Replies

1. 
   paperhanger | Sep 07, 2006 09:32pm | #1

   Best bet is to have floors professionally refinished. The carpet pad has damaged the finish and the floor pro's know how to mix the sawdust and poly into a filler for the carpet nail holes. My brother just bought a house of the same vintage and has the same problem you do. And the floors will look 100% better after a pro's hard work and knowledge.  Good Luck.  Jim Z

2. 
   Frankie | Sep 08, 2006 12:08am | #2

   Don't sweat the carpet tack holes. Only you see them and that is because you know they are there. If others see them, they think it's character.

   You first need to determine if it is a poly or wax finish. This should be simple enough to do. Use some mineral spirits to see if you can take the finish off in a discrete corner or area which will be covered by a rug in the future.

   [EDIT: If some finish comes off then it is wax. Now you need to see if it has a shellac sealer. Use some denatured alcohol to see if the finish the harder finish comes off. If it does then the top finish is wax.]

   If it turns out to be wax, get a wax cleaner/ remover, strip the wax (very messy, protect your base boards) and then rewax - 3 coats.

   If the mineral spirits and denatured alcohol had no effect what so ever then it is most likely poly. Poly is a oneway reaction. It does not soften with thinner after it has cured. If it is a poly finish and the poly is not worn to bare wood or through stain (Is it stained? Color?), screen it and repoly.

   Frankie

   Experiment with the placing of the ingredients on the plate. Try the mozzarella on the left, the tomato in the middle, the avocado on the right. Have fun. Then decide it goes tomato, mozzarella, avocado. Anything else looks stupid.

   Richard E. Grant as Simon Marchmont - Posh Nosh

   
   

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   Edited 9/7/2006 5:34 pm ET by Frankie

1. 
   BillHartmann | Sep 08, 2006 01:03am | #4

   "If the mineral spirits and denatured alcohol had no effect what so ever then it is most likely poly. Poly is a oneway reaction. It does not soften with thinner after it has cured. If it is a poly finish and the poly is not worn to bare wood or through stain (Is it stained? Color?), screen it and repoly."What you are describing is Varnish. Poly is only one type of varnish. And I doubt that there was any in 1950, if that is the orginal finish.But the same steps holds for any varnish.

1. 
   REempire | Sep 08, 2006 07:37pm | #6

   Thank you.

3. 
   BryanSayer | Sep 08, 2006 12:15am | #3

   I agree with the ignoring the holes, but if they really bother you (like in a door way or something) you can replace a strip of flooring. Ideally if you can get it from a closet, or better yet salvage. I just got some salvage flooring from someone on our community list serve, so that I can fix some larger holes.

   If the floor is old enough, you *might* have a shellac finish, which probably does have wax on top of it. To check, take a little bit of mineral spirits and wipe the floor (in an inconspicious location). This will remove any wax. If some finish comes up to, then you have poly. Next take some denatured alcohol and rup the same area. If the finish comes up, you have shellac.

   Either way, you may be able to screen and recoat, but it is better left to pros.

1. 
   REempire | Sep 08, 2006 07:34pm | #5

   Thaks for your advice!

   REempire