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7. Unless you are a floor genius you will more then likely end up with a gap on one side or both. This is also why you want to do a rough draft. To best figure out how to deal with that.
8. I used this patch and leveler to fill those gaps. Simply because it is what we had. For the stairs I also shoved wooden skewers into the gaps before using the patch (yep, real scientific.). Just be sure to use a putty knife or something like it to get a nice clean look.
Your diy floor is now done. Add threshold thingys to any doors. And finish it how you like. The best part of this floor is that it isn’t perfect. It looks very charming and cottagey. I chose to paint it. But, even staining it or using clear poly would look lovely!
There is my diy cheap flooring. And I’m telling you…this floor is soo pretty! I want it in my whole house. Really! One of my better diy ideas, if I don’t say so myself!
Update:
I have answered all the questions I’ve received about this project in this post.
Disclaimer:
Lath is not designed for flooring. I did this because I could. I wanted to try it. And I am okay with it not working…I’ll just do something else. This is what my floor looks like NOW. In 1 year? who knows. (Actually, I know now…it holds up well.) I’ll tell you. So…please think, research, and ask before doing lath for your floor. It might not be as cool and awesome for you! And…it is probably not recommended if you may need to resell. Got it? Good.
For the complete hallway reveal… head HERE!
For an idea for a DIY Area Rag Rug check out THIS TUTORIAL.
For an idea for a DIY Rug from a dropcloth check out THIS TUTORIAL.
Or, better yet… check out a full round-
Tracy says
I would sand it, and then pour that polyresin stuff on it. That stuff makes it pretty much indestructible.
Nellie says
Good tip! Although, I will say that the porch paint we used was crazy strong stuff!
Sarah says
Did you do the lath down the entire stairway? I love what you have done, it has inspired me to replace my lanolium floors with lath in our hallway! And the carpet on our stairs. Just curious if you posted or have any photos of the stairs.
Nellie says
No, I didn’t do it down the stairway. I used a solid wood cap for the stairs and painted it the same color. You can see a peek of it here… https://www.nelliebellie.com/my-hallway-reveal-epic/
Adam H says
When you nailed it down do you do it diagonally like traditional hardwood or did you staple/screw through the top?
Nina says
it’s brilliant. Where did you buy your wood laths? Thanks.
Nellie says
We got ours at Menards. I believe they are available at most lumber yards as well.
rhonda says
that is a BRILLIANT idea!!! wow- congrats.
Dixie says
Could this be glued to concrete slab?
the Bellie says
Um…we have absolutely no idea! Not the answer you wanted…but hey, honesty is better than telling you it will work and then finding out later we are liars, right?
Ollie Horton says
I have seen on Pinterest where some have used Liquid Nails or some other super duty glue to glue down wood floors. I will be attempting this as we have concrete floors under our carpet.
Nellie says
Good luck! Can’t wait to hear how it goes for you!
Alicia says
Great idea for floors in trailors, light weight and mommy can do it. What do you recommend, before we moved in, the lamenant floor was is actually the subfloor, so lath or reclaimed pallets for floor to place over after removing lament tiles?
Kelley says
What type of nails did you use to keep the wood from splitting? We are doing our floors with the Lath and we are afraid that it will split. My father in law has a nail gun fo us to use. We just need to know what size nails.
the Bellie says
We don’t remember the exact number, but they were just basic finishing nails that fit in our nail gun…
Jamie says
How does it look now??? I want to try this but I want to see how its held up!
postitmaster says
There’s actually a link at the bottom of the post to show how it held up. I could get the link for you…but to be honest, I’m too lazy today :)
Kim Borges says
Wonderful work!!
Gail @ BibleLoveNotes.com says
WOW! This is such a huge difference. Love the color you chose for the floor. It really looks great!
Anonymous says
What kind of paint did you use? How is it holding up? Looks great!
Dawn says
Hi! I was tickled pink when I saw you did this! I did something very similar to my entire house (except the kitchen, which I still want to do!) I work at Home Depot, so I had one of the guys rip bunch of plywood (quarter inch I believe) into twelve inch planks. I staggered them and screwed them down with deck screws. I was looking for an “Old Farm House” look, and that’s exactly what I got!! I painted them white with porch and floor paint, and they have been down for about 8 years, and get better looking the more beat up they get. And trust me, with 3 cats, a puppy, a 16 year old and a husband that works outdoors every day, they take a beating!!! I just mop them like you would a regular floor because the porch and floor paint is made for outdoors and can take the moisture. Thanks for sharing that, now you lit a spark under my butt to do the kitchen!!! And my husband will thank you for that!! Have a great day!!!
