Refinishing Antique Oak and Pine Floors

These hardwood floors run throughout the house except for the kitchen (Brick), master bath (Tile), and guest bath (Tile). Even the half bathrooms are hardwood. The floors in the Master Suite are in great shape. They were installed by the previous owner, so we won't be refinishing them.

The floors are a mix of red and white oak, and the oldest part of the house, which is now the parlor and originally the kitchen, is Dade County Pine.

All of the floors will be sanded and left natural with a matte finish for protection.

It's easy to see in the photo below we have a lot of work to do to make these floors shine again. This is the floor of the sunroom and a pretty good example of what the floors look like throughout the house.

There are 2 species of wood floors in this house: red & white oak blend and Dade County Pine.

ABOUT DADE COUNTY PINE

The parlor, upstairs hallway, and bedrooms are Dade County Pine. A native Florida tree, the name is misleading, implying that it is specifically from Dade County in Florida. However, Dade County Pine is native to South Florida and the Keys but was harvested as far north as the shores of Georgia and Alabama. Dade County Pine is a subspecies of Longleaf Southern Yellow Pine and comes from the “heart” of the tree, also known as heart pine. Some know it as Dade County Slash Pine. It is a high-demand construction material because it is strong, dense, and highly resistant to decay and insect damage.

Since the old growth trees have all been harvested, it means that this wood is extinct and can only be replaced with "new old stock" or salvaged.

This is the floor right after the second coat of polyurethane was applied. It's still wet which is why it's so shiny. The poly is rolled on thick with a roller and then it's buffed and vacuumed between each clear coat.

All of the floors now have 3 coats of matte poly on them and are dry to walk on. The variations of wood grain and color are beautiful. The age and imperfections are on full display, showing off the character of these antique floors. This is exactly what we were trying to achieve. We wanted to celebrate their age rather than hiding it with a dark stain.