CompleteNewb wrote:
We have a 1929 home w/ plaster walls. We need to CAREFULLY remove the
current hardwood floor, possibly shim or replace some joists, replace
the subfloor, and CAREFULLY reinstall and refinish the hardwood
floor. We also need to re-inforce the fireplace mantel from
underneath (it looks like they just used a wood box to hold it,
looking up at it from the basement) with metal brackets. In the room
of the floor being refinished, we need to replace really old wiring
(we were told by a DIY electrician guy we could do it without tearing
the wall out, by fishing new wire around tied to the old wire as we
pull it out, or by fishing the wire around with fishing tools or
whatever), and we might need to blow insulation either from the
outside or the inside. We also need to paint the room.
What order should these things be done? I know the obvious ones,
like paint after the wiring is done, but it seems like some other
things could go either way. The fireplace guy said we need to do the
mantel last, but a floor guy said we need to have the mantel done
first, etc. Plus an insulation guy said do the floor first, but then
a different insulation guy said do the floor afterwards. I've had a
really hard time getting any local professionals to say the same
thing, so I've kind of lost my trust in them, and can also no longer
afford to pay people to come here and inspect things and give me
completely different answers than the last guy.
Any thoughts would help and be appreciated.

And by the way, I'm a new homeowner with very little money and no
experience, so I'll probably be posting on here a LOT. So if I break
any rules of posting or whatever, please let me know.


1. You may not be able to remove the hardwood floor for exact reuse,
carefully or otherwise. But that may be okay if you can live with a
"distressed" look (I personally think it adds character). There's going to
be at least one board that splinters all to hell when you take it up - do
you have spares? Look for compatible planks before you decide to re-use the
floor. You may end up choosing a laminate veneer.

2. The mantel: I'd say last, unless it's an integral part of the fireplace.
Heck, they make bolt-on mantles that you can stick up anytime.

In sum, I'd say attack in the following order:
1. Structural integrity (leveling floor)
2. Safety concerns (electrical)
3. Cosmetic items (floor, painting, mantle)

Please post your weird or mundane questions; we don't mind. You'll often get
expert advice, and you'll always get some good ideas.