The floor beneath the floor

Spurious comments regarding my criminal activity notwithstanding, I'm glad to see that my posting privileges to Barnhart Central have not been revoked. And I suspect you'll be glad too (at least in an empathetic sort of way) when you see the photos of my weekend's work. I decided to use Lisa and Ann's upcoming visit as a good excuse to refinish my living room and dining room floor, and here's a brief photo journey along the way.

The drum sander (with 12-grit sandpaper), about to make the first pass (Friday night).

What 12-grit sandpaper hath wrought.

Another photo of the living room after the 12-grit pass (Saturday evening).

After a pass with 36-grit sandpaper, I found myself needing to fill a few gouges and cracks. Thanks for the wood glue/sawdust tip, Steve. That's worked well for me.

Au revoir, purple paint (Saturday evening).

The living room floor after passing over with a 50-grit sandpaper (Sunday morning).

Winter sunlight shining on a smooth, "nearly-new" floor.

The dining room floor, ready for a final screening and the first coat of polyurethane (Sunday afternoon).

The hard work's done. Applying the polyurethane should be much easier and quicker. The hardest part is just waiting till its fully dried. But I should have a newly-refinished floor by the time Lisa and Ann get here Saturday evening. Which reminds me, Lisa, do you still wear golf cleats indoors? I might need you to take those off at the door.

Update from Wednesday evening:

I applied the final coat of polyurethane this morning, letting the floors dry while I was at work. Here are a couple pictures of the finished living and dining room floor. Now they just have to dry for a few days before I can move furniture into these rooms.