Hello!
I am renovating my kitchen in an apartment from 1906.
Under the linoleum mat, I found the original floor, which I would like to fix up with some sanding and treatment with natural lye and white oil.
Now, there's an area where there are no planks but instead cement. I thought about chiseling away the cement and putting in "new" planks.
The question now is where can I find old spruce/pine planks?
Alternatively, if I buy new planks, will the new planks differ much from the older ones after treatment?
This is the kind of appearance I am aiming for:
http://bo-laget.se/Gallery/1076/Objektvy/kok.jpg_Thumbnail2.jpg
The floor I have looks like this: It's the 4 planks on the right that I would need to replace, about 2.3m long. Can anyone tell if it's spruce or pine from this picture?
I am renovating my kitchen in an apartment from 1906.
Under the linoleum mat, I found the original floor, which I would like to fix up with some sanding and treatment with natural lye and white oil.
Now, there's an area where there are no planks but instead cement. I thought about chiseling away the cement and putting in "new" planks.
The question now is where can I find old spruce/pine planks?
Alternatively, if I buy new planks, will the new planks differ much from the older ones after treatment?
This is the kind of appearance I am aiming for:
http://bo-laget.se/Gallery/1076/Objektvy/kok.jpg_Thumbnail2.jpg
The floor I have looks like this: It's the 4 planks on the right that I would need to replace, about 2.3m long. Can anyone tell if it's spruce or pine from this picture?
Finding old timber that is as similar as possible is probably the best approach. Then the best tip is Blocket and some patience. On the other hand, the floor looks fairly fresh, probably because the carpet protected it, so complementing with a new floor might not be too bad. It's impossible to say for sure from the picture, but I think it looks like spruce. I don't see any planks with the reddish core that pine has (but it could also just be sapwood).
Moreover, I would advise against lye washing the floor. Lye makes the floor soft and sensitive (in practice, it corrodes the wood). As a building conservator, I would recommend soap cleaning instead, even if it might not be liked by everyone. However, it is a simple method that leaves all other options open (oil, varnish, etc.) if one gets tired of it; going in the opposite direction, however, doesn't work.
Moreover, I would advise against lye washing the floor. Lye makes the floor soft and sensitive (in practice, it corrodes the wood). As a building conservator, I would recommend soap cleaning instead, even if it might not be liked by everyone. However, it is a simple method that leaves all other options open (oil, varnish, etc.) if one gets tired of it; going in the opposite direction, however, doesn't work.