What Should I Do About These Floors?

[Kenneth Peagler]

So I just acquired another property in an amazing area for a low price with a high value. I'll be turning this into a rental property but I like to have an idea of how to handle a particular issue before I have professionals come in - or attempt to do it myself.

This house has old floors and in some places, it's uneven or a different pattern. I tore up the old, outdated carpeting. I know this is a DIY forum but I'm curious to hear a DIY perspective so that I have an idea of perspective.

Based on the photos: 1) Should I have the floors refinished, replaced, or cover it up with a luxury vinyl (which I've used in my other rental properties.) 2) What should I have done about places where the flooring is uneven. Any assistance would be appreciated.

Here's the pics: https://photos.app.goo.gl/MLLDDwc68vgj77K87

[David Lee Hall, III]

@Kenneth Peagler

Just my 2 cents, with inflation work about 1.5 now...

Looking at your 1st photo, you can see gaps between some of the boards in the lower left with filler that has cracked and partially come out. This leads me down a rabbit hole:

• This is likely a very old house.
• It likely has some deflection in the floors (so you are never going to fill gaps and have the filler stay)
• Wood joints aren't true any longer due to shrinking of a 100+ year old material
• You have a number of different patches if looking across all of the pictuers.

So, the last thing I would do is refinish this floor with a natural/stain finish.

If it was a section 8 grade rental or similar, I would do a sand, vacuum, and paint with a flooring paint a brown. This could be done quickly and cheaply. This could apply to any room but is best in low traffic upper bedrooms. 

If the room is squarish, even quicker is buying a rug that leaves 1-2' around the perimeter. Paint that space only and leave the middle as-is. Super-quick and cheap on the turn around. Works well for a bedroom where the rug could be shifted towards a wall to have a bed centered on. 

Assuming you are looking for a more decent appraisal or are above the $500-$700 rental grade, either LVP or carpet it. I like LVP in traffic areas/living spaces and islands of carpet in bedrooms. 

My current reno I am working on has a similar scenario - 100 year old never refinished oak in the upper bedrooms. The gaps and shrinkage just don't warrant refinishing it though, it will never be "right" (but man, if I could rip and out and repurposed it my heart flutters). I am going to try something new and go with self-installed tile carpet. I haven't used it before. It may go horrible. But I saw it in one place earlier this year and want to give it a try.