12th And Oak Floor Co.
Finished 100-year-old heart pine floors after refinishing in Morrisville NC, tinted water-based finish, knots and character preserved
Refinishing

Historic Heart Pine Refinishing, Downtown Morrisville

One-hundred-year-old heart pine floors in a historic Morrisville property. Sanded and refinished while preserving the character of the wood. Damaged boards repaired with epoxy, patched with salvaged period-correct pine from a nearby historic house, and finished with a tinted water-based system to match existing hardwood in the home.

Location

Downtown Morrisville, Morrisville, NC

Service

Hardwood Floor Refinishing + Repair

Species

Heart Pine (100+ years old)

Finish

Tinted water-based finish

Completed

2026

The Challenge

Heart pine of this age is irreplaceable. The floors had accumulated a century of wear: dark stains, damaged boards, splits, and sections that had opened up over time. The homeowners wanted the floors refinished but not sanitized. Character, knots, and the history of the wood had to survive the process. Matching the tinted finish to the existing hardwood in areas of the home not being refinished added another layer: the new finish had to read as part of the same floor, not a fresh patch. Sourcing patch material was equally important. Where boards needed replacement, the team sourced salvaged heart pine from a nearby historic house being deconstructed, keeping the age and grain character consistent throughout.

What We Did

We sanded the entire floor with the Lagler Hummel drum sander and Bona Edge Sander, removing the old finish while leaving as much material as possible. Heart pine at this age has a limited wear layer and every pass counts. Split and damaged boards were stabilized with epoxy fills before any finish work began. Boards beyond saving were replaced with salvaged heart pine from a period-matched source, keeping the grain, color, and character in line with the original floor. Finish selection was driven by the need to match: we tinted a water-based system to align with the existing hardwood in the rest of the house that was not being refinished. The tint panels were tested directly on the sanded pine before committing. The result is a floor that reads as one continuous historic surface.

Before

Historic heart pine floors before refinishing in Morrisville NC, original worn finish on wide plank 100-year-old pine with Lagler drum sander staged
The floor before any work began. Old finish still on, wide plank heart pine showing a full century of wear. The Lagler drum sander is staged and ready.
Heart pine floor showing board replacement work beginning in Morrisville NC, original finish and salvaged patch boards visible
Board replacement underway before sanding began. Salvaged heart pine from a nearby historic house being fitted alongside the original boards. The old finish is still on the surrounding field.

During

Heart pine floors mid-refinishing in Morrisville NC, dark water stains visible on wide plank pine during active renovation
Mid-project. The water staining and damage that had accumulated over a century is fully visible here. This is what the floor looked like before sanding brought it back.
Tinted finish test panels on sanded heart pine during refinishing in Morrisville NC, comparing stain options side by side
Tint test panels applied directly to the sanded pine in the actual room light. Every option evaluated on the wood before committing. The goal was to read as part of the same floor as the existing hardwood in the rest of the house.
Sanded heart pine floors showing salvaged patch boards integrated alongside originals during refinishing in Morrisville NC
Sanded back to bare wood. The salvaged patch boards are integrated alongside the original pine. Matching grain density and board width from a period source keeps the repair invisible.
Junction of original and salvaged patched heart pine boards during refinishing in Morrisville NC, green masking tape marking repair boundary
The seam between original floor and salvaged patch, marked during repair. Period-matched pine from a nearby historic house keeps the grain, width, and ring density consistent with what was already there.
Bona edge sander working perimeter detail on sanded heart pine floors in Morrisville NC historic property
Bona edge sander working the perimeter. Every square foot of this floor was touched by hand or machine before the first coat went down.

After

Finished 100-year-old heart pine floors in Morrisville NC, tinted water-based finish, knots and tight ring grain preserved
The tinted water-based finish on bare heart pine. The knots, the tight old-growth grain, and the patina of a century are still there. The finish enhances the character instead of flattening it.
Finished historic heart pine hardwood floors in Morrisville NC after refinishing with tinted water-based finish, warm honey tones
Finished floor with the wet line showing the leading edge of the last coat. The warm honey tones come from the wood itself. The tinted finish bridges the gap to the existing hardwood in the rest of the house.
Finished historic heart pine floors in Morrisville NC, honey amber tones with knots and old-growth character after refinishing
The floor done. A century of character, preserved. Knots, grain variation, and the tight rings that only old-growth pine produces. This floor cannot be replicated with anything sold today.

Products Used on This Project

Epoxy fill (split and damaged boards)Lagler Hummel drum sanderBona Edge SanderTinted water-based finish

Ready to Start Your Project?

Every project starts with a free in-home consultation. We come to you, assess the floor, and give you a written estimate before any work begins.

Get a Free EstimateCall (984) 217-1221
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