03/20/2025
Big renovations happening in a building constructed in 1869. Amazing to see the original build and workmanship underneath years of other floors.
Fun facts :
In the 1800s, hardwood floors typically featured wide, rough-sawn planks of materials like heart pine, oak, or chestnut, often left unfinished or simply sanded and polished with linseed oil or beeswax. Look at the thickness of these tongue and groove boards from 156 years ago!!
Wide planks, sometimes 8 inches or more, were common, especially in kitchens and bedrooms. Narrower boards, as are being exposed in this renovation, were used in more formal rooms. Floors were often left bare, rough-sawn, and unfinished. Some were sanded and polished with linseed oil and beeswax, after being installed piece by piece with basic tools and good old fashioned elbow grease & trade skills.