Beth Christensen says
I would love to see a picture of how your floor looks!
Theresa Zuber says
I used lathe to cover the wall under the bar at my sons house. We love how it looks! We stained his and applied it to a piece of plywood for the base and then installed the plywood on the upright wall. After it was screwed to the studs we applied the final strips of lathe to cover the wood screws . Inexpensive but time consuming. :) However the end product was so worth it. I got my inspiration from a bar front at a Starbucks.
miznelliebellie says
That’s a great idea! I love using lathe. It is time consuming but it turns out such a cool end result!
Rebecca says
My husband and I are OBSESSED with this!! Mind if I ask how it’s holding up now that you’d had it down for a while? We’re thinking about putting the same down in his man cave. It won’t be a super high traffic area like your is, so I think it’ll be fine. Just wondering :)
miznelliebellie says
It is holding up beautifully for us! I am fairly certain the super paint helps, but…we are loving this!!
Samantha says
Go Girl! Spectacular!!! Love cheap and giving anything a try.
Rachel says
Looks awesome! What paint did you use??? I love love loveeee the color!
miznelliebellie says
Last question in this post. Thank you!! Me too! https://www.nelliebellie.com/lath-floor-hold/
Kay Pedigo says
The color of the floor against the white walls is “eye candy.” Great idea!
miznelliebellie says
Thank you!! I love that color, as well!
TeriLynn says
Did you give it a sanding before painting it? And I was also wondering, do you have it in a “high traffic” house? I currently have carpet and dogs, they are all trained but I still can’t figure out how to teach them to wipe their own paws before coming in. Lol oh and kids too so just wondering how it would compare for wearing issues. I’m totally thinking of doing this in my kitchen, dining and living room areas !! Thank you for the tutorial. Awesome idea. I’m totally gonna try it !!
miznelliebellie says
some questions answered are in this post… https://www.nelliebellie.com/lath-floor-hold/
It was fairly high traffic. In our hallway to bedrooms.Not as high traffic as a kitchen or living room. But, fairly.
pierre young says
Do you have a facebook page I love this flooring
Daphne says
what a transformation. Congrats! I so love the color, very cool to the eyes :)
miznelliebellie says
Thank you…I do too!
Adam says
Looks really pretty. How’s it holding up a year later? Have you seen the tutorial about using plywood ripped into strips to create a floor? Any experience with that?
miznelliebellie says
It is holding up fantastic!! I might give it a quick coat of paint. Yes…I have seen that. No, I don’t. Truthfully…this floor is so wonderful that I wouldn’t feel the need to try something else!
Anonymous says
Thank you so much for this tutorial. I yanked up some stair carpet (after unsuccessfully trying to patch a problem area). I was not planning to do that nor suddenly find myself needing to spend a fortune to have new wooden treads or some other option put in. I was thinking of doing lath strips, since they are so easy to cut. I thought I would stain them. As you said, it is a cheap solution and if it does’t last – no big deal. It was great to hear they have held up.
miznelliebellie says
I’m so glad to hear I gave you some inspiration for getting fabulous without costing alot of money!
sally white says
Hi love it ..I think Im going to do this ..question “ dont you have to put space between the boards? I thought you had to ..what nails did you use “ nail gun or a hammer” did you glue them down first and I am sure you sanded after …great I want to do it too….sally
sally white says
Hi love it ..I think Im going to do this ..question “ dont you have to put space between the boards? I thought you had to ..what nails did you use “ nail gun or a hammer” did you glue them down first and I am sure you sanded after …great I want to do it too….sally
miznelliebellie says
I didn’t put space between the boards. Well, I take that back…I stuck a penny in between each one (the vertical way). We used a nail gun and yes…sanded them afterwards!
kate says
Did you nail the face of the boards or the edges?
miznelliebellie says
On the face. I think if you were to nail on the edges there would be splitting?
Logan says
We were inspired by your lath flooring months ago and decided to give it a try throughout our mobile home. We tore up carpet, took out a bathroom, replaced some subfloor, and then laid the floor. We used staple guns and it went down pretty fast. We included some holey pieces and different colors of the strips (red, grey, etc). We sanded it smooth and added 7 layers of polyurethane…. BEAUTIFUL! Everyone who walks in loves it. Thanks for the cheap inspiration!
miznelliebellie says
That is incredible! I am so pleased to hear it…and love your 7 coats of polyurethane AND the strips of color. What a fabulous idea! Thank you so much for letting me know of your success. And congrats on that hard work!
