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Architecture/matching wood floors

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Expert: - 7/23/2007


Question
I have a 110yr old row home in Baltimore Maryland.  At one point there was wood throughout (maybe Red Georgia Pine? Is there such thing?). The previous owner refinished the living room and carpeted the rest downstairs and up the steps/hall. The wood floors under the carpet are beyond repair and need to be replaced. The living room is separated from the rest of the house by a step down.  Do I need to match the existing wood when replacing it? What are the "rules"?

Answer
Hi Liz - thanks for your question!

There's just one "rule" and it's simply that the new floors should be of the same character as the originals.  In other words, they don't need to match exactly, but if the originals were wide-plank, the new ones should be; if the originals were pine, the new ones shouldn't be oak...etc.  That goes for how they're attached, too.

You probably can't match the existing - especially the 110 years of wear - but you should be able to get something that's very compatible.

There are a number of places that specialize in old and reclaimed wood - floors from old demolished homes, for example.  There are even companies that salvage old logs from logging riverbottoms and mill them for new floors.

It will take some work on your part to find those suppliers, but it would be worth it for the integrity of the house.  I would start with www.oldhousejournal.com and www.period-homes.com.  Both have excellent resource libraries for such things.

Hope this helps!

Richard Taylor, AIA
www.rtastudio.com
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Richard Taylor, AIA

Expertise

Ask me about all aspects of house, remodeling. , and room addition design and construction. Ask me about historic homes, renovation, and restoration. Ask me about materials and techniques, and about how you can get the best value for your design and construction dollar. Ask me how you can make your home a very special place. I can't, however, answer specific structural engineering questions in this forum - that's something you'll need on-site observation for.

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I own a full-service residential architectural firm, and have been designing custom homes, remodelings, and room additions across the country since 1983. Check us out at Richard Taylor Architects and RTA Plans. I have written and been published extensively on the subject of residential architecture.

Organizations
American Institute of Architects, City of Dublin Architectural Review Board, Vice Chair of City of Dublin Planning and Zoning Commission, American Planning Association, Board Member Historic Dublin Business Association, Past Editor of SPLASH (a software forum), Past Editor of Open Directory Project, Assistant Scoutmaster, Boy Scouts of America

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Business First of Columbus, Suburban New Publications, About.com, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Columbus Dispatch Residential Architect Custom Home Architect Remodeling Architect

Education/Credentials
Bachelor of Environmental Design (Architecture) Miami University 1983
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Awards and Honors
2010 Dublin Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year

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