Original floors in Bellefonte's older homes
Bellefonte has one of the bigger historic districts in central Pennsylvania. Lots of the Victorian and other 19th-century houses in and around downtown still have their original wood floors under the rugs, the carpet, or a few coats of old finish.
A floor that old has usually been sanded more than once already. Every sanding takes off some wood, so how much is left above the tongue matters before anyone sands it again. Some floors have plenty left for a full refinish. Others are better off with a lighter approach, or with damaged boards repaired before refinishing.
We do hardwood floor refinishing and hardwood floor repair, and we like the old floors. A well-made wood floor that's lasted a hundred years deserves to be brought back, not covered up.
Blending old wood with new
Older houses get added onto, opened up and remodeled, and the floor has to keep up. When we extend an existing floor into a new room or repair a worn or damaged section, we match the color and finish so the transition looks natural.
That takes floor staining done with care. We also install new hardwood floors, and we've started installing LVP flooring for spaces where it makes more sense than wood.
Staircases
In a multi-story older home, the staircase is often the first thing you see when you walk in the door, and the treads take a beating. Staircase refinishing is one of our services, along with staining when you want the stairs to match a refinished floor or set them off from it.
Keeping your house livable while we work
Sanding a floor used to mean dust in every corner of the house. We use a professional vacuum system that captures up to 99% of the dust, so your home stays clean and livable while we work.
We move the appliances and furniture, and take up toilets and trim when needed, so you don't have to lift a finger. That matters in older homes, where the trim is often original and worth handling carefully.
We work with both water-based and oil-based finishes. Which one we use depends on your style, your needs, and the character of your house.
Central Pennsylvania seasons and your floors
Wood moves with the weather. In a central Pennsylvania winter the heat dries the air out and boards shrink, so thin gaps can open up between them. In the humid summer they swell back. Seasonal gaps like that are normal, especially in older homes.
Not every tired floor needs a full sanding, either. If the finish is dull and scuffed but the wood underneath is in good shape, a clean and recoat can freshen it up without taking off any wood, which is worth thinking about for an old floor that's been sanded before.
Questions from Bellefonte
Do you work in Bellefonte?
Yes. Bellefonte is one of the towns we serve. We work within about 60 miles of McAlisterville, and State College, just a few miles from Bellefonte, is one of our main cities.
Can the original floors in my old house be refinished?
Often, but it depends on how much wood is left. Floors in 19th-century homes have usually been sanded before, and each sanding takes off some wood. If a section is too worn or damaged, hardwood floor repair is an option, and we match the color and finish so the repair blends in with the rest of the floor.
How much dust will there be?
We use a professional vacuum system that captures up to 99% of the dust, so your home stays clean and livable while we work.
Do you use water-based or oil-based finish?
We work with both. We choose based on your style, your needs, and the character of your home.
My floor just looks dull. Does it need to be sanded?
Not always. If the finish is worn but the wood itself is in good shape, a clean and recoat may be enough. It doesn't take off any wood, which helps on older floors that have already been sanded a few times.
