Sometimes wood floors are like an onion: They have layers. When a house is 200 years old, it's always surprising what is underneath those layers.
On top of the original hardwood flooring in one Ohio home's kitchen was four intermixed layers of linoleum and 1/4-inch plywood. What made the last layer of plywood unique was that it was hand-nailed every 2 to 3 inches. The nails went down into the hardwood.
RELATED: Reclaimed Realities: What to Expect from Reclaimed Wood Flooring
"[They] left literally thousands of small holes when removed," wrote Gary Schrock, design consultant for DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen, which was tasked with the renovation, in an email.
The nail holes, combined with worn-away edges and areas of dry rot and unevenness, made for a spectacularly difficult floor to keep. But the homeowners wanted as much of the original hardwood flooring as possible. The floor was primarily white oak. Board widths measured 5–7 inches and were hand-nailed with square nails.
RELATED: Photos: Wood Reclaimed From First Navigable Canal in America
There was much filling, patching with original flooring from inside a closeted area, and sanding, but DreamMaker was able to meet its customers' demands. It even took the company five sandpaper pads to even out the floor, whereas a normal job of this size should have taken only one.
"[B]ut the results were worth it," Schrock wrote.
Editor's Note: If your company reclaims wood with a story, we want to hear about it. Send the story and a few photos to [email protected].
