Thanks for the post. I had posted a question recently about painting hardwood floors. My living room floor is in BAD shape-PO's had put in carpeting and when I pulled it out-discovered why. Pet stains and other issues. I am in no way ready to refinish that floor and worry that it might not be sandable-meaning replacement, which is out of the question for the next 10 years (ha!), so I am considering painting it.

We have HW thruout the rest of the house, which is in good shape-to a purist, they'd pull it out and redo it, but for the price point of our house, it's perfectly acceptable. So you have now convinced me that painting that floor is fine. It'll be just the one room, and we seldom use it, so curing it out won't be a problem.

I just wonder, however, the photos you posted seem to show a very heavy cover. Do you see the woodgrain IRL? And the porch paint used (brilliant idea) is it tintable? Finally, is there a specific temp you should consider? The front room is really not heated, so the room would be pretty cold. I could put in a heater to bring it up if needed I suppose.

I am also painting my hardwood floors. I live in old farmhouse that has a mixture of Pumpkin pine that is 24 inch wide boards and oak hardwood. We are keeping the pumpkin pine in there natural state and painting the oak. We choose a green Martha Stewart paint and had them formulate it in floor paint.We are very pleased

I painted mine 8 years ago and have to redo them every few years . Each time I gripe and moan and groan about the work but I keep redoing it because I love the look so I guess you pick your deamons;) I only get two years out of mine but I have three dogs a cat and two kids running around on them.

Ouch. Back in the seventies the old fashioned hardwood was covered up with WTW carpeting. Relatively easy to undo. Painted hardwood not so easy get back to real. Ouch.

Glad you are happy with it. Reality is, it will be a major issue when you need to sell the house in the future. Based on all the work you did, you could probably have refinished it yourself for the same amount of time/effort.

Congratulations on your success. I do think all the work you did you could have re-stained them instead of painting, same process, clear the room, sand, stain, poly but you obviously were determined so good for you. I have always said as everyone rushes to all wood floors--there was a reason WTW carpeting was invented. If it is true about all those willing to rip out, re-do, put in the latest decorating fad I wouldn't be overly concerned with re-sale. A potential buyer will do what they want once they move in! I am reminded by a Sarah Richardson episode where she painted brand new wood floors. It is your house, you are happy with the results I am happy for you.

I wouldn't ever be able to paint wood floors, but yours look wonderful. The color really adds to your rooms and achieved what you set out to do. Looks like a lot of work, but you were rewarded with a warm and homey space.

It is true that at some point, a hardwood floor is near its last sanding. So by scuffing and painting you may have prolonged their useful life. Had you looked at oiled or waxed finishes, as opposed to poly? I am truly curious about that. We considered it but went with oil based poly in semi-gloss when we redid the upstairs. I have heard the oil/wax based finishes are easier to maintain or fix scratches. But I've only heard that from people who want the sell the stuff, I don't know anyone who has used them.

"Reality is, it will be a major issue when you need to sell the house in the future."

Fact is, this is the smallest house on the biggest lot in a very desirable neighborhood. Houses similar to mine that sell are typically gutted and redone by folks wanting a larger fancier house in this school district. It would be next to impossible to over improve- the neighborhood can support a home worth five times what mine is.
So chances are anyone who bought the house would be doing a very major reno anyway. In other words my lot and location are the value of my property, not the dwelling itself.

But I have no plans to ever sell so there is that.
We bought this home specifically to retire in and the only way I am leaving is feet first :)
I have done several highly customized things like kitty access doors through walls and other things no one else would want.
This is just one more :)

Nice to see this. You did a great job and it was good to know the blow by blow. It makes a big job seem more doable.
Our floors in the main rooms on the first floor are near the end of their sandable life, but new ones is not how I would choose to spend my money. Our town is becoming more and more upscale, so there is probably no way a new (presumbably wealthier) owner would keep the beat up old 100 yo floors anyway. I love the feeling of a wood floor on bare feet, and dislike carpet. I am thinking of painting the wood floor in the kitchen which is the most beat up and probably least savable. The problem is either my dh has to agree, or go away long enough for me to do it as a surprise!
thanks again for showing.
Kathy

Looks great. I recently painted my stairs (BM Rockport Gray). They are holding up well. I couldn't make a decision for the longest time after I pulled up the carpeting. I thought I would stain it but after reading a lot, I decided that the historically accurate thing to do (for an 1875ish home) was paint. I've attached a link.

Here is a link that might be useful: gray stairs