Risks of the Floor Lottery

When designer Ali Faulkner's clients are considering removing their flooring, she always does her best to brief them on the project's risks and ensure there's room in the budget for a worst-case scenario.

"The reality is you won't always strike gold, and sometimes people are ripping up the luxury vinyl plank or tile and finding the floor has moisture damage or even adhesive damage," she says. "When push comes to the shove, if the flooring you're ripping out is already ugly, you've got nothing to lose to maybe find something that's a beauty under there."

DIY expert Erika Ver of Peony and Honey agrees and raises more important points. "Be aware that often times the original floors were covered for a reason, and usually that's because of water damage, a fire, or missing sections of flooring," she says. "You also want to be mindful of things like asbestos that was used in flooring materials from the early 1900s through the 1970s, as well as lead paint that might be flaking up on older flooring," she says.

Why So Many People Are Taking the Chance

Flooring takes up a significant amount of visual space in any room. If you want a home full of character, nothing can achieve that quite like original flooring with subtle imperfections and the patina only time can give.

That's why, despite the potential downsides, designer Michelle Waugh is a big proponent of taking the chance. "The floor lottery trend is gaining traction as costs for flooring keep rising, and homeowners are becoming more and more sustainably conscious," she says. "Plus, the appeal of that history and character is truly hard to beat. When the conditions are right, and the floor can be restored, the design is instantly elevated."

Faulkner finds it's a misconception that the floor lottery can save you money. But that's the real draw of this project, anyway.

"It's not about the budget on why you do it," she says. "You do it because you want to keep the charm," Faulkner says. "Because the reality is it's a lot of work to sand down and re-stain those puppies, and don't get me started on patching and trying to match the flooring. It's so worth the story and history, but only for the people who really appreciate the modern charm."

Tips for Taking the Chance

Ver has two words of advice for anyone ready to enter the floor lottery. Always do a patch test before going all in, and don't underestimate the amount of restoration work that the flooring will need.

She says to start by removing a small portion of the top layer in closets or near floor vents. If you don't find anything beautiful underneath, the damage will be less noticeable in these spots. If you find original hardwood, you'll need to plan to refinish it and patch in new boards where needed.

"Although you can rent the sanders and do it yourself, everyone I've ever talked to who has done this themselves has told me they would have hired a pro," Ver says. "If that's in the budget, let the craftsman do their thing."