How I Spent my Weekend

Staining my floors!! 

I started prepping the floors for stain Thursday. I scrubbed them and squeegied the water out. Friday morning, I caulked along the outside boards so that the stain and water wouldn't run into the garage or front porch. I decided to do the whole house to help with energy efficiency.

I swept the floors one more time to get any dust/dirt. Dad sprayed the stain on. I about freaked out when I saw the orange, but trusted they would turn out like the picture I showed him. 

Once the stain set in for a few hours we scrubbed them and washed the residue off. I scrubbed, Richard squeegied, and dad sucked up any extra water. After that we scrubbed them again with clean water to pick up any left over residue. Same process but no squeegie. For the final scrub we used baking soda water to neutralize the acid. Dad got all the water out and we left them to dry for 24 hours. 

Floors with stain but no sealer.

Saturday I got a call from Dad saying the Sherwin Williams in Hot Springs gave him the wrong sealer and the only place with enough of the right stuff was in Jonsboro 2 1/2 hours away. So I got in the car and made the trek up there. Dad met me at the house Saturday evening to spray on the sealer. It wasn't hard and took about an hour. 

This is what they looked like Sunday after the sealer dried. 

This is what they look like now. Kev and I spent a few hours Sunday covering them so they could start the drywall today.

I have helped lay real hardwood, laminate, peel and stick, tile, you name it.  This was by far the easiest way to finish a floor. It takes a few days, but you stand the whole time. You're never hunched over or on your knees for hours. I absolutely LOVE my floors andb the dogs can't tear them up!