KiwiSteveH
3rd February 2007, 10:27 PM
Hi, all. I am a new member of this site and also relatively new to renovating etc, so please excuse any glaring stupidities. What a great site with so many people with such depth of knowledge, and also the patience to share it with ignorant newcomers like myself!
My wife and I live in an old Queenslander at Gordonvale, just south of Cairns. Our house was built around 1890 in Cooktown and then moved here in 1911, which would be a story in itself, given the terrain and the technology of the time. We are doing a very gradual renovation, trying to retain/restore the original features where possible, and doing all the work ourselves. We are currently working towards opening up the front verandah which at some stage has been enclosed to provide an extra room (a very long skinny one!). The original verandah posts seem to be all intact, so I am hoping the job will be relatively simple.
Two questions which are currently exercising my mind are:
1. Hardwood or treated pine for the rails and balusters? We prefer the look of wider balusters and the use of a mid-rail with one decorative baluster in each span. We have got a couple of quotes for materials, but haven't yet made up our minds. Pine balusters seem to be mainly narrower?? What would be suggested baluster/gap sizes (Spans are nearly all 2.4m)
2. How to finish/seal the floor. The existing floor is T&G but timber is unknown, presumably hardwood. It has a polished finish and a dark brown appearance. I obviously want to keep this if possible. Will we need to sand it down and re-seal it to make sure it is weather-proof? Anything else required. It does seem to have a slight slope towards the front so water would drain off.
I would really appreciate any suggestions or comments.
My wife and I live in an old Queenslander at Gordonvale, just south of Cairns. Our house was built around 1890 in Cooktown and then moved here in 1911, which would be a story in itself, given the terrain and the technology of the time. We are doing a very gradual renovation, trying to retain/restore the original features where possible, and doing all the work ourselves. We are currently working towards opening up the front verandah which at some stage has been enclosed to provide an extra room (a very long skinny one!). The original verandah posts seem to be all intact, so I am hoping the job will be relatively simple.
Two questions which are currently exercising my mind are:
1. Hardwood or treated pine for the rails and balusters? We prefer the look of wider balusters and the use of a mid-rail with one decorative baluster in each span. We have got a couple of quotes for materials, but haven't yet made up our minds. Pine balusters seem to be mainly narrower?? What would be suggested baluster/gap sizes (Spans are nearly all 2.4m)
2. How to finish/seal the floor. The existing floor is T&G but timber is unknown, presumably hardwood. It has a polished finish and a dark brown appearance. I obviously want to keep this if possible. Will we need to sand it down and re-seal it to make sure it is weather-proof? Anything else required. It does seem to have a slight slope towards the front so water would drain off.
I would really appreciate any suggestions or comments.