How do I find out if the wooden flooring under my carpets is in a good enough condition?

Question

I live in a tenement flat, built c 1830, and would like to find out if the wooden flooring under my carpets is in a good enough condition for me to take the carpet up and get it all varnished. I have pulled the carpets up at the corners and found nice broad dark wood flooring, but I don't know how it is all over the floor and if it is worth my while pulling it up. Who does these sort of jobs and how much should I expect to pay to get the floors varnished, assuming I can?

Answer 1

take the carpet up and look at ... you can put the carpet back if you have to    just start at a corner and pull it up off the tack strip. you may need a carpet guy to put it back

Answer 2

Bear in mind that no wear will have ocurred in the corners. The best place to lift the carpet would be in a doorway. After you have fainted from the estimate, you could easily tackle the job yourself. Only sand the floor lightly, if at all. You can hire floor sanders. Clean the floor with white spirit if you choose a spirit based varnish. Or sugar soap if it's a water based product. Rinse this last one well. Modern varnishes and stains dry very quickly, but it does vary so read the tin first. Also test an inconspicous area first to be happy with the dried effect.

Answer 3

If the boards are broad they probably are quite old but may be dark because of years of wear and possibly layers of varnish/stain.As with previous answers,the only good way is to lift the whole carpet and give the floor a thorough examination.One thing to consider,if you don`t live on the ground floor,you are going to make things noisier for people in the flat below.Wooden floors transmit every footstep,chair movement and can allow your music and talking to be heard because you`ve lost the sound insulation of the carpet/underlay.If you have no neighbours below,wooden floors are great! good luck.