californian bungalow woodwork

[NatJev]

Hi
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I have just purchased a Californian Bungalow, and on the weekend I got a little bit excited and decided to attack the floorboards!
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I started off with sugar soap and Dishwasher detergent and scrubbed like hell! When I had time to sit back and see what a good job cleaning I had done I noticed that what I thought was Dirt was actually STAIN!!! :eek: *slaps the forehead* unreal!
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Ok let me tell u the damage! I have taken the stain off (lets call it “Cleaned”!) the front step. There is a Jarrah hallway which has been “Cleaned” also. The problem I have now is what to put back on the wood? I am not sure if is should stay with the same sort of stain or go for varnish? Second question is what is that stain that was on the front step? :confused:
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Thank you in Advance, any advice would be fantastic<O:p</O:p
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Nat<O:p
Alias “The Cleaner”<O:p</O:p

[RufflyRustic]

If you have a 'clean' Jarrah floor, why recoat with a colour? Let the natural colour show through the finish.

The finish you choose should suit the traffic of the area. Sorry to be a pain, but a search of the forum should bring up plenty of discussions on floors and finishes for floors.

Good luck - would love to see a photo or two if possible.

cheers
RufflyRustic

[zenwood]

No need to colour the wood. Do yourself a favour and check out Bona Mega water-based polyurethane.

See: http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=23287

[ndru]

No need to colour the wood. Do yourself a favour and check out Bona Mega water-based polyurethane.

See: http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=23287

As an owner of Jarrah floors, I agree with Zen and Ms RufflyR - you shouldn't need to stain them. I find that their natural colour adds fantastic depth to a room, especially if they get a nice, clear-satin finish.

Use a clear and durable poly-u, as suggested by Zen. I am continually amazed at how much punishment our poly-coated jarrah floors withstand and still look good, especially to baltic pine floors we had in a previous home.

Good luck!

[craigb]

What you cleaned off was most probably Black Japan.

This was all the go when these houses were new. Usually just the perimeter of the rooom was japanned. The centre was intended to be covered by a rug.

Unless you are trying to restore your house to it's original condition, then I agree with the others.
Lose the Black Japan and go with the natural colour of the boards. Especially if you are lucky enough to have Jarrah boards.

[derekcohen]

any advice ...

Nat

Forget scrubbing the floors. Get them professionally sanded and finished (unless you are proficient with a floor sander you will likely do more damage than good).

We also like in a California Bungalow, albeit a modern one we built 9 years ago. Here is a picture of the floors, which I so love. Hint: look under the sofatable!

<div><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Furniture/Sofatable.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> <br />

Regards from Perth

Derek

[NatJev]

Thank you all for your help!

Derek your floorboards look FANTASTIC!

I think i will just forget the stain! I am doing the floors myself because the back part of the house will go one day. Its just sort of a bad extension with a hallway and one room attached.

Thanks again i will let you know the progress!

regards

Natalie