We've been doing the reclaimed wood thing too, and yeah, sanding is no joke... my arms were noodles for days afterward. But definitely worth it when you step back and see how much character it adds to the space. Curious—did you treat the counters with anything special to keep water stains at bay? We've been debating between oils vs. poly finishes.
As for floors, have you considered plywood plank flooring? Sounds kinda sketchy at first, I know, but a buddy of mine did it in their cabin and honestly, it turned out surprisingly nice. They cut plywood into wide planks, sanded smooth (more sanding...yay), stained them dark, and then sealed with a heavy-duty water-based poly. It's holding up pretty well after two years of muddy boots and dogs running around. Might be worth exploring if you're looking to keep costs down without sacrificing looks too much.
We went with a hardwax oil finish on our reclaimed counters—it's held up pretty well against water rings and spills, plus it's easy to spot-repair. Thought about plywood floors too, but honestly, after sanding those counters...my enthusiasm for DIY flooring kinda evaporated.
"Thought about plywood floors too, but honestly, after sanding those counters...my enthusiasm for DIY flooring kinda evaporated."
Haha, totally relate to that sanding burnout. Did plywood floors once—turned out decent, but the endless sanding and sealing... not sure I'd volunteer for round two. Maybe smaller spaces only next time?
I get the sanding fatigue, but honestly, plywood floors don't always have to be that intense. Did mine a couple years back and skipped the heavy sanding altogether—just went with a good orbital sander pass and then sealed it up. Turned out pretty decent, actually. Sure, it's not showroom-perfect, but the imperfections kinda add character... or at least that's what I tell myself.
"Maybe smaller spaces only next time?"
Yeah, smaller rooms definitely help keep your sanity intact. But if you're looking for budget-friendly flooring without the sanding nightmare, have you considered vinyl plank? Installed some in my basement recently—super easy to work with and surprisingly durable. No sanding required, and cleanup was a breeze compared to plywood. Just throwing it out there as another option if you're still on the fence about DIY flooring projects.
"the imperfections kinda add character... or at least that's what I tell myself."
Totally get embracing imperfections, but plywood floors can be tricky long-term. I've seen clients regret skipping proper sanding after a few years when splinters and uneven wear start showing up. Vinyl plank is decent, but have you thought about cork flooring? It's budget-friendly, easy on the feet, and naturally hides imperfections. Plus, it's sustainable and adds warmth to the space—just another angle to consider.
