Library Floor Has New Look
Two weekends ago we began preparations for laying the flooring in our new library. As I’ve shared previously our timber is second hand timber, stored for several years from when we salvaged all the timber from a two storey Convent school prior to demolition.
First task is to clean the floorboards from decades of dirt, accumulated as they sat under carpet being tramped over by hundreds of feet.
PC set up a ‘cleaning station’, wherein each board was placed in a ‘slot’, the ‘criss-cross’ saws were run along the groove of each board pushing out the dirt, sometimes the tongues needed cleaning too.
For two days the children worked tirelessly carrying the boards from the timber stack to the ‘cleaning station’, working in tag teams. Once a sufficient number of boards were cleaned they were then carried over to the ‘drop saw station’ to be cut.
After each board was trimmed, or not depending upon need, they were taken inside and stacked into similar length piles, awaiting secret nailing.
The following weekend PC measured and marked each board, devising a pre-planning system that matched boards and created patterns. Once planned he then added tongue and grooves to every board with the router.
Visual clarity here for way the library needs a new floor, whilst combining the two rooms into one have us more space it also highlighted the floor differences. Sheeting and floorboards, solution is to lay ‘new’ floorboards over the entire room. Finally the exciting moment when we begin to lay the boards using the secret nailer.
Work teams for this task consisted of our two teens and PC and I. Princess’ job was to glue each board, which meant she had to keep ‘one step ahead’ of us constantly.
We’re not sad at all to say ‘good-bye’ to the chip board sheeting, it begins to look like a ‘real’ floor.
PC and Michelangelo’s main task was to ‘pull in’ the timber tight, so there were as little gaps as possible. A result of using second hand timber.
For a large ‘chunk’ of time I was on the nail gun, trusting souls aren’t they? 😉
The last few boards leave no room for the nail gun so have to be nailed down by hand.
Can you imagine books lining these walls? I easily can 🙂
Next task up is to sand and estapol these boards, not long now..
*Sharing over at The Builder’s Wife with this week’s Home Improvement Thursday
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14 Comments
Kate
Wow Erin, it is really coming together! And yes, I can imagine books lining those walls.
Erin
Kate
Not to worry I’ll be sure to show you how the books look lining the walls 😉
Sarah
What a difference! This is turning into such a pleasant space.
Erin
Sarah
I have to start thinking about furniture soon too, want some very comfy reading chairs.
Bec Senyard
Not long at all. Great team effort. You’ll be reading before you know it!! 🙂
Erin
Bec
I’m allowing myself to get a little more excited. Building often ends up taking longer than anticipated so telling myself it will be awhile, but really it won’t.
Jennifer
Fantastic! Are you finishing the floors before the shelves go in? I cannot wait to see the final product!
Erin
Jennifer
Definitely finishing first, no way do we want to have to take the books out to do the floor at a later date. This will be the first room completely finished, skirting boards and all.
Nicole @ The Builder's Wife
Oh my, those boards are just stunning. I can’t wait to see this room finished. Is PC qualified or a self taught man? Either way, what he is doing is amazing!!
Erin
Nicole
Being yellow box the boards will come up much lighter. We pick up the sander tonight!! So not long now 🙂 🙂 In our old house (I really should do some posts on that) all the floorboards were new and much easier to lay, though it was straight over joists on the second storey. Funnily enough in all the building work we’ve done over the years this will be the first time we’ve sanded and sealed a floor.
PC’s qualification’s are in agriculture and business, his career is in finance. His building background is, when he was a little boy he watched and helped his Dad build their family home. Otherwise he is completely self taught, he observes, he thinks, he asks questions and he just does.
Brigette @ Honey and Bean
Oh my gosh, I’m getting more and more envious of this library by the day! My husband is the eldest of seven, and was homeschooled… he would have done almost ANYTHING for a library like this!
Erin
Brigette,
Really, how fascinating! Wondering if I ‘know’ his family. Once upon a time, not that long ago the homeschooling world in Australia used to be rather small. My siblings were homeschooled in the 80-90s. It’s no longer small though as more and more people homeschool.
Wait till I reveal pictures of the books 🙂
Karen @ Pieces of Contentment
It’s looking great Erin, a real team effort.
Erin
Thanks Karen. Will invite you out for a browse when all done 🙂