Our latest reuse project

[braided-rug]

We are doing up a house to move into soon. We had a 60s cupboard in the dining room, that the original owner put a benchtop on to match the ones in the kitchen, so a blend of ages I think. Anyway, we took it down the shelves couldn't hold any weight anymore.

All the masonite in the cupboard we reused to repair the kitchen cupboards where there was water damage from the original plumbing. Now everything in the kitchen has been painted and looks very clean. We washed the masonite before we used it.

[violet]

I'm really impressed with your renovation, Br. Your dh is doing some marvellous work, and the two of you are coming up with great solutions to the inevitable problems that come up.

You're even inspiring me to do something about this place. Well done.

[braided-rug]

Thanks violet. ;D

The moral is the story is to add an extra $5,000 when a house has been badly maintained I think.

I need ideas on how to seal a wood floor. DH picked a brochure, but I don't want the really shiny one that scratches, and something quick!

[violet]

We had tung oil applied. We had it done because we were stripping two more floors, ie the kitchen and entry way, as well as doing the family room, and they had to put some stain in the tung oil to try and match it all up as the woods are different ages/types.

I liked the tung oil because it's a natural product and it doesn't have that vile smell. It also allows the timber to expand and contract, and "breathe".

To keep it looking perfect, you're supposed to run over it with some 0000 steel wool once or twice a year, and reapply the polish. It doesn't take long, nor is it that big a job, but I haven't done it regularly. Otherwise, the floor is washed and more polish applied when it looks dull, maybe twice a year.

The polish is poured on the floor and spread with a mop, it's not anything drastic. Takes an hour to dry and that's it. The polish is available in gloss and satin, but even the gloss is not so shiny as the polyurethane stuff.

This will explain it better:

www.feastwatson.com.au/FloorFloorseal.asp

this is the sealer they told me to use:

www.feastwatson.com.au/MaintFloorshine.asp

There's also this, which is quick and easy:

www.feastwatson.com.au/FloorChinaWoodOil.asp

[braided-rug]

Thanks very much violet. I hope you don't mind that I fixed the links.

www.wattyl.com.au/DIY/Products/ProductSearch/Product_Details.htm?Id=457

[violet]

Good work, Br.

[braided-rug]

We only have the Wattyl here and got some information from the site about how much we will need etc. I can't wait to see it on the floor.