Posted by Minni on July 15, 19104 at 14:54:59:
I'm converting a 9 1/2' x 10' room to a kitchenette. My budget is low.
The floor is hardwood, never changed since 1950's so it's not too clean. It has spots of built-in dust both on floor & on wall molding right above the floor. Throughout the decades, it had been waxed periodically, though not lately, so the wax isn't necessarily there anymore. There's also some black spots (probably from when the 1960's cleaning lady waxed over dirty spots).
I already have in the house approx four 30-pak packs of vinyl tiles. (Dynamix brand - 12" square - 3 year warranty)
Questions:
(1) Easiest & cheapest way for a weak shrimp like myself to clean the hardwood in preparation?
(2) I'm chemical intolerant so prefer not to polyurethane, and therefore opting to use the vinyl tiles I have in the house. The instructions on the box say it's advisable to find the center of the floor & work from there. Is that really necessary? Isn't it easier to just work from one corner and take it from there? (After all, the cabinets will be along two walls L-shaped)
(3) I'd been considering luan sheeting (so that in future, it can easily revert back to the orig. flooring without removing adhesive) but because it's 1/4" thick, the door to the room wouldn't have clearance. Also, needless to say, the luan plus primer is an added expense & hassle not to mention the slight chemical smell of the primer. But in any case, feedback on this would be appreciated.
Thanks!