We have carpet that we want to rip up. We want to have the floors
sanded and finished.
It's strip floorimg - about 45 years old and seems to be in good
condition judging from the
corners of the carpet I lifted up.

It's about 800 square feet to be done. I've had a few people in to
give estimates.

Person 1 wants to put down an alcohol-based sealer and then 2 coats of
oil based polyurethane.
He'll put a third coat of poly if I want him to (another 30 cents per
SF) but says it's not necessary.

Person 2 wants to put down three coats of oil-based poly and doesn't
use a sealer. He says he used to use it
and stopped because's he's learned over the years that the problem
with a sealer is that over time, it dries up and crystallizes and
causes the polyurethane to flake off the floor.

Both people came highly recommended and both do nice work. Prices are
very similar so there's not much differene there.

Which method is better? Which is more durable? Does anyone have
experience with the sealer after say 10 to 15 years? Does it really
flake? Also, is 2 coats of poly over a sealer as good as three coats
of poly with no sealer?

If it makes a difference, I'm on Long Island (NY) about 3 miles from
the Atlantic Ocean.

Thanks!

On Sep 25, 12:14*pm, ftres <fivetownsresid...@gmail.com> wrote:
> We have carpet that we want to rip up. *We want to have the floors
> sanded and finished.
> It's strip floorimg - about 45 years old and seems to be in good
> condition judging from the
> corners of the carpet I lifted up.
>
> It's about 800 square feet to be done. *I've had a few people in to
> give estimates.
>
> Person 1 wants to put down an alcohol-based sealer and then 2 coats of
> oil based polyurethane.
> He'll put a third coat of poly if I want him to (another 30 cents per
> SF) but says it's not necessary.
>
> Person 2 wants to put down three coats of oil-based poly and doesn't
> use a sealer. *He says he used to use it
> and stopped because's he's learned over the years that the problem
> with a sealer is that over time, it dries up and crystallizes and
> causes the polyurethane to flake off the floor.
>
> Both people came highly recommended and both do nice work. *Prices are
> very similar so there's not much differene there.
>
> Which method is better? *Which is more durable? *Does anyone have
> experience with the sealer after say 10 to 15 years? *Does it really
> flake? *Also, is 2 coats of poly over a sealer as good as three coats
> of poly with no sealer?
>
> If it makes a difference, I'm on Long Island (NY) about 3 miles from
> the Atlantic Ocean.
>
> Thanks!

do oyu know the specific products proposed to be used?

does the first guy have any local customers with 15+ years old jobs?

cheers
Bob

In article
<9620f6eb-c9e9-4376-9b10-(E-Mail Removed)>,
ftres <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> We have carpet that we want to rip up. We want to have the floors
> sanded and finished.
> It's strip floorimg - about 45 years old and seems to be in good
> condition judging from the
> corners of the carpet I lifted up.
>
> It's about 800 square feet to be done. I've had a few people in to
> give estimates.


Um, if you had two people give you estimates on refinishing a floor that
they haven't seen, those are the first two people to cross off the list.

In article <vO6dnZH9CacHACDXnZ2dnUVZ_o-(E-Mail Removed)>,
"benick" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> "Smitty Two" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> newsrestwhich-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > In article
> > <9620f6eb-c9e9-4376-9b10-(E-Mail Removed)>,
> > ftres <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >
> >> We have carpet that we want to rip up. We want to have the floors
> >> sanded and finished.
> >> It's strip floorimg - about 45 years old and seems to be in good
> >> condition judging from the
> >> corners of the carpet I lifted up.
> >>
> >> It's about 800 square feet to be done. I've had a few people in to
> >> give estimates.
> >
> >
> > Um, if you had two people give you estimates on refinishing a floor that
> > they haven't seen, those are the first two people to cross off the list.
>
> Why would you do that ???? They are probably the ones with the most
> experience....It's not hard to bid a floor..X number of dollars a square
> foot times 800 square feet..LOL...When you've done hundreds of jobs over
> MANY years , you don't need to see it...A quick description and you get a
> pretty clear picture.....I routinely give drywall quotes over the phone on
> small jobs....LOL....Large or complicated jobs are a different story ,
> however...They merit the time and gas for a look - see....

Yeah, LOL, LOL. The floor is covered with CARPETING. The OP and the
potential contractors have NO IDEA what the floor actually looks like
under that carpet. LOL.

use oil poly thin first coat 25% ,2nd and 3rd coats full.
higher the gloss harder the finish


"benick" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:vO6dnZH9CacHACDXnZ2dnUVZ_o-(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Smitty Two" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> newsrestwhich-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> In article
>> <9620f6eb-c9e9-4376-9b10-(E-Mail Removed)>,
>> ftres <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>>> We have carpet that we want to rip up. We want to have the floors
>>> sanded and finished.
>>> It's strip floorimg - about 45 years old and seems to be in good
>>> condition judging from the
>>> corners of the carpet I lifted up.
>>>
>>> It's about 800 square feet to be done. I've had a few people in to
>>> give estimates.
>>
>>
>> Um, if you had two people give you estimates on refinishing a floor that
>> they haven't seen, those are the first two people to cross off the list.
>
> Why would you do that ???? They are probably the ones with the most
> experience....It's not hard to bid a floor..X number of dollars a square
> foot times 800 square feet..LOL...When you've done hundreds of jobs over
> MANY years , you don't need to see it...A quick description and you get a
> pretty clear picture.....I routinely give drywall quotes over the phone on
> small jobs....LOL....Large or complicated jobs are a different story ,
> however...They merit the time and gas for a look - see....

"benick" wrote
> "Smitty Two" wrote

> I guess I should have been a little clearer....A price on sanding and
> finishing the floor is JUST that..The OP said it looked to be in GOOD
> condition.....If there are pieces of flooring that have to be replaced ,
> moving furniture or tearing up old carpet is whats called an
> extra..$$$$$$..The verble contract was for sanding and finishing the floor
> ONLY....Get it now ???? Even driving over to look at it would be pointless
> as the room is full of furniture and the carpet is still down....Which is
> kinda strange...Most would have peeled the carpet up BEFORE contacting
> potential contractors....But hey...You just go with the flow and do the
> best that you can...LOL....

Grin, agreed. Most of us would peel up the carpet and check it, but if the
contract also lists replacement costs for any that are bad once uncovered,
it's workable.

Ghod, I havent thought about that house in Atlanta in years. Solid wood
plank floors, 150 years old. Lovely stuff but the topping I used then, was
stuff of the early 70's so dont know what you'd use today.