Help with wood floor needed!

[sweet angel]

I'm turning to my DIS board friends because I know someone here can help.

Background: Two dogs -- one had a real problem being potty trained. Problem -- destroyed carpet. We decided to rip up the carpet tonight (hardwood floors underneath) with the plan that once the carpet and padding was gone, a majority of the smell would be gone too.

Problem -- floor is damp and badly stained in some spots. I figure I have to let it dry out for a day or two, but then is there anything short of sanding to get rid of the stains? I don't want to spend a ton of cash on the floors, because I plan to re-carpet at some point.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

 

[sweet angel]

Bump. Come on...I know this place has a bunch of do-it-yourselfers!

 

[Pop Daddy]

put a rug over it

 

[SueM in MN]

I've heard good things about a product called anti-icky poo . Funny name, but I've heard it does a good job of removing animal urine smells. I don't know if it does anything for the stain part, but if the wood is wet, it's gonna smell too.

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

Nature's Miracle is a natural enzyme that actually eats up the odor/stain. You can buy it at your local pet store. It works very well on carpets. However, if your wood floor has been stained the only permanent fix may be to have it sanded and refinished.

 

[Pugdog007]

I'd spend the money to sand and stain... they'll be good forever and you won't have to deal with carpet again. Believe me... I re-carpeted my last home twice in 8 years due to pet stains. I had all hardwood and tile put in my new home and it's the best decision I could've made. They still have the occasional accident on the hardwoods... but I use Pledge clean up and it's good as new. No smell. Easy to maintain.

 

[minkydog]

However, if your wood floor has been stained the only permanent fix may be to have it sanded and refinished.

I agree. Once the wood has been saturated there is no other way to remove the dark spot. You could always have it stained a darker color or paint over it(I saw that on Trading spaces once.)

 

[Aimeedyan]

I don't have any suggestions, I just can't imagine having the luxury of wood floors and carpeting over them!!!

I would give anything to have wood floors!! Refinish those babies and show them off!!

 

[sweet angel]

Nature's Miracle was part of the problem. Once the carpet was soaked through to the padding, the Nature's Miracle (carpet shampooer, vinegar, Resolve, OxyClean, and the host of other things I tried to get the stain out) just kept it damp. My dog hasn't pee'd inside in a couple of months, yet the whole hallway portion was damp underneath. It was disgusting.

I'll be going with Pop Daddy's insightful suggestion once I can dry the floors out enough to give them a good cleaning.

I like hardwood floors in other people's houses...I can't stand them in mine. I'm a carpeting kind of gal.

I'll be doing them with my Hoover Floor Mate today (doesn't leave water behind). We may have to spot sand and refinish. Heck, we may have to flat out replace sections of the floor, depending on how deep the wood is penetrated.

That Anti-Icky-Poo looks interesting (and double the price of Nature's Miracle), but I'm hesitant to put any more liquid on the floor.

Thanks for the responses.

 

[April in Disney]

Go to home depot rent the sander and then poly it five times. It will make your floors undestructable.

 

[sweet angel]

Go to home depot rent the sander and then poly it five times. It will make your floors undestructable.

Here's the problem...I live in a small, 2-bedroom ranch. The bulk of the damage is in the living room and hallway. What do I do with 3 people and 2 dogs while the floors are drying?

A friend said that a friend of theirs had the floor sanded and refinished for $300. Not a bad price, I'd imagine (never checked), but I remain with the problem of what to do with my family while they're drying. I mean, isn't it something like 24 hours before you can walk on them? I could be wrong...

 

[Serena]

Well, that would be a problem, but I don't know of anything other than sanding and refinishing that will help.

 

[Christine]

Nothing other than sanding and refinishing will get those spots out. However, you can get it done pretty cheaply. Also, if you don't want to spend days waiting, do NOT get a polyuerethane (sp?) finish. My first set of wood floors in my other house were refinished and the guy put "swedish varnish" on it. He was able to do 2-3 coats because it dries completely in about an hour. You will not get a high gloss floor with this (a water based finish) but you will get the protection and your floors will look beautiful.

 

[malibuconlee]

Saw something like this on Trading Spaces once. Yep, you'll have to sand and refinish. THeir quick solution was to paint the floor.

 

[OzFan]

My cousin had hers redone over her Christmas break, she had to take her 2 kids and small dog to a hotel for the night, they enjoyed the pool since it was cold and snowy here in Chicago. But she had the same problem as you, her floors were in a spot that could not be avoided for 24 hours. Let it air dry, try cleaning again with Murphy's Oil. It just might work, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

 

[chrissyk]

We actually moved out of our old house for a week when the hardwood floors were installed, sanded, and eurathaned (sp?). There was really no other way, since we were having the entire house done.

 

[sweet angel]

Moving out is not an option, unless anyone knows of someone willing to take in 3 people and 2 dogs.

I went over the floors with my Floor Mate. At least they're clean stains now. The dogs weren't the whole problem. A prior owner had a wood-burning stove, which must have been in the living room because there's a large rectangle of funky-looking wood.

Looks like we're going to have to go the sanding and refinishing route. It's quite possible that a section about 6' x 3' in the hallway will have to be ripped out and replaced.

Why is it that every home improvement projects leads to others?

 

[sweet angel]

As an update, the floors are now totally dry and the good news is, I no longer have the lovely smell of dog pee in my house. The bad news is the stains did not magically disappear. Everyone who has seen them though seems to feel that refinishing will take care of them (as opposed to my fear of having to replace sections). Now, to find someone to do it.....