Dawn Brown-Di Donato says
AAAAAAMMMMMAAAAAAAAAZING!!!!! Thank you sooooo much for saving me a bundle on my master bedroom build!!
[email protected] SillyPearl says
Wow! What a beautiful transformation! I had not even heard of lath…thanks for sharing what it is!
karah @ the space between says
this is a great use of inexpensive wood. awesome look!!!
[email protected] says
Your new floor looks great! I like the color that you chose.
[email protected] says
Looks great! I’m sure you are glad it is finished :) Lots of work huh?!
Jessica @ Mom 4 Real says
I am in love with your new floor! My favorite color and my favorite budget, cheap! Fabulous!
Jillian Robertson says
Wow wow! That is awesome! I wish we had a house. *sad face* Great job! :)
Carla Muller says
Looks great! Did you prime, paint and then seal the floor? Did you use floor paint like the kind for outdoor wooden porches? If not, what kinda paint did you use?
miznelliebellie says
Hi Carla!!
These were painted with a specialty paint …Porch and Floor by Dutch Boy with primer/sealer. This is a very, very sturdy paint. It is for porches. And, I love it.
Love that floor! Looks all gappy and old.
P.S. thanks for commenting!
Meeha Meeha says
Beautiful boards, Nellie, such a great color! It looks like award season in Blogoland, so please come over to receive the Dardos Award!
Holly Lefevre LaRock says
Brilliant…gorgeous…I want to try this!
Bliss says
You picked the perfect color for the cottage look. You and your helpers did good, looking forward to the reveal.
Bliss
Shasta Farrar says
Good job, girl! Beautiful color. Thanks for answering that lathe question….I had no idea what that was.
Hilani Ellis says
Wow, girl you got it going on! :) Great project!
Jill says
Love, love, love the color and the cost can’t be beat! I asked for lath at the local big box store and got a tilted-doggy-head “huh?” Oh well, I’ll keep looking and in the meantime drool over your floor :)
Megan says
Your floor is amazing! Wow…I love the color. Megan {Our Pinteresting Family}
Jessica @ Dear Emmeline says
looks great Janel! I love a pretty cottagy floor. :)
[email protected] says
Lucky you finding all those bundles of the same widths! Although staggering widths might be another cool look. Really love this project – when did you sand the lathe? before or after the install?? Have a great week!
miznelliebellie says
Believe it or not…I didn’t sand the lathe. This stuff was so great. And I used a very thick paint that eliminated all need for sanding. But, you are right…it is a step that should probably be done if necessary!
Inspire Me Heather says
GET OUT! Wow, that looks so beautiful – well done girl!
Katie Goldsworthy says
That is soooo awesome!
[email protected] says
Wow! This is truly amazing. Great work!
miznelliebellie says
See potatoes and aqua floors. It’s meant to be :)
Kristy @ Shona Skye Creations says
Holy crapola!!! Those are AWESOME!!! And EXCELLENT Tutorial! I’m leaving this on my dear husband’s FB page, so he can get over his “not again” phase before he gets home from work!
Kristy @ Shona Skye Creation
http://shonaskye.blogspot.com
miznelliebellie says
Thanks!! Good luck on getting your husband over the phase :).
Kristy @ Shona Skye Creations says
He’s a dork. He said, “You want blue floors?” While I love your color choice, it wouldn’t work in my house. I said, “No, goofball, I want to try the technique!” LOL
Gwen Whitfield says
You go girl! It’s simply amazingz!!!
Meg @ Nutmeg Place says
Holy moly girl! I LOVE it!!
miznelliebellie says
Thanks so much!!
Ashley @ Domestic Imperfection says
This looks amazing, Janel! The color is fantastic and the price is even better :) Also, I may be a little late in noticing, but I love your new picture… you look beautiful!
miznelliebellie says
Thank you!! You aren’t late…it was just added yesterday!! You are right on time! Thanks for noticing!
Shannon Fox says
More with the teasing? Well.. I LOVE the color, It’s like a tropical vacation :))))
miznelliebellie says
absolutely! Milking this one. Really, I’m still working on pictures.
Jen @ Four Marrs & One Venus says
Good Gosh Holy Smosh – this is AMAZING~!!!! Love that Floor…one day I will come over and dance my feet across it- One day I will! Great job!!
miznelliebellie says
some day we will sit and chat right on that floor. why bother with furniture when we can use the gorgeous floor :)
Natalie Davidson says
You know thats my favorite colour right? So I’m in the front row to see the big reveal!!!! Cant wait. And so far – looks AWESOME!!!!! xxx Nat
miznelliebellie says
Thanks Nat!! I love that color too…so pretty!!