Saturday
Mar062010
I can barely type this…
Saturday, March 6, 2010 at 8:06AM
...because of the blisters.
I think I have about seven. Two of them started from gripping the steering wheel too tightly as I drove 1200 miles this week. The other five came from the manual labor I've been doing since arriving at the studio.
We did make it safely to Minnesota, thank goodness. More on that story another time. Today, a couple of studio updates. Still no internet or computer there, bear with me.
When we decided to take this 110 year old building, we knew it needed some TLC. But it turned out to be reconstructive surgery, not just a little pampering. In addition to the month of work put in by a team of contractors and family members, we've been working nonstop since arriving just to get one section of the Enchanted Forest in usable condition.
When we arrived, we found some beautiful paint colors. We didn't have much time to sit and stare, as there were trucks blocking the driving lane that needed unloading.
Cast your eyes onto the middle section of this floor:
Just to give you a better idea of what needed to be reconstructed:
This is not just an ugly, eyesore of a floor. This is practically unwalkable, certainly a safety hazard. 110 years ago, the people who built this building installed pine hardwoods. In the 1950s, someone thought it would be a good idea to install linoleum directly on top of the hardwoods. And then when people tired of the linoleum, they decided to staple plywood directly on top of the linoleum. And then they put lunchroom tiles. And then on top of that, carpet glue and carpet.
Someone then decided it would be interesting to rip up the carpet and see what was underneath. They took a couple of whacks at it with a scraper and a crowbar. They saw exactly how much back breaking work it would be to get all of the layers of floor off, and they just left it. I don't know who this person was. I would like to show them my blisters. And I'm sure the three other people who've been helping me would like them to spring for a massage for their backs and some salve for their hands.
In case this ever happens to you, here are the steps involved in removing 60 years of flooring.
1. Rip up carpet.
2. Pry off chunks of plywood subfloor with crowbar.
3. Scrape off layers of adhesive to make sure everything is nice and uneven.
4. Leave for two years.
5. Research what will remove all of this crap off your floor, discover that flooring adhesive in the 1950s was not nearly as water-soluble as what is made today, and that your best bet is to get the floor really wet with water and soap to soften everything.
6. Get down on your hands and knees.
7. Wonder why there is not a machine that will do this for you.
8. Use a 4" razor scraper to begin scraping the layers off the floor.
9. Realize that you're barely marring the surface with your industrial scraper, and that this will take a lot of time, a lot of elbow grease, and a lot of water.
10. Get more buckets of water and soap. Kneel back into the 1/4" of water standing on the floor that is now mixing with contractor grime and 60 year old adhesive and turning into a brown sludge. Scrape some more.
11. Squeegee off the floor periodically to get rid of the sludge. Shovel up garbage cans full of black goo.
12. Dump 900 more gallons of soap and water on the floor.
13. Cry quietly to yourself.
14. Muck around in the muck, scraping all the while.
15. Give up and just accept that your clothes and shoes will be dripping wet all day, and that they will stand up on their own when dry.
16. Take pain killers for your knees, neck and back.
17. Scrape.
18. Scrape.
19. Scrape.
20. Enjoy some of your handiwork.
21. Go back tomorrow and do it again.
22. Go back the next day and do it again.
23. Post some pictures on your blog so that people know you aren't dead and that you still care about them.
24. Thank God for the independent coffee house that's 1/2 block from the studio where they already know your name. Otherwise, you probably would've fallen into a deep coma right there in the brown muck.
25. Thank God for all the people willing to help with steps 6-22.
I think I have about seven. Two of them started from gripping the steering wheel too tightly as I drove 1200 miles this week. The other five came from the manual labor I've been doing since arriving at the studio.
We did make it safely to Minnesota, thank goodness. More on that story another time. Today, a couple of studio updates. Still no internet or computer there, bear with me.
When we decided to take this 110 year old building, we knew it needed some TLC. But it turned out to be reconstructive surgery, not just a little pampering. In addition to the month of work put in by a team of contractors and family members, we've been working nonstop since arriving just to get one section of the Enchanted Forest in usable condition.
When we arrived, we found some beautiful paint colors. We didn't have much time to sit and stare, as there were trucks blocking the driving lane that needed unloading.
