Sanding Wide Pine Plank Hardwood Floors in a Historic Kenilworth Home

The Floor’s Condition Before Refinishing

Decades of wear had left this once-beautiful floor in very poor shape:
❌ Dark black spots had formed where the finish had completely worn away
❌ Deep scratches and scuffs were visible throughout the surface
❌ Uneven wear patterns made the floor look patchy and damaged
❌ Sticky, oily old finish made sanding extremely difficult

The Refinishing Process & Challenges

🛠️ Preserving the Decorative Metal Nails:
The homeowners wanted to keep the quarter-inch square pointy metal nails that were originally hammered down in lines for decoration. However, since pine is a softer wood, nailing them down evenly was tricky. Some nails sank deeper than others despite using the same force, so we had to:
✔️ Carefully nail them down while keeping them visible
✔️ Patch around them multiple times to create a uniform surface

🪵 Tackling the Tough-to-Remove Old Finish:
The previous finish was an outdated, sticky, and oily formula that clogged sanding equipment fast. To combat this, we had to:
🔧 Disassemble and clean our edger and drum sanding machines four times to keep them functioning
🪚 Use over 10 old sanding papers before switching to fresh ones with the correct grit
⚡ Ensure an even sanding process while protecting the integrity of the soft pine planks

🎨 Choosing the Perfect Stain & Finish:
Since pine reacts differently to stain than oak (often absorbing color more deeply), we created test samples before selecting Bona Spice Brown, the same color used in other areas of the home. This gave the floor a rich, warm tone that beautifully complemented the historic character of the house.

📌 Replacing Floor Vents for a Cohesive Look
To complete the refinishing project, we also replaced two floor vents, ensuring they blended seamlessly with the newly restored flooring.

A Stunning Transformation

After overcoming these challenges, the final result was breathtaking. The deep black stains, scratches, and scuffs were completely gone, and the floor now showcased its natural beauty with a flawless, even finish. The preserved decorative metal nails added a unique historical touch, making this refinished floor a true showpiece in the home.

The homeowner was beyond happy with how everything turned out—the floor went from heavily worn and damaged to stunning and full of character once again.