03/08/2023
This project is located in the Hardscrabble neighborhood of Hillsborough. The first task was to tear out the laminate tile in their living room. Next we tore out the particle board underlayment to get down to the level of the original plywood subfloor directly over floor joists. To remove the particle board, I pulled the nails one by one and lifted the large sheets out whole. Once the particle board was all removed, we discovered some rot and delamination in the plywood subfloor. Those areas were cut out and replaced, as well as some rotten wood under the exterior door. To transition into the front room, we cut the existing board ends straight in the doorway with a track saw and installed two perpendicular boards as a header or flush saddle. Before installing any hardwood flooring, everything was checked with a moisture meter to confirm proper acclimation. Matching Select grade White Oak hardwood flooring was then installed in this room. White Oak flush vents were installed with the new flooring and retrofitted into the existing hardwood flooring. The large opening into the eat-in dining room had two decorative columns that the customer wanted removed, so we removed those for him before sanding and finishing the floor. The kitchen and hallway leading into the dining room had some water damage and gapping caused by a flood. The customer wanted this flooring replaced. Since he was going to have the kitchen redone soon, we went ahead and removed the kitchen island and patched up the hole for the range downdraft vent. Since the kitchen flooring was installed under the cabinets, we had to cut it flush with the toe kicks before removing the hardwood flooring. After removing the kitchen flooring, the vent hole in the plywood subfloor was patched and new matching Select White Oak hardwood flooring was installed and laced in to the dining room. A few boards were replaced in the eat-in dining room and bathroom at the customer's request. The entire first floor was resurfaced and finished with Aboritec Genuine 5 ceramic fortified Ultra-Matte Sheen commercial grade two component water-based polyurethane. The customer wanted the lightest possible natural color without tinting or staining, so we used a special water-based sealer engineered to block the tannins from coming out in White Oak. Primed shoe molding was installed at the end of the job. The customer was amazed at how well I was able to match the existing 30-year-old White Oak hardwood flooring!