I just bought a 70 year old home in somewhat of a lower-end neighborhood that I am fixing up a little, renting, and then maybe selling it in 5 to 10 years. It has hardwood floors that have been covered with carpet for many, many years. If I decide to sell the house several years from now, I will completely refinish the wood floors. But until then, I would like to find the cheapest method to clean them up and protect them through the rental years. Can anyone out there suggest some possible solutions?
My first thought was to lightly sand the floor, apply a darker stain, then a good thick coat of poly. But I'm kind of confused as to whether or not that will work if my current floor was shellac or varnish (probably the case based on the age and condition).