Cast your eyes onto the middle section of this floor:
Just to give you a better idea of what needed to be reconstructed:
This is not just an ugly, eyesore of a floor. This is practically unwalkable, certainly a safety hazard. 110 years ago, the people who built this building installed pine hardwoods. In the 1950s, someone thought it would be a good idea to install linoleum directly on top of the hardwoods. And then when people tired of the linoleum, they decided to staple plywood directly on top of the linoleum. And then they put lunchroom tiles. And then on top of that, carpet glue and carpet.
Someone then decided it would be interesting to rip up the carpet and see what was underneath. They took a couple of whacks at it with a scraper and a crowbar. They saw exactly how much back breaking work it would be to get all of the layers of floor off, and they just left it. I don't know who this person was. I would like to show them my blisters. And I'm sure the three other people who've been helping me would like them to spring for a massage for their backs and some salve for their hands.
In case this ever happens to you, here are the steps involved in removing 60 years of flooring.
1. Rip up carpet.
2. Pry off chunks of plywood subfloor with crowbar.
3. Scrape off layers of adhesive to make sure everything is nice and uneven.
4. Leave for two years.
5. Research what will remove all of this crap off your floor, discover that flooring adhesive in the 1950s was not nearly as water-soluble as what is made today, and that your best bet is to get the floor really wet with water and soap to soften everything.
6. Get down on your hands and knees.
7. Wonder why there is not a machine that will do this for you.
8. Use a 4" razor scraper to begin scraping the layers off the floor.
9. Realize that you're barely marring the surface with your industrial scraper, and that this will take a lot of time, a lot of elbow grease, and a lot of water.
10. Get more buckets of water and soap. Kneel back into the 1/4" of water standing on the floor that is now mixing with contractor grime and 60 year old adhesive and turning into a brown sludge. Scrape some more.
11. Squeegee off the floor periodically to get rid of the sludge. Shovel up garbage cans full of black goo.
12. Dump 900 more gallons of soap and water on the floor.
13. Cry quietly to yourself.
14. Muck around in the muck, scraping all the while.
15. Give up and just accept that your clothes and shoes will be dripping wet all day, and that they will stand up on their own when dry.
16. Take pain killers for your knees, neck and back.
17. Scrape.
18. Scrape.
19. Scrape.
20. Enjoy some of your handiwork.
21. Go back tomorrow and do it again.
22. Go back the next day and do it again.
23. Post some pictures on your blog so that people know you aren't dead and that you still care about them.
24. Thank God for the independent coffee house that's 1/2 block from the studio where they already know your name. Otherwise, you probably would've fallen into a deep coma right there in the brown muck.
25. Thank God for all the people willing to help with steps 6-22.
in Chit Chat
Chit Chat 
Reader Comments (38)
I cannot even imagine the pain and work involved. Looking at the floor shows it was worth it, wasn't it? I'm sending you as much positive energy as I can. It's amazing that all that guck was protecting those beautiful floors! Makes one wonder if women who wear their make up caked on have silky smooth skin underneath, doesn't it?
Oh, geez, Sharon! I can't even get my head around that kind of work. I'm so glad that you have people to help you!
Is that last picture really 110 year old pine flooring, though? If it is, its gorgeous and beautiful and totally worth all the effort!
WOW! I can not even begin to imagine!!
HUGS and here's hoping that it is all worth it in the end!
HUGS
Perhaps when you're all done, you can have a spa day with your helpers? Complete with massages and healing wraps. It's really hard work, but it sure looks like it's paying off. That floor is already beautiful.
Oh. My. I want to help your hands! I hope you still think the move and everything is worth it, and that you'll love your new studio all the more for the back-breaking labor that went into it!
Oh Sharon, Your colors are lovely..I wish I lived alot closer so that I could go visit your shop when it opens..I am sorry, its such backbreaking work, but when your done, you can lean back, give a big sigh of relief and enjoy the fruits of your labors...It's goning to be enchanted....
