There’s a lot of layers to this, so I appreciate anyone that reads to the end and provides thoughtful feedback. So, I moved into an old home built in the 1930s. When we moved in, there was carpet over everything but one bedroom. We knew there was additional hardwood under the carpet, but were unsure of the condition. A few glasses of wine later and we find out that most of the floors are in excellent condition.

As is common, most of the carpet was laid directly over the hardwood, making it fairly easy to pull up and remove staples, tack strips, nails, etc. However, over a specific 40-50 sq. ft. section, the hardwood was covered with a thick layer of adhesive, followed by a thin layer of plywood, followed by the carpet pad and carpet. I still have no real understanding of why this was done, but I have a few working theories.

My next step was to find the condition of the hardwood under all that adhesive. With a heat gun and a scraper, I was able to carefully remove most of the adhesive to reveal that the wood underneath is in good overall condition. Scraped and scuffed, yes, but no real damage including water damage, mold, cupping, etc.

Here’s where things get difficult. The remaining wood floors don’t need to be refinished. The only thing that immediately needs refinishing is that 40-50 sq. ft. section. It is my understanding that it will be nearly impossible to “match” the refinished section to the rest of the floors.

Additionally, by going through the documentation that has been compiled by all the owners of the home, I’m leaning towards the thought that these floors have never really been refinished and that they are indeed finished with shellac (I say this due to time period, color of the floor, and the appearance of the flooring when in contact with water). This is where I’m going to tell you my next course of action, and I hope someone can help me point out the things I’m doing/going to do incorrectly.

Step 1 is I bought a .5 pt can of Zinnser Amber Shellac and am going to test it on various pieces scrap wood to ensure the finish and color is similar to what’s on the floors in my home.

Step 2 would be (given that step 1 produces acceptable results) to sand down a small part of the floor in a closet that won’t be seen and apply some shellac as a second test that the finishes will be similar.

Step 3 would be to lightly sand and shellac the entire section of flooring, with the understanding that it may not look perfect. The section of flooring is in a part of the home that’s not typically touched by natural light, so I’m assuming that if it’s similar enough that it won’t be that noticeable.

Questions:

Am I thinking about this correctly?

What am I missing?

I know shellac sets up quickly – any pro tips on application? Willing to purchase tools and equipment to make the finish as professional as possible.