Flooring replacements
butler's pantry & back hallway
The original 1883 flooring in the butler's pantry, back hall and was a patterned linoleum. Over time, the pattern rubbed off and it looked like brown leather. In the heavily trafficked places, the movement of the wood floor caused the linoleum flooring to wear out completely. It had became a trip hazard. Those places had been patched by red linoleum pieces and a turquoise linoleum rug. These were nailed in by millions of small square nails, no glue.
In May 2021, Hank Dunlop ( long-time board member and preservation expert) located Mark Spicher ( Spicher and Co.), a vinyl flooring manufacturer, who recreates historic patterns on vinyl. Seeing the house for the first time, through Facetime from Pennsylvania, he fell in love and he decided to copy the original pattern.The replica is the first picture you see. The original linoleum still exists in the upstairs linen closet.
Kitchen Flooring
During the pandemic we were not using the kitchen for events and we took advantage of the time to clean, top to bottom, and paint.
We also uncovered the original 1883 brick range and fixed the 1926 gas range. There were layers of flooring over the original wood floor which was painted red. It was covered with linoleum next. In the 1950s asbestos vinyl was glued down.
We had to have professionals remove the asbestos, which cost an additional $2,000. The photo below shows the underlayment plywood with the Sparks stove on rollers, before the linoleum is placed. The replacement material is linoleum like the original. The linoleum is made from linseed oil, pine sap and cork or sawdust with a jute grass backing. It is totally compostable.
The linoleum can be found at Floor Dimensions in Albany. The product is manufactured by Marmoleum. We chose to install the pattern called Himalayan.
Emelita's upstairs bathroom flooring
Was sun-scorched. Now it's replaced with natural Linoleum
Laundry room
asbestos tiles were replaced with slate tiles
Before
