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Posted by Norminn on June 18, 2008, 9:19 pm
aemeijers wrote:
> Phisherman wrote:
>
>> On Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:12:35 +0000 (UTC), rdadams@panix.com (Dick
>> Adams) wrote:
>>
>>> When we purchased this house 15 years ago, we had wall to wall
>>> carpeting put over the hardwood floors to protect them from our
>>> young sons.
>>>
>>> We will be selling this house in the next few years. Are there any
>>> surprises to anticipate if we take up the carpeting?
>>>
>>> Dick
>>
>>
>>
>> Yes, since you had children. Pets can cause a lot of damage too.
>> But, you never know until you look. Good luck!
>
>
> For the benefit of OP and others reading this group- carpet does NOT
> protect hardwood, if anything it puts it in more danger. I predict
> when OP pulls up the carpet, he will find rust marks around where the
> tack strips were nailed down (not the mention having to patch those
> holes), dark spots/seams from where pet accidents/kid and food
> spills/plant watering spills happened, and spots where the grit that
> filtered through the carpet and pad ground away the finish. And if if
> was a fancy rubber pad, there may be whole patches where it has fused
> to the finish on the hardwood, especially in high-traffic areas.
>
> Hardwood was the standard floor for everywhere but kitchen and
> bathroom from the 20s through the early 70s, when it got too expensive
> for most people to afford, especially since most people thought W/W
> carpet was more upscale anyway. Thankfully, style is headed back the
> other way. Sometimes, in pet-free houses without humidity problems,
> where weekly vacuuming was the custom, you get lucky when you pull out
> carpet, and all the floor needs is a cleaning and waxing, plus of
> course putty for the nail holes. But more often, at least spot
> refinishing is needed, and to get it real pretty, a full
> sand'n'refinish is needed.
>
> If I hadn't been in a hurry when I bought this place (and feeling
> broke besides), and if they hadn't just put fresh carpet in the front
> living room and hall, I would have had the carpet ripped out and the
> oak floors refinished, including the half-ass DIY refinish previous
> owner did in two of the bedrooms. Maybe when I prep the place for sale
> in a few years, if the work is cheaper than replacing the freaking
> <cream color> carpet that will be stained beyond redemption by then.
>
> I'm not a fan of modern 'engineered' floors, especially if the top
> layer isn't really wood. But I love old-style real hardwood t&g
> floors, that can be sanded and refinished 3-4 times once you trash the
> rock-hard factory finish after 30 years or so. And I think it is a sin
> to cover real hardwood with carpet.
>
> --
> aem sends...
If the carpet is in decent shape, I would leave it. Let the buyer make
the choice. If the floor is damaged, it is "buyer beware". If in good
shape, a pleasant surprise. The fact that it is there should still be a
plus. There shouldn't be moisture damage to the wood unless there was
repeated wetness for extended time. The most likely damage, aside from
tack strips, would be sand that sifted through carpet and pad (unlikely)
or pad that is stuck fast. But, then, there is still hardwood there.
We pulled up carpet that was over 35 yrs. old, from a slab floor.
Concrete was pristene, aside from paint drips from original painting.
If prospective buyers are picky, take up one room, clean it up with
mineral spirits after mild soap and cool water. Folks try too hard,
IMO, to make the choices that the unknown buyer would want.
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