Mansfield, CT Hardwood Floor Installation — A Smart Solution for a 175-Year-Old Home Near UConn
Patrick Daigle Hardwood Flooring, Inc. | Historic Home Hardwood Flooring Project | Mansfield, Connecticut
Finding a Better Solution for an Older Mansfield Home
We recently completed an interesting hardwood floor installation in Mansfield, Connecticut, near Storrs Road and the University of Connecticut.
The homeowners contacted us after receiving some extremely expensive estimates from other contractors. One contractor wanted to tear out all the original flooring and install a completely new subfloor before putting down new hardwood.
After speaking with the homeowners and reviewing photographs they sent us, I realized there might be a better solution.
This approximately 175-year-old house was built with original floorboards installed directly over the floor joists. There wasn't a separate plywood subfloor underneath. The original boards were actually serving as the home's subfloor.
Rather than automatically removing everything, we developed a plan to install new oak hardwood flooring over the existing boards, provided the underlying structure was suitable.
Working With Uneven Floors and Previous Additions
Like many older Connecticut homes, this house had uneven floorboards and areas where additions had been constructed over the years. Some sections contained newer plywood, creating differences in the existing floor surfaces.
We met with the homeowners several times to review the installation, discuss pricing, and determine how best to handle these conditions.
With approximately 55 years of experience in the hardwood flooring trade, I've learned that older homes often require a different approach. Sometimes preserving what's already there is a better solution than replacing everything.
Our crew carefully prepared the existing floors and installed the new oak hardwood flooring throughout the living areas, including the room with the home's beautiful stone fireplace.
A Natural Finish With Bona Traffic HD
Originally, the homeowners planned to stain their new hardwood floors. However, once they saw the unfinished oak installed, they liked its natural appearance and decided to use a tinted sealer instead.
There was another important consideration: eight people and three dogs live in this home.
Because of the amount of daily activity, I recommended Bona Traffic HD, a professional two-component, commercial-grade water-based polyurethane finish designed for demanding environments.
The combination of the tinted sealer and Traffic HD gave the homeowners a natural-looking oak floor with a durable protective finish.
Beautiful Results Without Unnecessary Demolition
When the project was finished, the homeowners were ecstatic.
The new hardwood flooring brought the rooms together, complemented the home's original wood beams and stone fireplace, and provided a much more consistent floor surface.
Just as importantly, the homeowners told us we had saved them a substantial amount of money compared with the more extensive work proposed by other contractors.
This is one of the things I enjoy most about hardwood flooring. After decades in the trade, sometimes the most valuable service we provide is recognizing a practical solution that homeowners may not have considered.
Hardwood Floor Installation and Refinishing Near Mansfield, CT
Patrick Daigle Hardwood Flooring, Inc. is a fourth-generation family business with roots dating back to 1927, serving Connecticut homeowners since 1972. We specialize in hardwood floor installation, hardwood floor refinishing, repairs, custom staining, and professional dust-containment sanding.
We serve Mansfield and Storrs (06268), including the UConn and Route 195 areas, as well as Coventry, Willington, Ashford, Tolland, Vernon, Bolton, Columbia, Manchester, and surrounding Greater Hartford communities.
If you're considering new hardwood floors in an older home, it's worth having an experienced flooring contractor evaluate what can be preserved before deciding on extensive removal.