Monday, March 17, 2014

Out with the Carpet, In with the Wood


 

 

 
 
My husband's 'Mancave' is the room above the garage.  I've heard them called a FROG (Family Room Over Garage) or Bonus room.  Whatever they're called, his is a big room with all of the requisite Mancave stuff.  :)

Recently, he decided he'd had enough of the carpet in there.  We were a little concerned about what was going on under the carpet, as there were a couple of "lumps" (for lack of a better word). 




He pulled out the carpet and found that some of the subfloor had buckled and/or wasn't completely seated on the joists.  Lovely....

So, all of the subfloor needed to be removed.  If you've ever removed subfloor, you know what a beast it is to pull up.  It is nailed and glued to every joist!!   Yes, we know how to have fun!  Add to that that the elliptical was too heavy to get down the stairs and out of the way, so we had to keep moving it as we worked.




I am not a goat or a gymnast.  I do not like walking on thin strips of wood.  I played volleyball and basketball. I never once had a desire to do the balance beam.  So to say I was not happy walking across this 400 square foot room on 1 3/4" slices of wood, would be a bit of an understatement...  But, I was successful and never once went through the sheetrock below!  (and I was able to move my end of the elliptical each time while balanced on that 1 3/4" board!)

We had to carry each sheet of subfloor upstairs, put in a lot more cross-joists and then lots of gluing, nailing and celebrating once another 4x8 slab of easy walking was complete!  :)





This weekend was the install weekend.  For much of the time, I was the pneumatic nailing woman.  Other times I was the tap the next board in place woman.  I think this job would've been a lot easier on my body 10 years ago!! 





We chose pre-finished Acacia hardwood.  We have walnut in the rest of our house, but because my husband lifts weights up there, he was afraid that the walnut might dent.  Acacia looks very much like it, but is three times harder. 

After 2 1/2 days of laying the floor, repainting the nicks in the walls, repainting the moulding, then reinstalling it, then carrying all of the contents back upstairs (including 300 pounds of free weights!), we now have a beautiful (wait, did I say WE?) HE has a beautiful new Mancave!



 
 


We have company coming this weekend, so get to rest and have fun.  After that, it's redoing the stairs up to the Mancave.  I'll be posting those pictures in a few weeks.  In the meantime, I'll be resting my sore body and shopping my heart out with my dear friend. 
 
Thanks for your visit!

Pam
 
 
I am linking to the following parties:
 
 
 

:



Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home

DIY Show Off

 

The Scoop #110 at Stone Gable

16 comments:

  1. The new floors look great. I can't even imagine doing all that work myself. You and your hubby make a great team!

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  2. Nice photos. I've seen a ton of people making the switch back to hardwood floors these days. I think it must be part of the reason why the Mid-Century Modern style is so popular right now.

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  3. Looks stunning so far! I love simple yet classic design. In the end all your hard work will pay off.

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  4. Wow! That floor is gorgeous! What a job!

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  5. Sounds like a back breaking job, but it sure is beautiful. Plus you have the satisfaction of knowing you did it all yourselves which always adds to it's beauty. Very nicely done.
    Cindy

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  6. The floor is beautiful! I'm glad you were able to keep your balance on the 2 x 4's! A few years ago my husband was up in the attic, doing some wiring, when he slipped on one of those pesky 2 x 4's and his foot came down right through the ceiling of my family room! I was right below his foot and laughing hysterically while he was muttering words that can't be put into print on this page. The insulation was falling like snow as he was trying to pull his foot back through the hole without making it bigger, and I finally had to get a step-ladder to take his shoe off, so he could pull his foot back up! You had to have been there, but I don't think I have ever laughed so hard. Of course, fixing the hole was not such a fun job, but still...........

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  7. Oh my word, this is gorgeous. I am so envious, I really want to have hardwoods in my living and family areas. This is so pretty and you guys did a ton of work. Thanks tons for linking to Inspire Me. Hugs, Marty

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  8. Beautiful! Toss that man out and make that a woman cave. ;) And really good lighting for a cave.
    I know what you mean about it being easier on the body 10-years ago. I remember helping my cousin lay her vinyl tiles back when my body and knees were much younger.

    You guys did a superb job!
    Jake's a Girl

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  9. That is one gorgeous floor. All the hard work paid off Pam.

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  10. Ouch! I can just picture you balancing on those tiny pieces of wood!!! We just pulled up the carpet in our master bedroom and had hardwood installed so I can appreciate what you went through. We weren't brave enough to do it ourselves, though. Kudos to you and the hubby!

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  11. I love hardwood and the shade you have chosen is just right!! Enjoy the new flooring,,,, stopping in from Amaze me Monday

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  12. Look great! Love the hardwood!

    We would love for you to come and link up at Your Designs This Time, Mondays 8:00am EST.
    http://www.elizabethjoandesigns.com

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  13. Such hard work, but it looks wonderful Pam! Thanks so much for sharing at Amaze Me Monday...
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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  14. Well those floors look great. Glad he realized to ditch the carpet! What'd he do with the weight bench?

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  15. Good job, Pam! You guys should give yourselves pats on your backs as that man cave looks gorgeous! I do agree that it was a good decision to switch the carpet with the hardwood floor as the entire room now looks even more masculine and cool!

    Arthur Bryant

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