Yikes..I'm so sorry. I can't get a good idea of what the remaining problems look like...How big of a deal they are. Will photos show?

What a nightmare! I would probably be tempted to just let it go at this point, but if you do, a few weeks from now you will regret it. You will not be able to walk into the kitchen without kicking yourself for not finishing it the right way.

Upstairs in our house all the floors were finished with poly and so incompetently that the material bubbled up between many of the floorboards producing sticky blobs that had to be scraped off. Occasionally we still find them. The floors (red oak) look plasticky. And someone walked on them while they were still dry so there is an occasional footprint visible in certain light.

Our contractor was excellent overall and offered to redo them. But we left them simply because it was too much to redo. And over time, it really hasn't mattered. Some things came out perfectly; others didn't.

For me, it was a question of % of aggravation vs cost of improvement (not always $$). Everyone has a different threshhold for this. You are asking so it's likely that you're close to thinking you might just let it go at this point.

Some will look at the imperfections, as I always do, and say "next time around, if I'm still here." Others stay furious. Sounds like on of those 'go with your gut' things at this stage.

I'm exhausted just hearing about it. If it makes you feel any better bmore... I've got some ridges and bumps too. After awhile... ya' just don't see them anymore.

bemore, is your plan to try to keep the heart pine pristine or let it develop a patina? I want a patina on my oil finish pine floors so I would let it go.

so why don't you hire the Angie's list contractor to refinish your kitchen floors - or am I missing something?

Sorry for being unclear, weissman, this IS the highest rated contractor now doing the work. I think the floor is cursed.

The rest of the first floor that they did are really insanely good. The newly rebuilt enclosed porch is so good it looks like "laminate" or a photo of a perfect floor.

I am ok with patina - we expect it and lived with our own poorly finished floor for a couple of months, so we're sure.

What's left is a skip where they glued down a plastic slider that was under a range leg with finish, sanded that off and missed it - about 4" round - mostly under the front drawer of the range. And a small area in front of the radiator that looks like a kid tried to comb their hair full of shampoo with their fingers - about 5" x 18".

The one under the range doesn't photograph and the other is visible only at certain times of the day.

The floor finish is so much better than it was and we are considering letting it go. I was afraid that letting it go would be crazy, but if its not...

I wonder if this pine had a oil/wax finish in it's day?

Those sound big. And like kind of dumb, avoidable mistakes. Has the contractor seen them, and what do they say? The 'skip' is bare...Unprotected? I'm leaning toward having them try to fix. A lot of work this week, then hopefully, good forever. At least it sounds like you haven't fixed the paint yet, so it's not like they'll ruin any recent work you've done.

Yup, its bare and the other one is wavy. Nope, they won't ruin anything outside of the kitchen.

I'm getting kinda used to the zen emptiness.

Probably not what you want to hear, but if it were me, I would be annoyed by these flaws everytime i walked into the kitchen.

To me it doesnt matter how many times if each time is still wrong?

Good luck, and hopefully you ARENT like me!

Wow, bmore, I can see the pros/cons of both options, so I don't really have any good suggestions for you. Just checking to see if you made a decision yet?

They came, they fixed one more time and they left. And in their place came monsoon rains and tropical storm winds. So I KNOW the place at the front of the range is fine and I'm hopeful the radiator one is also fine, but there isn't enough light to tell!

mtnrdredux - that was actually what convinced me. The place at the radiator lit up in the morning sun.

Hopefully, just one more status report!

Hmmm...tommorrow's forecast:
Partly sunny. Highs around 40. West winds 10 to 15 mph

But Friday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 40s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

It looks like you won't be able to tell for certain if the radiator spot was fixed until Friday... I think you did the right thing...if the spot was that noticeable, it would bother you every time you saw it! (It would me, at any rate.)

YAY...Hoping that in the light of sun it all looks perfect!

Bmore--Glad you got it fixed. (That's how I was going to vote.) Hopefully this fix will do it. Please let us know how it looks when you can see it.

The radiator spot is actually perfect! And I finally haz toe kicks!!!

Singing and dancing and drinking - or there will be when the bar reopens in 5 days. Til then, its carefully watching dh - "Not there, don't step there - oh noes!".

HOORAY! Can't wait to see the pics! I am jealous because I sooooo want my toe kicks!

What did they do about the dent on your refrigerator or are they still claiming innocence?

Today arrived a refund that more than pays for the ref door. It took longer than I wanted, but its worked out and I'm happy. Surprisingly, we're all still talking to each other too!

I'd like to thank everyone who contributed to this thread. It really helped to be able to air it out.

Refrigerator door refund and the perfected floor...I'm so excited and happy for you! I"m glad you hung in there.