What We Offer
RESTORE.
The objective for restoring old wood floors is to accomplish it without traditional aggressive sanding and excessive loss of wood.
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Developed in 1992, Passive Refinishing® does just that and relies on environmentally responsible chemicals to remove surface accumulations and get to bare wood without the loss of any wood. It has a flawless record on some of the most challenging restoration projects in the country.
PRESERVE.
The focus here is on extending the useful life of the largest antique in your old home – the original wood floors – often quite a challenge.
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You need to have a good understanding of your options in order to make an informed decision. All too often a well intended, but poorly informed, homeowner makes decisions that may not be in the best interest of this critical surface. A lot is asked of this highly used, and often abused, surface and care should be taken to see that its structural integrity and handsome appearance is maintained. We bring an experienced opinion to this conversation and make sure clients have clear expectations based on realistic options.
LEARN.
With more than 50 years of hands-on experience working on old wood floors, Rosebud Co. is happy to share what we’ve learned.
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This is done through our collection of blogs in Lessons Learned and videos that give you a visual perspective on how to meet the challenges of owning an old floor. You won’t see advertising on this website because I don’t believe in accepting any compensation for product promotion or to bias my opinion. If I recommend a product it’s because I’ve used it and like the results.
HOW-TO:
BLEND A SCRATCH WITH
MICHAEL PURSER
Homeowners, contractors and historic facility managers: want to learn the Rosebud method for yourself? Watch our how-to videos or subscribe to the whole series. We think you’ll agree that these instructional and informative videos are a worthwhile investment.
James and Dolley Madison’s Montpelier
Flagler Museum
Washington’s Patterson Mansion
Rhodes Hall, an Atlanta Landmark
Stan Hywet Hall Restoration Project
Caserta Estate, Eastville Virginia
My Eye for Talent: Meet Jenna Novic
Several years ago, I let people know that I had taken on a business partner, Jenna Novic, to ensure that Rosebud Co. will continue to…
Ford House: A Legacy of Exquisite Design and Décor
My addiction to old homes and house museums has enabled me to see countless fine homes all over Europe and North America. The historic value may…
The Dutchman: A Multi-Purpose Problem Solver
I don’t know the origins of the Dutchman repair but suffice it to say, it’s a method well worth learning if you work with wood…
Old wood floors need an advocate; someone in their corner who understands this noble surface and knows it can’t be treated like all other wood floors. That’s why you’re here. Old wood floors have special needs and those should be considered when they are being restored. Due to aging and a host of other conditions, you can’t expose this wood to traditional sanding without the potential for doing more harm than good. It’s hard to call something “restoration” if the end result is a less stable and weaker surface. I started my business working on old wood floors and I’ll end it working on old wood floors. This type of work opened my eyes, my mind and got me thinking outside the box. Since I rarely worked through contractors or other third parties, I spent much more time with homeowners and this gave me a different perspective on what they wanted and what their expectations were.
That’s why the only services I’m offering these days is for restoring or preserving older wood floors. I stopped offering traditional refinishing services years ago and decided to focus entirely on restoring old floors using Passive Refinishing® or refurbishing aging finishes with Clean & Recoat. Neither of these approaches does damage to the surface and both are clean, environmentally responsible and extend the life of the floors for decades to come. I have blogs and videos here that give you a good overview of either process. I hope you enjoy your visit to my site and go away with a better understanding of how to treat the largest antique in your home. So do your homework, learn the surface and be prepared to be it’s advocate when it’s time to restore. Best wishes for your old wood floors!