Col's Construction Blog
About Me
Col's Construction Blog

Hello! Welcome to my blog. My name is Col. I live in Perth and I have a passion for construction. I am pretty useless when it comes to construction work so I tend to leave it to the experts. However, I find that there is nothing more pleasing than seeing a team of construction workers complete a job. Over the years, I have hired many different types of construction worker and they have all taken the time to chat with me. During these conversations, I have learnt so pretty interesting things which I will be exploring on this blog. Enjoy!

Col's Construction Blog

Hardwood Flooring: Three Practical Guidelines for Using Second-Hand Boards

Ethan Burton

Hardwood floors are beautiful and warm, and their installation can increase the value of a home. Unfortunately, the cost of purchasing the materials can be quite high. Therefore, if you are interested in improving your house by using hardwood, you should consider acquiring second-hand boards. Hardwood materials are quite durable, so you will find materials in good condition for your needs. In addition, second-hand flooring materials are inexpensive in comparison to the alternative. Here are simple guidelines to help you get the best functional and aesthetic results when using reused wood boards.

Choose Suitable Boards

Your flooring project should begin with the selection of the right materials. There are numerous places from which you can purchase used wood, including salvage yard, demolition sites and online forums. If you are uncertain about the best spots, you can make inquiries from your flooring contractor. When choosing your hardwood boards, you should choose products without damage. In simple terms, the planks should be dry and firm, and they should not have signs of rot or insect damage. The superficial appearance will depend on the past conditions. This factor is not critical because you can make improvements in the future.

Arrange the Boards

You should arrange the hardwood boards on your floor in the most appropriate fashion before beginning installation. As mentioned, used planks of wood will have variations in appearance, and it is important to ensure that the differences do not affect the final appeal of your floor. For instance, the colour of the boards can be different depending on the source of wood, past foot traffic and sun exposure. You can minimise the effect of the variations or enhance the appeal of the floor by arranging the boards in a specific way. This practice is essential if you do not want to conduct intensive sanding, bleaching and finishing after installing the hardwood floor.

Improve the Surface

Second-hand hardwood boards are installed using the same processes as new products. However, once you nail the planks to the floor, you will need to make some improvements for better visual impact. The enhancement should begin with sanding. Sanding will help in eliminating the old finish and creating a more uniform look. In addition, the procedure will make the floorboards level in relation to each other. You can also bleach the floor if you wish to lighten the wood. Finally, you should finish the wood by using an appropriate coating or stain. 


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