Marye Audet
DCL
Antique heart pine floors are just a fact of life if you are living in a historic old home located in the south. It is a warm, honey-amber colored wood with a beautiful long grain. It is also a soft wood so it will undoubtedly have scars and imperfections to tell the tale of its centuries of being a floor. Some people want to get in there and sand it down with a drum sander and take names later but this is not always the best idea. To get the best out of your soft wood floor you need to step back and consider your options.
Before you go rent a sander take a good look at your floors. Maybe washing them will make all of the difference. Use an eco-friendly, soap based product and wash the floors with a soft cloth. Change the water whenever it gets dirty. Afterward, go back and rinse the floor and then dry it. Now you can assess how much damage you are dealing with.
