Frugal Friday: A Paper Bag Floor Update and Tutorial

Well we've ripped out the carpet in two rooms and replaced them with paper bag floors.  And I have to tell you I couldn't be happier.

• They are durable (thus far they've stood up to two dogs, three cats and three children).  
• They are easy to repair.  Under the piano bench I just noticed a few small nicks.  Someone must have been particularly rough there. It'll be a quick fix to lay down another layer of paper and polyurethane over it. 
• They are easy to clean -- a simple swipe with the vacuum or a quick wipe down if something has spilled.  
• They are attractive (so much more than our smelly old carpet)

We like these floors so much we will be replacing the remaining carpeted areas in our house (our bedrooms and the stairs).  I might get creative on the stair risers and use some sort of decorative paper.  I really like the flooring pattern here.  I wonder if I could find a similar paper pattern to use on the risers?

This is such an easy project.  There are tutorials all over the web.   But the process hardly needs a full tutorial.  Here's what we did:

1. Rip up the carpet and remove any staples or nails (our subfloor is OSB board).
2. Fill in any cracks with wood filler, sand even as needed.
3. Rip up brown paper into various sizes and crinkle it. 
4. Dip paper in polyurethane and lay it down on the subfloor.  Smooth to the best of your ability.  There will be wrinkles and bubbles.  The bubbles will eventually get squished into wrinkles.  This is part of the charm of the floor.  Relax and go with it.  The more you dip the paper the darker the color will be.  To add light and dark contrasts lay some paper down without dipping it.  Instead paint a layer of urethane on the subfloor, lay down the paper and paint over the top.  As you are laying the paper be sure to overlap the edges so no subfloor shows through.  
5. Allow to dry.
6. Coat with five additional layers of polyurethane allowing to dry for 2-4 hours in between layers (read the label on your urethane container)

In Progress

And a hint -- splurge on low odor polyurethane.  It's a bit more expensive but well worth it.  Trust me. 

Total cost:  $200.00 per room (~ 13 x 14 feet); this includes the polyurethane (3.5 gallons per room) @ $50.00 per gallon and bulk brown paper from the hardware store.  One roll was plenty for each room.  This could also be done with actual brown paper bags thus saving additional money.  

What do you think?  Are you willing to give it a go?  

xo.  

Paper Bag Floors

Okay.  The paper bag floor is finished; in one room at least.  You can see a before picture here. The before picture doesn't look particularly bad.  You had to be here to get the full odiferous effect of our lovely carpet.  I don't miss it in the least.  Thus far we have not damaged the surface (fingers crossed).  That's six coats of polyurethane for you.  And let me tell you -- low odor polyurethane truly is low odor.  Who knew?!!

All in all the project took four days but two of those were long work days for me.  In other words one room could easily be done in a weekend.

You'll notice the broken chest and fish tank is now gone.  They've been replaced by a vintage suitcase vignette.

Now I've yet to tackle the sewing projects on my list.  I have started to latch hook a rug for this room.   I still need to complete my couch slipcover.  And now I have some acorns to felt for a custom garland -- a beautiful combination of red and turquoise that will hang on a fireplace during a wedding.

Oh yes -- and then there are the holidays to think about.  Thankfully I have this week off work.  Believe you me I'll keep busy.

❄❄❄ ❄❄❄ ❄❄❄

Things I'm grateful for today:

• Acorn caps to gather and garner
• A week off work
• A warm and breezy November day
• A mini-date with the hubbie
• Coupons and discounts (think Christmas shopping here -- can't say more)
• New floors
• The Goodwill and thrifty finds
• Sales in the shop
• Powdered graphite

xo. 

The circuitous route to home remodeling (aka if you give a crafter a cookie ...)

Several weeks ago I decided to sew a scarf.  A fun ruffled scarf.  And I found the perfect material -- extra large tee shirts on sale at Target.  I cut the material, pinned everything in place and discovered my sewing machine would no longer zig-zag.  Fine. No problem.  I got out sewing machine number two -- it wouldn't stitch, period.

I was at a crossroads.  Do I repair one or both of these machines or do I break down and get a new one?  After quite a bit of research and some serious soul-searching I found I wanted a new machine; a real machine - with stitch patterns and multiple feet and capabilities.  In other words I was ready to take my sewing to the next level.

After all I had been sewing consistently now for five years.  And, shockingly, the things I've sewn are a) still intact and b) still in rotation. This is justification enough, right?

Then I found a wonderful financing deal with Bernina -- four years interest free.  Four!  And no prepayment penalty.  Now that I can do.  And I did.

My new machine arrived yesterday.  Only here's the thing. I've yet to get it out of the box.  You see once the machine was ordered sewing projects popped up everywhere -- slipcovers and tree skirts and stockings and quilts ...

And I didn't want to wait.  I was antsy and had no patience.  So, with my old machine and simple straight stitch, I began slipcovers for my couches.  Overall they've turned out well; in a rustic sort of way.  I still have to finish a cushion cover and skirt for the larger of our two couches.

While fully immersed in my slipcover project I also began to realize just how disgusting our carpet is.  I spent quite a bit of time sitting on the carpet pinning and adjusting and was not at all pleased with the experience.  Last week I nearly threw down my sewing and ripped the carpet up.

But I talked myself down convincing myself that I should, minimally, complete one project before starting another.

Well yesterday that went out the window.  I was sitting in my favorite chair and quite frankly the room just didn't smell right.  I lit some candles -- better but still not right.  I sprayed some lavender.  The smell still lingered.  And then I realized the cat had peed in the corner right behind my chair.

That was it.  Right then and there I ripped out the carpet.  Then I went to the hardware store and bought   brown builder's paper and polyurethane*.  Paper bag floor here we come.

Now 1/3 of the room is done.  I plan to finish the remainder next week.

So, you see, I am remodeling my house all because I tried to sew a scarf.  If you give a crafter a cookie ...



* Worried about the effects of inhaling excessive amounts of polyurethane I splurged and bought a water based low odor product.  It cost a bit more but is definitely worth it.  More floor pictures as the project progresses.

xo.