that is our question. Refinishing the hardwood on the second level and main staircase is expensive. I don't mean buying organic versus corner store expensive, I mean eating bologna sandwiches for dinner expensive.
Laura and I will need to make a number of expensive decisions in the near future:
-- What sort of carpeting do we put down in the basement and who do we have install it (Home Depot, moderate contractor, someone more expensive but very trustworthy)?
-- What furniture do we need in the coming months? Do we attempt to furnish both the bedroom and the living room? Do we simply buy a bed rather than an entire bedroom set?
Our problem is the same as most people's, we only have so much money. In the past, I would have simply slept on an old futon, continued to have Laura's queen bed sit on the floor, or bought something cheap from IKEA. But, although this would help financially, it defeats the purpose of owning our house. We will never be exorbitant in what we buy, but it's time for us to buy some nice things that fit our tastes rather than filler or transitional furniture. This house should be a place that we love to live in. This house should reflect who we are. This house should grow as we grow.
So, with that in mind, refinishing the floors may make sense right now. 1) It will lay a foundation for how we will develop each of the rooms on the second floor, 2) we will be taking care of this BEFORE owning a lot of furniture (everything must be removed prior to refinishing), and, most importantly, 3) it will add to the love that we have for this house. Side story: Laura cleaned the carpeting on our stairs about two weeks ago. We have talked about how clean the stairs are at least once a day and take serious enjoyment out of walking up and down these stairs. In fact, we're so obsessed with these stairs that I'm faily certain the combination of a clean refinished floor and our love of wood would result in spontaneous combustion. Sometimes you just have to push the envelope.
I had two people come by the house this past Friday. The first was a flooring expert recommended to us by Tristan the Fellow Homeowner who recently refinished, and replaced, his hardwood floors. The rep showed up in a full suit and proceeded to tell me that 1) the floors could not be refinished, 2) it would cost $9000 to put in new hardwood floors on the second floor, and 3) he recommended recarpeting instead which he estimated would cost between $3500 and $5000. This visit crushed both Laura and I. About two hours later the general contractor came by to look at a repair we need to make in the basement. On a whim, I asked him to also look at the floors. He took the time to walk through the process of refinishing the floors, explain why the floors were in the shape they were in, and, ultimately, assured me that they could be saved.
Perhaps it's the simple relief that the floors can be refinished that has brought on this desire or perhaps it is the fact that we may or may not contract hepititis from our current carpeting. Whatever the reason, Laura and I are very close to making out first major decision in the household. Well, other than the one that we've already made (will follow in the next post)...
Laura and I will need to make a number of expensive decisions in the near future:
-- What sort of carpeting do we put down in the basement and who do we have install it (Home Depot, moderate contractor, someone more expensive but very trustworthy)?
-- What furniture do we need in the coming months? Do we attempt to furnish both the bedroom and the living room? Do we simply buy a bed rather than an entire bedroom set?
Our problem is the same as most people's, we only have so much money. In the past, I would have simply slept on an old futon, continued to have Laura's queen bed sit on the floor, or bought something cheap from IKEA. But, although this would help financially, it defeats the purpose of owning our house. We will never be exorbitant in what we buy, but it's time for us to buy some nice things that fit our tastes rather than filler or transitional furniture. This house should be a place that we love to live in. This house should reflect who we are. This house should grow as we grow.
So, with that in mind, refinishing the floors may make sense right now. 1) It will lay a foundation for how we will develop each of the rooms on the second floor, 2) we will be taking care of this BEFORE owning a lot of furniture (everything must be removed prior to refinishing), and, most importantly, 3) it will add to the love that we have for this house. Side story: Laura cleaned the carpeting on our stairs about two weeks ago. We have talked about how clean the stairs are at least once a day and take serious enjoyment out of walking up and down these stairs. In fact, we're so obsessed with these stairs that I'm faily certain the combination of a clean refinished floor and our love of wood would result in spontaneous combustion. Sometimes you just have to push the envelope.
I had two people come by the house this past Friday. The first was a flooring expert recommended to us by Tristan the Fellow Homeowner who recently refinished, and replaced, his hardwood floors. The rep showed up in a full suit and proceeded to tell me that 1) the floors could not be refinished, 2) it would cost $9000 to put in new hardwood floors on the second floor, and 3) he recommended recarpeting instead which he estimated would cost between $3500 and $5000. This visit crushed both Laura and I. About two hours later the general contractor came by to look at a repair we need to make in the basement. On a whim, I asked him to also look at the floors. He took the time to walk through the process of refinishing the floors, explain why the floors were in the shape they were in, and, ultimately, assured me that they could be saved.
Perhaps it's the simple relief that the floors can be refinished that has brought on this desire or perhaps it is the fact that we may or may not contract hepititis from our current carpeting. Whatever the reason, Laura and I are very close to making out first major decision in the household. Well, other than the one that we've already made (will follow in the next post)...
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