| If you are buying an older property you may be | | | | floor and remove them (using a drill, so as not to rip |
| pleasantly surprised by what's hiding beneath the | | | | the floor beneath). |
| scraggly carpet or worn out linoleum. In the 60s and | | | | Carpeted floors may be easier to unveil. Carefully cut |
| 70s when wall to wall carpeting really took off many | | | | the carpet into sections that you can easily remove. |
| original hardwood floors were covered up. The floors | | | | In some cases you may encounter padding that's |
| of yesteryear often used high quality hardwoods | | | | been attached with a ton of nails, staples or |
| from older growth trees, with tighter grain structures. | | | | adhesive. All of these will make your job more |
| You may have a treasure under that coral shag. | | | | difficult and may have damaged the original floors. |
| How will you know if you've got a hidden hardwood | | | | Using care when removing them will help minimize |
| floor? Well, you can play detective by pulling out any | | | | further damage, although to avoid more harm you |
| vent covers in the room, but failing that you'll have | | | | might consider leaving the nails. This can add to a |
| to pull the carpet back. The only way to truly assess | | | | distressed or antique look. Use a pry bar and a |
| what shape the floors are in however is to remove | | | | hammer to remove the tack strip. |
| the carpet, linoleum or whatever material has been | | | | When you've finished uncovering your floor you'll |
| installed. You should be prepared for what's | | | | have a better idea of how much work you have |
| underneath - if you choose to take on this project it | | | | ahead of you. The floor may have staining and other |
| will definitely take some time, and the uncovered | | | | damage, which might be best dealt with by a |
| floor will probably require sanding and finishing at the | | | | professional. Depending on the condition of the wood |
| very least. | | | | you may get away with a light sanding and some |
| Though linoleum, tiling and other materials can also | | | | stain, but some floors will require repairs, patching |
| hide wooden treasures beneath them, these may be | | | | (take wood to match from hidden areas like closets), |
| more complicated to get to, as you may have to | | | | compete refinishing or, if they're too far gone, a |
| remove adhesive or grout. Linoleum floors were | | | | complete paint job. Your other option is to install new |
| often installed over a sub floor that went over the | | | | flooring or new carpets. Don't be too frustrated - no |
| hardwood. This extra step was added to prevent | | | | matter what you discover, this project is an |
| rippling in the linoleum, and means you will have to | | | | investment in your home (and will look so much |
| first remove the lino. Next, use a magnet to locate | | | | better that the ragged old carpet). |
| the screws that attach the sub floor to the original | | | | |