Thanks eckster. Does your floor have a lot of gap space between the boards? I'm wondering if this matters in choosing what kind of finish/product to go with. It seems most floor guys like to use poly, I have yet to hear anyone I've spoken to suggest otherwise. I'm only doing one room in the house and I want it to match the other rooms as close as possible in color/shine. I'm going to have someone come over for an estimate and I will ask them for some information but if anyone else can chime in I'd appreciate it. Here is a picture of the floor, this is a damage section that I'm going to repair with matching antique white pine.

Thanks for the information

Thanks Eddie, the fireplace in the basement has a functioning gas unit right now. I figured the pipe was for burning wood, so would I be OK removing it since I have a gas unit downstairs? I'm not planning on using wood.

I was actually wrong about the pipe being the same as the one in the boiler closet. It actually took a look under the downstairs fire place and the pipe comes up right from it. Check out the pictures below. Downstairs Fireplace

Opening is covered with aluminum shingles

Aluminum shingles removed Close up of pipe going up to first floor First floor fire place, this is where I want to remove the pipe Pipe goes into the side of the fire place here Second floor fire place is sealed

So was this system meant for burning wood? Or does the gas fire place require it?

Does anyone have any new recommendations for floor guys? I tried two of the suggestions on this thread, one never got back to me and I haven't been able to reach them since, the other finally came out and gave me an estimate after several missed appointments. I'd like to get another estimate as well as another opinion on how to go about refinishing my old pine floors.

Would love to hear what some of you used on your old floors; water/oil based poly, tung oil, waterlox ?

Thanks!

Thanks a lot for the reply. The pipe isn't gas, its very large, looks like some sort of vent. I'll take a picture and post a link.

anyone?

Thanks for your reply, I forgot to mention though that the house is only attached towards the rear on that side.

Hi all, does anyone know or can anyone point me in the right direction to someone who would be able to tell me if a blocked off fireplace in my home can be knocked down to build a closet in its place? There are two tiny closets next the blocked off fireplaces in both upstairs bedrooms of my row house and it would be great if the non functional fire places could be demolished and turned into closet space.

I also have a thick pipe going through the non functional fireplace in my living room that I think is left over form a previous installation which also seems to be non functional but I'm not certain. It seems to come all the way from the water heater closet which is on the ground floor in the back of the house, to the front and then up into the living room fireplace on the first floor, then it makes a turn inside the living room fireplace into the wall. The end of the pipe in the water heater closet is sealed off and doesn't lead anywhere.

I'd love to get rid of the portion of pipe in the living room fire place to install either a gas fireplace unit or to hide all of my electronics inside if I choose to place my TV over the fireplace.

Thanks so much!

Thanks for the responses. Seems like its always the same outcome when asking about this area. Some people say its fine and others say it isn't. We're not planning on raising a family here, we just want to purchase our first home here and enjoy it for a few years. My main concern is for my girlfriends safety.

Hi guys, first post here. We are considering a home located on Webster Ave. between Franklin St. and Hutton St. We love the home but my girlfriend is concerned about crime in the area. We live in Union City so we're used to the urban setting, however we want to make sure that it will be safe for her to walk to and from the light rail through Mountain Road. and the general area. Thanks!