Original Wood Floors
Many houses in these neighborhoods have oak or heart pine floors from when they were built. Some have been under carpet or vinyl for decades and come up in better shape than expected.
Solid wood that old usually has enough thickness left to sand and refinish. Read hardwood floor refinishing for how the job goes.
Crawl Spaces and Soft Spots
Older raised homes often sit over crawl spaces, where damp air and old plumbing leaks can soften the subfloor near baths and kitchens. Those spots need repair before any new floor goes down.
See subfloor repair for what a proper fix involves.
Matching and Patching
Where walls were moved or a floor was damaged, matching old boards can be tricky. A good contractor weaves in boards of the same species and width, then refinishes the whole room so it reads as one floor.
If a section was lost to water, some of the riverfront saw flooding in Hurricane Irma, see water damaged floor replacement.
Living in an Older House During the Work
Sanding makes dust and finish needs time to cure, so most families plan to be out of the rooms being done. Painting should happen before the final coat. Ask the contractor for a day by day schedule and the cure time for the finish they use.
Old homes also hide surprises under old flooring, like layers of vinyl, staples and patched boards. A good contract says how those get priced. See what a flooring contract should include.
Adding New Wood
For rooms without original wood, narrow solid oak suits the style of these homes and handles humidity better than wide planks. See hardwood flooring installation.
Have an older floor to save or replace? Send the estimate form or call (904) 555-0186.