Victorian Cottage Jr. Floors

[lauradrodriguez]

Hello Everyone,

I have been away from dollhousing for awhile but just got the Victorial Cottage Jr. special edition kit. It comes with grooved floors already and I am just wondering if I have to do anything to finish them or simply leave them as they are? They seem to have a very thin layer of varnish already and was wondering if anyone else doing the project ran into the same issue?

Thanks

[jrchob]

Hi Laura: Click on http://gr123.powweb.com/DollhouseWorkshop/Junior/junior.html it will take you to a RGT site. On the right are various aspects of building. Click on finish floors and it expains the different types of flooring and how they can be finished. Good luck and have fun!

[sommerstern7]

I have seen the grooved floors left as is and they look fine. You can always stain them after you have finished everything else to see how you want them if you aren't happy with the way they look then, but I wouldn't worry about it yet.

[lauradrodriguez]

Thanks for the advice. I will probably use Minwax Poly Shades to darken the floor up a bit!

[havanaholly]

If you want to stain them and they appear to have a sealer on them you might want to gently sand the varnish layer off first.

[Roxxie]

I would be extremely careful sanding these floors. I built this house and they have what amounts to a very thin paper like veneer on the top that tears very easily. I learned the hard way! Good luck!

[lauradrodriguez]

Thanks Roxie and Havana: I just sanded the floors (lightly) and put the first coat of pecan stain on them. It looks gorgeous! Well worth the extra work! Thanks to everyone for their help and suggestions!! I love this forum

[doc]

The reason to put on a finish is to protect the flooring from being torn during construction (I am a masking tape wild-man!), or from paint drips.

I use a non-woven abrasive pad like "Scotch-Brite" to take the shine off these floors before finishing (I use PolyShades too when I want them darker). As Roxxie said, be very gentle!! One interesting suggestion I haven't tried yet is a crumpled brown paper bag for the gentlest prep for urethane.

Edited April 11, 2012 by doc

[havanaholly]

Actually the brown paper bag gives such a lovely patina I usually don't put anything else on my floors; and wait until you use it to finish a turning on the lathe! Wow, is it ever smooth & satiny!