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I had to repair a small damaged section of hardwood flooring in an old house, but there was no subfloor underneath and I...
07/31/2026

I had to repair a small damaged section of hardwood flooring in an old house, but there was no subfloor underneath and I couldn’t access it from below. While trying to remove the damaged area, I accidentally damaged part of the groove where the new board needed to fit.

To make sure the repair is strong, I added blocking alongside the joists with long screws and carefully pre-drilled holes before securing the replacement board. I’m hoping this solution will hold up well and that no one ends up stepping through the floor someday.

I even left a little note on the blocking apologizing to the future owner in case they ever have to repair my repair. Hopefully they’ll find it funny rather than frustrating. 😅

I removed the carpet and discovered a wooden floor underneath that I never knew was there. I’ve always wanted a real, na...
07/31/2026

I removed the carpet and discovered a wooden floor underneath that I never knew was there. I’ve always wanted a real, natural wood floor, so I’m excited—but I also know it needs some work.

The floor has some damage from years of use, and there are a few areas that were cut out around the heater, but I actually love the rustic character and don’t mind the imperfections. I don’t see any major issues, but I have no experience restoring wooden floors, so I would really appreciate some advice.

What would you do if this were your floor? Should I repair, sand, refinish, or leave some of the original character?

If you have experience with restoring old wood floors, please share your suggestions and step-by-step advice. I’ll be doing this project myself, so any tips would mean a lot. Thank you!

Update to patch questionI don’t remember if it was in here or DIY Home. But someone recommended setting my blocking the ...
07/31/2026

Update to patch question
I don’t remember if it was in here or DIY Home. But someone recommended setting my blocking the height of plywood lower than the joist. Then adding plywood to support new boards when I put them in. I am waiting for A maker space membership key fob so I can use a tablesaw to modify the new boards’ tongues accurately, and put these in.
Should I use construction adhesive to fasten the plywood to the blocking or screws?
I have used a planer, tablesaw, and router before at a workshop. I think that those would all help in some waywith this job. I’m doing this with hand saws and a drill driver combo and some clamps. And sandpaper when needed. Very slow going.
Keeping my new board from sitting, proud of the surrounding boards is a big challenge and I need a planer to shave the new boards down by about a millimeter so until I get access to one or buy one, I will have a hole in my floor, but at least the plywood will keep people from seriously hurting themselves and provide support when I could finally fit the boards.

**Is this hardwood flooring or just the subfloor underneath?**I’m trying to remove the old, worn-out carpet from my stai...
07/31/2026

**Is this hardwood flooring or just the subfloor underneath?**

I’m trying to remove the old, worn-out carpet from my stairs and the upstairs landing. After pulling back the carpet and padding around the vent area, I found this wood underneath—but I’m not sure what I’m looking at.

How can I tell whether this is real hardwood that can be refinished, or just the subfloor? Are there any signs I should look for before deciding what to do next?

Any advice from people who have dealt with this before would be greatly appreciated!

**Could this be mold on my 5/8” plywood subfloor?**We’re getting ready to install hardwood flooring, and I noticed these...
07/31/2026

**Could this be mold on my 5/8” plywood subfloor?**

We’re getting ready to install hardwood flooring, and I noticed these dark spots on some of the plywood sheets that will be used as the subfloor. I’m unsure if this is mold, staining, or something else.

Some pieces have the black marks mainly along the edges, while others have spots scattered randomly across the surface. The marks appear to be flat, and they don’t wipe or scrape off—they seem to be part of the wood itself.

Has anyone seen something like this before? Should I be concerned about using this plywood for my flooring project?

Thank you for any advice!

Looking for the best solution here. A little lack of planning around this outside corner has brought me to this point, a...
07/29/2026

Looking for the best solution here. A little lack of planning around this outside corner has brought me to this point, and now I need to figure out the smartest way forward. What would you recommend as the best option?

Update on our parquet floors! A few months ago, I shared our flooring dilemma, and after giving it some thought, we’ve d...
07/29/2026

Update on our parquet floors! A few months ago, I shared our flooring dilemma, and after giving it some thought, we’ve decided to keep the original parquet and have it professionally refinished.

Now I need your opinions — should we go with a darker stain, keep it natural, or choose a lighter finish? Our floor refinisher works with Duraseal stains, so we have plenty of options to consider.

Since my last post, we’ve made a lot of changes around the house. We removed the popcorn ceiling, refreshed all the walls with new paint, and painted the doors and window trim. The next project on our list is updating the fireplace.

The final photo shows what the space looked like before the painting updates. I’d love to hear your thoughts on which floor color would work best with the new look!

**How should I handle two different flooring colors with stairs between them?**I’ve asked this question before, but I wa...
07/29/2026

**How should I handle two different flooring colors with stairs between them?**

I’ve asked this question before, but I wanted to revisit it now that I have more photos and a better idea of the situation.

The entire main level of our home currently has a darker-toned LVP. The carpet in the bedrooms on the other levels is old and needs to be replaced, and I’m hoping to go in a different direction by choosing something lighter and brighter instead of trying to match the existing dark flooring.

I’m leaning toward MSI Laurel Reserve in Honey Hollow for the upper levels. My biggest question is how to transition the flooring with the stairs. We have two separate staircases that are currently carpeted.

Would it look better to install the lighter LVP on the upper floors and use a carpet runner on the stairs as a transition between the dark main-level flooring and the lighter upstairs flooring? Or would it make more sense to install new carpet on the stairs and keep the flooring change separate?

I don’t see us replacing all of the existing dark LVP throughout the house just to make everything match, and we also don’t want to continue the darker flooring into the upper levels. I’d love to hear how others would handle this type of situation and what would create the most cohesive look.

**Need advice on installing LVP stair nosing**Hi everyone,I’m working on a DIY project installing LVP stair treads, but ...
07/29/2026

**Need advice on installing LVP stair nosing**

Hi everyone,

I’m working on a DIY project installing LVP stair treads, but I’ve run into an issue with the existing stair nosing. The current nosing extends slightly farther than the new tread pieces I purchased.

I’ve seen recommendations to cut the nosing back flush at a 90-degree angle, but after checking my local building code, I found that the stair depth needs to remain more than 9 inches from nose to nose. Cutting it down would reduce the measurement below that requirement.

Another option I’ve come across is trimming the stair width slightly so the new tread can fit properly over the existing nosing.

What would be the best approach here? Is leaving a small overhang on the nosing acceptable, or is it likely to cause problems over time?

I appreciate any advice or experience you can share. Thanks in advance!

**Edit:** Thank you everyone for the quick responses. I have a plan moving forward and will share an update once the project is complete.

**1912 Foursquare Hardwood Floors Restored!**A few of you asked to see the finished results after refinishing the hardwo...
07/29/2026

**1912 Foursquare Hardwood Floors Restored!**

A few of you asked to see the finished results after refinishing the hardwood floors, so here they are!

I decided to bring in a professional company for the restoration, and I’m so glad I did. During the process, we discovered a few areas on both floors that needed repairs, but the final results turned out better than I imagined.

These original floors have so much character, and seeing them brought back to life is an amazing feeling. I’d love to hear any advice on how to properly care for and protect these floors so they stay beautiful for many years to come.

There’s still a long journey ahead with restoring this old home, but this is a very exciting first step!

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404 S Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA
90071

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