Rock Home Restoration: Doors in the Floors

Solid fir plank flooring was all we hoped to find under the well-worn, brown, '50s-era carpet. But, as always, we got a few unexpected surprises.

First: A colorful '40s-era linoleum 'rug' was fastened to the floor, similar to the remnants of a similar 'rug' found in the upstairs Sleeping Room. We thought that was pretty neat. Then, upon removing the last strip of brown carpet in the corner of the room together with its flimsy pad, another access door was revealed left of the hearth. (There's a similar door in the hallway floor that we've been unable to open for several years because the furnace is currently installed over it.)

Without further ado, the six concealing planks were removed, and our heads were inserted below the floor. We looked around for a tunnel, perhaps a wooden box or a bag of gold coins. But all we saw was an iron gas pipe and a lot of dirt, littered with various sized chunks of adobe brick, bits of coal and shards of glass.

Upon further inspection with flashlights, a large pit was discovered beneath the floor about three to four feet from the access door. It's purpose is unknown as it's not accessible from the door unless you're pretty skinny and don't mind getting pretty dirty.

So, while rigging a makeshift periscope with an iPhone, we also discovered that the floor itself is built on 8-inch quaking aspen logs which are shipshape. And yes, as hoped, the flooring itself was solid 5/8" tongue and grooved Douglas Fir planks which had been painted a few times, the latest color being a fleshy hue, perhaps to match the pine baseboards and oak mantle.

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