Paper Bag Floors

July 20, 2017

Paper Bag Floors

By far the project that I get the most questions on in my house is my brown paper bag floors! I did this project 5 years ago so I do not have pictures of the process, but I will show you how it has held up and answer some of the questions that I get!

How it looks today

When we moved in 5 years ago there was carpet on the stairs and linoleum in the entry way. The carpet was mess and had to go. I knew I needed to do some updating but just purchasing our first home there was quite literally no money in the budget to do anything. So began the paper bag floors!

Please excuse the quality of the next pictures they were taken 5 years ago on my old phone. but it will show the before and after!

Here is the blog post I referred to to get started {here} I got all the materials she suggested and followed step by step for the most part. after going through this process it takes time but it is so easy! So I have listed some quick tips below that may make your project easier!

1. She had plywood floors that she laid this down on. I had linoleum. however I did enough research on this project to be pretty confidant that I would be ok without going through the work of ripping that out.

2. She recommends sanding, probably the more professional way to go but I hate sanding, no really I HATE sanding so I skipped that step completely and honestly have no regrets about skipping it.

3. some people actually use paper bags. I was a bit uncomfortable with dong that. first off,
I did not want to take the chance that the writing on the bag would come through. Second there are a lot of folds to a paper bag and I did not want that to show through on the floor so I did go with the roll of craft paper and I am so happy I did.

4. I would recommend taking off the baseboards. I was worried that over time this would start curling up so I wanted a barrier to that happening. Honestly though after 5 years I still have had no pealing up so you may not need to do this but this is the one area I figured "better safe then sorry!"

5. Use the straight edge pieces on the outer walls do not put them in the middle of the floor, believe me you will see it and you will hate it.

6. if you can find a buddy to help you that would be best! I did this project on my own, in a weekend. it's not a hard project but it is taxing on the body my back killed me and I was covered in bruises from being on the floor for 2 days! so I would recommend scheduling a message for when the project is over!

7. these last to tips are biggies! First,while laying the paper DO NOT STOP in a main part of the room. If one section totally dries and then you go back to finish the room for some reason the section you did first and let dry and the second section will take the stain differently. I hope this makes sense.'

8. while laying the floor make sure that you do not, please do not leave little water/glue mixture drops on the floor. Again this is going to mess with the way that the paper takes the stain.

Water/Glue droplets

Just a few tips on the polyurethane

1. 13 coats is a ton, its a lot. It will take all day. Just do it!!!

2. I honestly recommend the tools that she used it made it so so so easy.

3. I used a small high density foam roller for the stairs

4. I went with a Satin finish. I will be refinishing them with High Gloss. to get the look that I want. The pictures make the floor look much more shiny then they are in real life.

Ok now that is done on to the question you are all here for! How are they holding up? Let me just say it is a paper floor and this was never supposed to last us 5 years. It started as just a quick fix to get us through. However this is holding up so well!!! There are a few nicks on the stairs and some scratches on the floor from the dog. However I am confidant that with a little more stain and a few more coats of polyurethane that those issues will be fixed.