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February 23, 2009
Pee-Stained Wood Floors?
We have some beautiful original wood floors in our brownstone. However, the previous owners let their large and multiple dogs urinate constantly on them and as a result they have large black stains in multiple places. We asked a few wood "experts" and they told us we had to rip out the entire floor (which is our entire parlor and 2nd floors) - no way to salvage or repair b/c the wood would become paper thin. We really don't want to rip out these beautiful original floors and are wondering if anyone has advice or recommendations for someone to help us out. Many thanks
Comments
We had the same problem-black, dog urine stained wood floors from the previous owner/tenants. Our floor refinisher also suggested ripping everything out. You may be able to stain the floors darker to slightly hide the urine mark but the wood will not hold up well over time--a lot of acid in that dog urine. Unfortunately, this is why we have to say no to perspective tenants with dogs and have a no dog clause in the contract.
Posted by: ilikeslices at February 23, 2009 10:39 AM
most normal people don't let their dogs pee in their apartment.
*r*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at February 23, 2009 10:48 AM
You assume it was the dogs...
Posted by: SnarkSlope at February 23, 2009 10:56 AM
You should allow dogs, just mount a "Please Curb Your Dog" sign in the living room.
Posted by: tybur6 at February 23, 2009 11:00 AM
also having a dog is a really good deterrant against your home being broken into. i mean as long as it's not a fooofy poodle or anything. tho poodles can be some of the nastiest dogs ever!
*r*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at February 23, 2009 11:02 AM
My friends had reasonable results by using 1 tbsp. of oxalic acid mixed with 1 cup of hot water (or equal proportions in larger quantities), applied generously and left for several hours or overnight. Soaking wood floors would normally make me cringe, but seems like damage is already done and little to lose by trying. This article recommends peroxide: http://www.oldhouseweb.com/how-to-advice/best-solutions-for-removing-old-pet-urine-stains-from-hardwood-floors.shtml
I can certainly vouch, courtesy of a previous occupant ;-(, for the effectiveness of undiluted bleach in changing the color of wood floor.
Posted by: vinca at February 23, 2009 11:04 AM
Snarkslope - Dont laugh. I know somoene who bought a beautful rambling 6-room apartment on Eastern Parkway in 2003 for about $80K in "as is" condition. Turns out the previous owner was a junkie of sorts who literally peed on the floors, for years. He had to rip out the entire floor and it was a huge headache and problem..
Posted by: saminthehood at February 23, 2009 11:07 AM
It is very difficult to reverse this kind of damage. The acids in the urine permantly alter the wood fibers.
You will need to take up the boards in those areas and fill-in with new boards. Then you can sand, stain and refinish the entire floor. A good flooring company can achieve very good results and a good match. I would not recommend doing any of this work yourself.
Posted by: sam at February 23, 2009 11:11 AM
OP here -thanks sam - can you or others recommend someone who can do this kind of patch repair - the inlaid pattern is quite detailed which is why we would like to salvage the entire floor if possible - after removing the urine stained areas...
Posted by: anugupta at February 23, 2009 11:14 AM
We have a similar issue in our single family in Flatbush. You might want to have Verrazano Flooring come out and give you an estimate. We chose not to take the stained boards out (we were running out of money) but they did restore other sections of intricate boarders and parquet that were damaged from termites.
Our damage is mostly limited to one room and they said they could fix the specific slats that were stained, but it was too expensive for us at that time.
If we were going to re-visit those sections, I'd definitely work with them again.
GL.
Posted by: Brooklyn11218 at February 23, 2009 12:08 PM
Seriously... other than them being ugly dogs, I would never own a standard poodle. Seriously nasty, evil creatures. I've never met one that was pleasant. I've met quite a few. Could be a reflection of the owners... they weren't the warmest of people either. :-)
And it's the only type of dog that's ever tried to bite me -- bastard dog! I just wanted my boomerang back!
Posted by: tybur6 at February 23, 2009 12:12 PM
Some of my best friends are standard poodles!
You haven't met enough of them. They can be really great, really smart, really funny dogs.
Posted by: vanburenproud at February 23, 2009 1:36 PM
I had these issues in the house I bought. The floor was coming out anyway, so no biggie. But in our case we even had to sand some of the sub-floor.
Posted by: denton at February 23, 2009 1:54 PM
At least it doesn't smell, apparently. Can you cover some of the stains with area rugs? Or, as someone suggests above, replace selective portions?
You can get old-growth reclaimed recycled wood (you have your choice of type) at Moon River Chattel. It's about $11 per unit -- I can't remember if it's foot or yard but the width varies.
I don't have a rec for a floor person, but a friend of mine expanded his bathroom, and their contractor matched the parquet border in the adjoining bedroom so the floor looked original. They did a nice job.
Posted by: mopar at February 23, 2009 2:25 PM
Be prepared to remove deep. We looked at a house where dog urine had soaked right through to the joists.
Posted by: Boerum Hill at February 23, 2009 2:49 PM
Ewww.
In defense of the prior residents, I ripped out carpeting (and linoleum and linoleum and linoleum) in a rental once and it was pretty clear from the water stain pattern that decades of wet people had been walking from the shower to the bedroom. So it might *not* have been dogs. It could have been a plant or something.
I don't have references but you ought to be able to find someone who can replace sections.
Posted by: serpentor at February 23, 2009 3:08 PM
When I was still an infant in the crib (we lived in a pre-war apt bldg on the Upper West Side of Manhattan) my mom said I used to pee on the floor. The floor was carpeted.
Went I was 10 we took up the carpet with the idea to restore the original wood floors. There were dark brown/black stains where I 'hit the spot' (apparently I was aiming at the cat).
Despite sanding the floor down as much as possible, the stain never went away. We were left with the option of (1) living with it); (2) re-carpeting; or (3) installing a new floor. We lived with it.
Your mileage may vary.
Posted by: Knickerbocker at February 23, 2009 4:08 PM
Had same problem - from prior pet, not me peeing on a cat like Knickerbocker - and stained the floors very dark. Hid the damage very well. Looks cool in my minimalist place, but not for everyone.
Posted by: Johnny at February 23, 2009 4:20 PM
I've had oxalic acid work. I sanded first & had to do many treatments - doing a thicker paste than recommended & covering it with plastic wrap so it would really soak in.
Posted by: Arkady at February 24, 2009 8:44 AM
Call Sean at Old Oak Flooring. He has done 2 apartments for me and his guys are craftsman. He re-claimed wood in one room to patch another in my house, then stained and polished - you cannot tell the difference.
Maybe he can combine the wood from both rooms to fit in one room and save you some money.
Old Oak Flooring: 646-662-5724.
Posted by: jab287 at February 25, 2009 12:26 PM
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