Is it even possible? - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

LaurieC · 04-22-2008, 07:45 AM

My next project is a demo everything but the slab/rebuild a slightly larger craftsman. Very exciting. This is my green client, and he has been saying he wants to salvage his existing hardwood floors. No problem. Last night in the meeting he clarified what he ment. We are leaving the exisiting slab, so of course he was thinking we could just leave the flooring in place. Has anyone ever left hardwood floors in place during demo and construction? When I asked how we were to protect the floor he said we'd just have to figure it out

.

any suggestions?

angus242 · 04-22-2008, 08:29 AM

I'm not sure of the exact scope of your project but I have done kitchen remodels over existing hardwood. Currently, I use a layer of rosin paper, layer of cardboard (from cabinet boxes) and then a layer of luan...all taped at the seams. Since a kitchen floor isn't that big (typically), it has been cost effective so far. I have read about products that are made for this application that I will consider using for my next job which will be newly installed hardwood, freshly stained BEFORE the remodel begins.
Single use and cheaper:
http://www.blakeproducts.com/index.a...TS&Category=42

Reusable but more expensive:
http://www.blakeproducts.com/index.a...TS&Category=41

Floordude · 04-22-2008, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaurieC

My next project is a demo everything but the slab/rebuild a slightly larger craftsman. Very exciting. This is my green client, and he has been saying he wants to salvage his existing hardwood floors. No problem. Last night in the meeting he clarified what he ment. We are leaving the exisiting slab, so of course he was thinking we could just leave the flooring in place. Has anyone ever left hardwood floors in place during demo and construction? When I asked how we were to protect the floor he said we'd just have to figure it out

.

any suggestions?

It depends if your going to open the home up in someway, allowing the interior to gain humidity and moisture vapors. It could cause the floors to buckle.

Dustball · 04-22-2008, 08:55 AM

Aren't the walls going to be in different locations and you'll end up having to work on the floors anyways?

neolitic · 04-22-2008, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaurieC

My next project is a demo everything but the slab/rebuild a slightly larger craftsman. Very exciting. This is my green client, and he has been saying he wants to salvage his existing hardwood floors. No problem. Last night in the meeting he clarified what he ment. We are leaving the exisiting slab, so of course he was thinking we could just leave the flooring in place. Has anyone ever left hardwood floors in place during demo and construction? When I asked how we were to protect the floor he said we'd just have to figure it out

.

any suggestions?

If you really mean demo, as opposed to gut, my suggestion is introduce your client
to reality.
Besides weather and humidity, there will surely be relocation of walls and mechanicals......
Salvage what is salvageable, store it, and move on.
Logistics are your purview, as is telling the customer
when things are too expensive to make good sense.
2¢

Floordude · 04-22-2008, 09:08 AM

If he insists, have in your budget, the full cost of new flooring, including removal and installation, along with disposal of the old ruined flooring.

**Double-A** · 04-22-2008, 11:12 AM

We use the same method Angus describes to protect existing flooring during demo or gut.

Clean the floor quite well BEFORE you lay anything on top of it. No grit or dirt allowed. Otherwise you may have a nasty surprise when it comes time to remove it.

LaurieC · 04-22-2008, 07:04 PM

I mean demo...walls, everything. The HO said he wants to buy enough wood to refinish areas where walls will be removed, and enough to cover the new floor area. I spoke with him today and he liked the product Angus suggested. (Thanks Angus, Great tip!)

MALCO.New.York · 04-22-2008, 07:35 PM

I have used Masonite. Quite effective and simple.

rbsremodeling · 04-22-2008, 07:45 PM

I demo and leave/reuse the existing hardwood floors on 80% of my jobs I usually don't even cover them during construction because we patch as needed and refinish them. We do put drop cloths and Masonite in high traffic/storage areas. The old hardwood flooring especially pine is durable as hell

DavidC · 04-22-2008, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by angus242

I'm not sure of the exact scope of your project but I have done kitchen remodels over existing hardwood. Currently, I use a layer of rosin paper, layer of cardboard (from cabinet boxes) and then a layer of luan...all taped at the seems. Since a kitchen floor isn't that big (typically), it has been cost effective so far. I have read about products that are made for this application that I will consider using for my next job which will be newly installed hardwood, freshly stained BEFORE the remodel begins.
Single use and cheaper:
http://www.blakeproducts.com/index.a...TS&Category=42

Reusable but more expensive:
http://www.blakeproducts.com/index.a...TS&Category=41

Thanks for that, we will mend our ways now and use this technique.

LaurieC,

That would be a challenge. Maybe even an interesting challenge. I'd try if the HO agreed to accept the possibility of failure with a realistic dose of probability. Of course holding you harmless.

Good Luck
Dave

neolitic · 04-22-2008, 08:27 PM

I guess I don't get it.
For me, gut=empty envelope/bare frame.
Demo=nothing above slab.
Flat lot, nothing vertical?
Thought that was what you were
talking about?

I have had good luck laying down 6 mil,
covering it with homosote, and
taping the joints with duct tape.

But not if there is no roof!

(

(Never mind.)

silvertree · 04-22-2008, 08:30 PM

I use 1/8 masonite, and or cardboard==

tgeb · 04-22-2008, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaurieC

My next project is a demo everything but the slab/rebuild a slightly larger craftsman.

.

any suggestions?

I think you will be hard pressed to salvage this flooring, what will you do if it rains? Not that it ever rains in So. Cal.

Protecting a finish inside of a residence is one thing, but to do a full demo and expect it to be suitable for reuse, that's a tough one.

Floordude · 04-22-2008, 09:51 PM

As soon as the humidity hits this floor, especially trying to keep it covered so rain doesn't get to the flooring, Your going to create a green house under the protective tarp. That floor is going to gain so much moisture, it is going to pop right off that slab.

We need pictures!!!!

**BuiltByMAC** · 04-22-2008, 10:54 PM

Guess I'm as confused as Neo - will the hardwood flooring be levitating during the rebuild? Demo to slab means all structural framing goes away, yes? ...wouldn't that include the floor joists, pony walls, etc. under the hardwood floor?

Mac

LaurieC · 04-23-2008, 07:52 AM

I guess I'm not being clear. The hardwood floor is on the slab. The slab is the only thing staying put. Everything else will be torn down, and thrown away. I guess maybe I'm using improper verbiage. If so, sorry.

We are still in the design phase, so this is the time to decide what to do. After reading your much needed, and accepted, advice I think I'll do the following...explain to the HO that the chances of this working are small. Have him buy either the product Angus suggested, or put down something along those lines. Budget for a new floor, just in case. He already plans on refinishing the floors when we're done (they're hardwood, not engineered).

Rain will probably not be too much of an issue. We only get rain a few times a yr. (spring), and that season is over.

I will take pics as we go.

neolitic · 04-23-2008, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neolitic

If you really mean demo, as opposed to gut, my suggestion is introduce your client
to reality.
Besides weather and humidity, there will surely be relocation of walls and mechanicals......
Salvage what is salvageable, store it, and move on.
Logistics are your purview, as is telling the customer
when things are too expensive to make good sense.
2¢

Quote:

Originally Posted by Floordude

As soon as the humidity hits this floor, especially trying to keep it covered so rain doesn't get to the flooring, Your going to create a green house under the protective tarp. That floor is going to gain so much moisture, it is going to pop right off that slab.
....

In that case, I stand by the above.
It's a fools errand.
They hire pros to be pros,
tell him (diplomatically) that this is
a stupid amateurish stunt, and
a waste of his money and your time.
He should appreciate your sound ideas
for a realistic program to salvage the
salvageable material and store it for
later re-use.