This is one of my favorite discoveries to share with homeowners: in the vast majority of older homes in Arlington, Alexandria, Georgetown, and across DC — the original hardwood floors are still there, just hidden under carpet that was installed in the 70s, 80s, or 90s.
How to Check Without Pulling the Carpet
- →Find a floor register vent or a doorway transition — you can often see the flooring material at the edge
- →Lift a corner in a closet where damage won't show — just pull back the tack strip edge a few inches
- →Homes built before roughly 1960 almost certainly have original hardwood underneath. Post-1970 homes may have particleboard or plywood subfloor instead.
What You Might Find
Original old-growth oak, maple, or pine floors from pre-WWII DC Metro homes are often in excellent condition under the carpet. They were protected from foot traffic and sun damage for decades. In many cases, one sanding and refinish job reveals floors better than anything you could install new at similar cost.
What If the Floors Are Damaged?
Some staining, minor gaps, and even shallow gouges are normal and fixable. The question I'm answering when I assess is: is there enough material left to sand? If the boards are 3/4" thick solid hardwood and haven't been refinished multiple times before, the answer is almost always yes.
Curious what's under your carpet? I'll come take a look — no commitment needed.