Neil asked:

My husband and I are getting ready to do some home improvement work. We are planning on sanding and restaining our hardwood floors and taking out some panelling and hanging new drwyall, painting, etc… (and painting all our trim). Which should we do first – the floors or the walls?

Reply:

I know it is in contrast with what most people are saying… but if you want both done, do them at the same time…

Strip the moulding (if you’re doing so, better for the floor and the wall) then sand down the floor. Lay a good thick drop cloth, and tarp material over the floor.

Next, do the walls with tarp on the floor. if you mis a spot, it’s covered up by the new moulding. Remember, before you paint, if there is a crack, take care of it now… you can’t paint over drywall cracks.

The next step is skip the moulding, and do the floor. Stain, clear coat, re clear coat, clear coat again, clear coat, then wax… yes wax… wax again, and again (5 coats or more is best for this way)

After the floor is done, put down the moulding… but remember to paint it first… keep the paint (same can) and use that for the nail gun or finishing nail heads (whichever you use)

When you go around and touch up afterwards, make sure your screw heads are counter sunk, and make sure you spackle… let it dry… then touch up over it. the good thing is at this point… if you drop any paint on the floor, take a knife or razor blade, and scrape it off… The wax will allow the paint to flake, and even better, if you don’t drop paint, you have a spectacular floor with excellent trim, and beutiful walls.