I bought a 110-year-old home in Sept '15 and became motivated to unearth the original pine floors on the second level. After removing carpet and several layers of tile they were unearthed, we discovered a previous own had not been delicate with their approach to installing plumbing for their upstairs bathroom. I had intended to undertake these repairs and refinish the floor myself (which was only coated with a relatively thin layer of paint), but thankfully Malcolm's name was passed my way.
I had someone come by for a quote and quickly state that they would rather install a new floor then even attempt the project, whereas Malcolm arrived with optimism and enthusiasm to the project. He was generally excited and interested in the work, was filled with knowledge, attention and pride.
Malcolm refinished the upstairs, around 250 sqft, as well as the staircase. The latter had been coated in paint and after sanding, we discovered it was plywood. Sturdy, original - we believe - plywood. It's different, but looks great and works with the house. Also, his approach to the repairs - match best not perfect, squared or rounded off by not offset - worked well and added some nice character, show off the age and the history of the house.
Bottom line: miles better than anything I could have attempted, not to mention quicker as well. If you have an old, especially unique floor you're considering refinishing, get Malcolm by for a quote. A value-adding reno without a doubt.