of the floor is right by the kitchen entrance, where all those feet over the years wore a path. It’s amazing what little sanding can do.

Okay, I chickened out and have decided that I will only refinish the floor in the hall and dining area this week. I have taken up the carpet runners, moved the small bookcase and vacuumed. Now I need sandpaper for the sander and some mineral spirits to clean the old wax off the floor. When I am done that tomorrow, I will get some wood finish and polyurethane and do the finishing work. I am just a little unsure what to do when I have made the floor all sticky and can’t get upstairs or to the bathroom! I think I will go to the library for a few hours while the stain dries. Unfortunately, the pub across the way has temporarily lost its liquor licence so I can’t even go for a quiet drink.

I started with the kitchen two years ago and have stalled. Now I have decided to continue on with the foyer. A misnomer really, as it contains less than 50 square feet of space and a tiny 4 foot closet. Actually, it is only 46 inches wide. I went to the Home Depot today to do “research”. I can’t get closet doors more than 80 inches tall unless I custom order and that costs too much. But for not much money, I can use lovely small ceramic tiles that look like marble (pretty much) on the floor if I want. I just have to think about whether I want grout to cleam.