On Jun 20, 10:14�pm, "BetaB4" wrote:
Thanks to everyone for all of the feedback and suggestions.

Just to follow up, here's where I am with this so far. �I checked out Lumber
Liquidators since I didn't realize that I could get laminate for as low as
78-cents a square foot. �They have it, and that became one option.. �I do
like how durable laminate is.

At the same time, I discovered that Lumber Liquidators has prefinished
3/4-inch red oak hardwood for as low as $1.99 a square foot. �It's a lower
grade of wood with more defects etc. but it looks like it would be okay for
the type of older style apartment that I am having redone. �They also have a
slightly better grade of unfinished 3/4-inch red oak hardwood for $1.59 per
square foot. �I started out by buying a small amount of that and am using
that to fill in some pieces in the existing hardwood floor, and then will
probably try having the existing floor sanded and refinished. �But, the
unfinished $1.59 red oak hardwood actually looks pretty good now that I see
it in place. �So, if refinishing the existing floor looks like it will be
too much trouble or won't come out too well, I may decide to just buy enough
of the $1.59 unfinished red oak to put down a whole new floor over the
existing one and go with that.

"BetaB4" wrote in message

...



I am near the end of having a 2 BR apartment remodeled in a building that I
own. �The 2 bedrooms had old wall-to-wall carpet in them and I took that
up. The living room had a Pergo laminate floor in very good condition, but
I had to take that up because the remodeling changes resulted in the Pergo
no longer covering the full size of the room.

What I am now left with is 2 bedrooms and a living room with old red oak
hardwood floors in mediocre shape -- there are paint splatters and
oversprays on the floor, some pieces would have to be replaced or filled
in with hardwood (where closet walls were, etc), and there are some gaps
between some of the existing hardwood boards.

So, I am thinking my choices a

1) wall-to-wall carpeting throughout;
2) new laminate/Pergo-style flooring throughout;
3) replace the missing pieces and fix the existing hardwood floor, then
sand and refinish it;
4) add all new unfinished red oak (or similar) hardwood flooring
throughout, on top of the existing hardwood flooring, then sand and apply
finish coats of polyurethane, etc.;
5) add all new pre-finished red oak (or similar) hardwood flooring
throughout, on top of the existing �hardwood flooring, and then maybe add
a coat of polyurethane to seal the cracks between the pieces.

The 2 bedrooms, living room, closets, and small hallway area add up to
about 440 square feet. �If I do add a whole new hardwood floor on top of
the existing one, that added 3/4-inch plus underlayment in floor height
will not present a problem. �I have a person who can do the work
regardless of which option I end up choosing. �I have been reading,
researching, watching YouTube videos, etc. to learn as much as I can
before going ahead.

Any thoughts, suggestions, recommendations, etc. would be appreciated.

If I do decide to go with installing new unfinished hardwood (instead of
pre-finished hardwood), I assume that some quick sanding will need to be
done -- but not a lot -- before adding a polyurethane finish. �Is that
correct?- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

adding a floor over a existing floor changes the height of steps and
may put you at risk if someone falls.

check with local code enforcement officer before proceeding