That heart pine is gold but it is a massive pain to work with. If anyone takes Priya up on this, budget triple the time you think you need for installation.

Those old tongue and groove joints love to split when you try to nail them down, and you will go through three times as many sanding belts because of the old sap clogging up the grit. Still, eighty bucks is a steal compared to what the salvage yards off Capital Boulevard charge.

Is heart pine really that different from the white pine we had in Massachusetts? We used to just buy pine boards at the local yard for quick floor repairs and they were relatively cheap. Why does the Southern variety require so much sanding and preparation?

Cara, longleaf heart pine is much denser and resinous than northern white pine. The resin is what gives it that beautiful amber color and incredible durability, but it also means the wood is heavy, hard, and sticky when worked. It behaves almost like a hardwood, which is why it survived over a century of wear.

Please make sure you wear a proper mask if you sand those down. Old finishes on heart pine often contain lead, and the fine dust from resinous wood can really irritate your lungs. Safety first, especially when working in tight hallways where the air does not circulate well.

I will take them. Sending a direct message now.