For our December/January issue, we asked wood floor pros what the oldest floor they’d worked on was. Recently, when we shared the results, more wood floor pros responded with their floors and the stories behind them. We rounded up some of their additional answers below:
Alex Daigle
This home was built originally in 1740 in New Hampshire and then was moved to Connecticut about 100 years ago.
Bob Alberding
Wish I had pics but old hand-planed shiplap pine planks from the late 1700s in north Jersey along the Delaware River built by, I think, Russian immigrants. The wood was very brittle in some areas and almost petrified in others. Posts in the basement were straight-up tree trunks shaved down, and they were petrified and hard like rock.
Leroy Brookens
An 1832 duplex mansion for French brothers who were traders above the banks of the Illinois River. Floors were birch T&G planks milled nearby—2-by-11–19 inches. The edges had set cupping up to ¾ inch in ridges that I had to ride with my new Hummel.
Bill Powell III
I just installed a 200-year-old chestnut floor. The client didn't want us to cut the butt ends, so we had to install Dutchmans at every butt end. We're still working on it. The next step is to install custom made flush mount vents.
Daryl Kane
1860 pine floor boards.
Cash Pyle
1863.
Myra Smallwood
Mid-to-late 1800s. We are in the Southern U.S.
Donald C. Bouchard
About 350 years old. Did the job with Daniel Moore at a place called Little England on the Chesapeake Bay! Was great fun!! Great memories!!
Lars Frohnsdorf
Over 100 years old. Took forever to get it to look like this.
Cody Crane
1834.
Greg Hommel
The foyer of Old Ship Church in Hingham, Mass. The oldest still standing church in the United States built in 1681. Wish I had a photo!
Josh Hansman
Longworth Hall (B&O railroad warehouse) built 1904. 5/4-inch maple.
Dean Milazzo
114-year-old bowling alley.
Nicholas C Maxson
1860.
Scott Fraser
Early 17th century house, widest boards I have ever sanded.
Dan Cicin
110 historical farm house.
Francisco Tavares
1735 house built in N.J. Maple wood floors.
Brian Adams
1883 building in Lockhart, Texas.
A & L Florida Flooring
Reclaimed river wood 250+-year-old.
Luke Biello
I've done two from the 1700s. I can't remember the dates off the top of my head.
Benny Powell
1780 Marshfield, Mass.
Robert Duffy
135 years old.
Shawn Hegwood
Mid 1880s.
Sprigg Singleton Lynn
Many from 1695 to 1700s.
Josh Hansman
Shrock family farmhouse 1865. Great room, white oak.
Keith Dalton
1734 eastern shore of Maryland.
Iv Varela
That floor is inside of a caboose.
Frankie Ayers
1750 Carter’s Grove Plantation in Williamsburg, Va. That’s 272 years old if my math’s right.
Warren Burns
1899 fir floor/ had been repaired with maple runs🙄
Scott Cooksey
1850s.
Gary Christy Jr.
1700s historical farmhouse, Brandywine, Pa.
Bee Ha
24-inch-wide eastern pine. House was built in 1768.
