How to Use Wine Barrels As Floors

Innovative ways to reuse materials in building and remodeling homes has taken on new life over the past few decades. With the increased demand for saving money and the desire to use environmentally safe materials, using wine barrels as a flooring product makes a creative and green flooring option. Many flooring products currently available are very costly to purchase and install, and cheaper alternatives are not always aesthetically pleasing. Using wine barrels creates a rustic feel and provides character to small spaces in your home or office.

• 1

  Prepare the flooring surface by clearing all furniture from the room. Clean the current floor by sweeping and scrubbing the surface. Be sure the surface is clean and dry before you apply any new products.

• 2

  Measure the full square footage of the room to calculate the total amount of product you will need to purchase. Wine barrels have planks that range in size--panels can be as short as eight inches in length up to 18 inches in length and are derived from the top of the barrels. Measure the barrels to calculate how many you will need to purchase in order to completely cover the room. Always purchase a little extra in case accidents happen in cutting and applying the floor.

• 3

  Trim the tops of each plank with a table saw to make them straight and consistent. Create a tongue and groove joint with a table saw for each adjoining plank to connect them flush, one to another.

• 4

  Sand each panel with medium-grit sandpaper and an electric sander. Apply consistent pressure to each panel to assure a consistent finish on each. Avoid over-sanding the panels in order to keep the character and rustic nature of the wine barrel wood.

• 5

  Lay down a moisture barrier product prior to installing the planks if the location of installation is a moist region. Wine cellars and basements tend to have a high moisture content, so use proper protection before installing the wine barrel planks.

• 6

  Start placing the planks in the farthest corner of the room, from the door. Use a variety of plank lengths throughout the installation to keep the look versatile. Apply glue to the seams between each plank for added bond if you desire. Let the new floor sit untouched for a minimum of 24 hours.

• 7

  Stain and seal the floor with your choice of stain color, then seal to finish the installation. Allow the floor surface to dry completely before bringing furniture back into the space.