[masraum]

Originally Posted by gregpark

Hey again, if you're okay with the look, wax the hell out of it (on going) and it will be clean and cleanable. If you want a more clean and uniform overall LOOK, it must be sanded and refinished. This can be achieved in a way (very carefully) that will retain the patina that's so cool. I've done many, many floor restorations in old Victorians, old school houses, (some times dealing with historical societies), etc., successfully retaining the integrity of the well earned aged look. I love this look, it tells a story. It ain't cheap to do it right though. To flatten the cupping, fill and color voids, feature stripe at least the hall to remedy the butt joint issue, replace boards too far gone and distress to match and finish all with a 30 year finish,, I would give an estimate of $7. per square foot plus materials. I'm sure labor is much cheaper where you're at though. Making a floor look genuinely old is more work and takes more skill than making it look brand new again. Hiring a knowledgeable pro is obviously the ultimate (and most expensive) option but it all depends on how far you want to take it.

Thanks. I'll have a bunch to discuss with the boss. Thanks for you estimate of cost as that will help the discussion. If I tell her "anything more than cleaning is going to cost $5-10k...," that be a determining factor. We like this little house, but we also aren't expecting it to be our forever home.