While I haven't had to remove quite as many layers as you have I have had to work to remove some floor layers (well dh did, but I got to watch) and I am feeling for you! The floors look awesome though and it will be so wonderful when you are done. :) Glad to hear you aren't dead and that you are getting to know the local coffee shop ;) Good luck with it all!
oh, what a mess! but if you end up with that floor, i think it's worth it!
i can't imagine why anyone would *do* that to those beautiful maple floors... but then i don't understand carpet in houses either...
and your paint choices are spectacular!
What work, but what an amazing floor underneath. Think about just how enamored that people were of linoleum in the 50's to think it would be a good idea to cover-up the floor. Of course if that floor had 50 years of use, it would not be so beautiful today. Reconstructing old buildings is really like an archeological dig unmasking changing tastes (and massively bad taste and decisions) and finally coming up with hidden treasure.
you go girl!! and dont stop till you get that floor!! our house was built in 1925, when we took up the carpet and sanded the years of build up we discovered a treasure :) dont stop till you get that floor!!! there is beauty down there the likes of which are rarely seen these days!!! Godspeed
Poor you! Poor helpers! Such a hard job to do, but I know there has to be a diamond under the muck. Hugs! Maybe you can have a spa day complete with paraffin treatment for your poor, abused, hands.
Major hugs! I am glad ya'll made it safely and sorry to hear about all the back breaking work. The floors, once all the crud is removed, look lovely and will look even better once all "freed" from above crud.
Sharon, I find it very telling that none of the steps were regretting that you had started this in the first place. What a beautiful place your studio is going to be. I hope it's not so beautiful that you never want to leave though. Or at least put up some bunk beds for your kids, hey?
I wish I could come there and help. Your walls are looking lovely and the floor will ultimately be worth all the hard work. When all this is finished, you certainly deserve a day at the spa! Maybe even two!
Try some silicon spray to loosen the glue. It takes time and reapplication but it does work without as much abuse to the hands. HUGS for your owies and for the hard work by all.
What you have uncovered is beautiful!
This too shall pass... and then you will have beautiful floors and a GREAT story to tell. Ultimately it will be worth it - mostly. Good luck!!!
Wow...I can't imagine how much work that is! But the floor you've uncovered so far is gorgeous! I hope that makes it all worth it!
Those floors look incredible - and I love the colors on the walls! I'm sure it is encouraging to you to see a glimpse of how stunningly beautiful your studio will be, and what satisfaction you will have once all this hard hard work is done.
Glad you've got the support of others, as well as a nearby coffeehouse!
I can only imagine that your creativity will soar, surrounded by such a wonderful space, and I can't wait to see what you will have for us once you begin work in your new studio!
Muckity muck... don't get stuck
There's a song for you to sing while you scrape. Healing vibes sent to your hands and whatever needs a boost.
"May the wind be always at your back"??? No.
May the wind be always under your scraper!
:)
Oh noes! I can't even imagine the kind of work that goes into scraping that goo off the floor... Doesn't your contractor know of a better/more potent solution than soapy water?
Great job with the paint, and good luck with the floor. I pray you get more people to help with steps 6-22.
Ah, yeah. In order to "save" money, When we re-modeled our kitchen 3 years ago.... we peeled off two layers of linoleum and 2 sub floors, to get to the first layer of linoleum which was glued and stapled about every 3" to the parkay flooring. It took a day to get the staples out. Realized there was no way we were going to scrape the glue off, cause well the staples had pretty much ruined the beautiful oak floor underneath. I drew the line at the glue. That was only 350 square feet. I can't imagine the pain you are in right now. I can empathize. The blisters will heal. The satisfaction will be great. It looks as if it will be worth it. The wood is worth its weight in gold!
Poor you! I'm impressed, though, I would have hired someone to do that for me! It looks like it's going to be worth all the work.
I live in a 150 year old house and have spent much time cursing previous owners. Sometimes I want to punch people who say how envious they are of our old house having so much "character." Yeah, I'll give you "character."
Hopefully you'll look back on this post in a few years and have a feeling of self-satisfaction few people get to realize. You are creating a gorgeous space!
Be thankful that once you got through all those layers you had that gorgeous floor, rather than moldy, rotting fiberboard! (don't ask me why i make that comparison, please ;) )
It all looks so gorgeous!