I got on the 600-foot factory-finish job today, and the subfloor is a mess. During the estimate it became clear we were going to need to address the seams. I'm not sure if this is the fastest way, but it sure was flat when we got done. I took the edger and vac to hit the seams... the only pain was the nails that were not set, but just a fast hit with the hammer and they were out of the way.
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I got on the 600-foot factory-finish job today, and the subfloor is a mess. During the estimate it became clear we were going to need to address the seams. I'm not sure if this is the fastest way, but it sure was flat when we got done. I took the edger and vac to hit the seams... the only pain was the nails that were not set, but just a fast hit with the hammer and they were out of the way.
It took 50 grit to get the seams flat and clean, for this 600-foot job I think it took an hour to get it flat. The seams are flat now; to make sure we took a stick of wood all around the floor and seams to make sure it was ready for the flooring. The subfloor had a coating on it from the day after they installed the decking, so I rolled poly back over the seams to seal them back up and keep the subfloor all working the same. I know it is a topic that we have talked about before on the blog, but in my 'hood the RH gets so high that on some jobs we need to slow the migration down.
I had to match up to the hall that was installed over a year ago by someone else; it is straight, but they did not prep the subfloor at all! They told the homeowner that he would not see the hump in the floor or the high spots at the seams. The bad news is that you can see the high spot and the hall looks uneven. When he saw me get the edger out and start on the subfloor, he just watched me for a while. Then he told me that it was good to see someone take pride in the work. My response was I know tons of flooring people, and we all take pride in our work, it is not just me-it is a team of people working with the NWFA. I have got to plug the schools and training; it has been a blessing for me during my time spent has a floor contractor. My skills have been honed and developed all because so many have given so much to the NWFA schools.
While I am thinking of it... a question came up factory-finish job last week. Why the paperback bolt-on, not hook and loop? OK, here goes, the best I can express what I know about paper: The high-performance papers will cut the factory finish off better than the standard papers. The way that the grit is put on to the backing with paperback is more like an open grit; the cloth back is tight and closed. Take a look at the disc for cloth vs. paper. Now, the reason for the bolt-on is because it is thin and will cut faster than the Velcro cushion. It's like a soft plate-the same thought for the buffer can be used on the edger-always think about the backing and the grit that will best hide or reduce the scratch in the flooring.
Hope that helps? Just take a look at the grit and the backing some time, and you will see the difference in the disc. I just think about stuff like that-I look and see what is what. Over the years of schools and training, it has became a thinking-out-loud thing for me. That brings me to the next step for me on the blog, we have been working on some videos of me "just thinking out loud." You'll start seeing those soon. I hope it is as much fun for you as it is for me to make. Our goal is to show some of the things that go on in my head... but keep in mind that if you get in my head, you will be alone, so don't go too deep-the lights are out down deep.
Well I got to get up early and get the flooring installed ASAP. It has been a rough week already because our neighbor's wife passed away; she was a sweet Southern lady. Mr. and Mrs. Flowers were together for 65 years and have family all over the states. Kids, grandkids and great-grandkids, and, I think, a few great-great-grandkids. Mr. Flowers is 89 now and was telling me that he can recall the day he carried her up the steps like it was just the other day. The only time he was not here in Henry County was during the war and he was overseas. He is on the family farm; his son Walter works the farm now with the help of his son Andrew. They talk about farming like we talk about flooring; they are just a wonderful family.
My youngest has to have surgery Friday on her knee-ACL replacement. I am not looking forward to that, as a daddy you hate to see your babies hurt, and this is going to hurt. Well, you all take care and stay safe.
