Do-It-Yourself Alternative To Hard Wood Floors - An Oregon Cottage

Want to rip out your ugly carpet but don't have the money to put in hardwood flooring? Using this simple DIY technique, you can give your floor a faux leather look with the tones of wood--and it's really cheap. We did the floor in the video for .50 a square foot. Find out more at http://www.anoregoncottage.com/2010/08/video-diy-alternative-to-wood-floors.html

Category:

Education

Tags:

• wood
• floor
• refinish
• brown
• paper
• polyurethane
• budget
• cheap
• remodel
• hardwood
• diy
• oak
• maple
• flooring
• kraft

[Futpa88]

Love this! Doing it in my laundry room so excited! Are we able to stain it after it dries?

[AnOregonCottage]

@Futpa88 I've heard from readers that you can do it two ways: add stain to the glue mixture, or stain the paper after applying the glue and it's completely dry BEFORE adding the poly. Pretty much everything has to be done before adding the poly coating.

[JMojak]

How about painting a faux finish on top of the dried pieces before adding epoxy? I got the idea of painting a faux copper patina on top of the paper pieces. Would this work? If so, what type of paint would be best to do this with?

[AnOregonCottage]

@JMojak Sure! People have stained it, so painting would probably be similar. I'd just use an acrylic paint, as the poly should be water based. I'd love to hear how it turns out! (Oh- I always suggest a test somewhere, even a piece of plywood, so you can see if you like the results).

[ashash2336]

Can you do this on concrete floors?

[AnOregonCottage]

@ashash2336 This has to be my #1 question! I haven't done it myself, so I can only give my readers experiences. If the concrete sits on dirt, there may be moisture issues and I'd do a test area. If not, it probably will work (but again, I'd probably test it). I've been told that using only the polyurethane to "glue" down the paper (and not using the watered-down glue) works better for concrete as well. Again- I haven't tried it, but I know some have had good results. Good luck with it!

[TheDarkCutlass]

I work in the flooring industry and was scratching and shaking my head the most of the time until the end. Once it was all said and done, the finished product looks amazing. You mentioned it resembles leather, but what it truly looks like in flooring is cork. Again, its amazing.

[AnOregonCottage]

@lacoyota1: You need a brush for the glue- I think a roller would leave too much glue on the paper. I think I've heard of people rolling the poly coats, but I like a brush because it easily fits in the can- no other container needed!

Jami @ An Oregon Cottage

[illin1929]

Ok, just finished a room yesterday..floor looks great but oh, the wrinkles..being that they are hard, I hope you are right and they go down..still will look great with them though, and WAYYY better than that carpet or wood underneath...we'll see...go done wrinkles : D

[pdivizzle0112]

wow! this is seriously awesome. im buying a house soon and came across this and i think its great. would definitely try it out. thanks!

[JMojak]

Sorry, meant polyurethane.

[datsfam]

Lovely Lovely Lovely! I've done this on a table and a dresser with brown paper grocery sacks. I've seen people do this to cover ugly countertops as well. Now you have my brain clicking! Back hallway? Craft area of the living room? Walls? Ooooooh, it's going to be a busy new year! Thanks for the vid!