>>>Have I lusted in
my heart for a new floor?  Can I ever speak with conviction again to
preserve everything at all costs no matter what?<<<

To have done more than 1000 of anything while enduring personal physical
disability puts you in a rare position of understanding. Having been through
the mill, stood the test, done your duty, scaled the mountian, put in your
time, paid your dues, you are now more qualified than you were before to speak
with conviction to preserve everything at all costs, or to trash it and start
over. Go forth and use your newfound knowledge to benefit yourself and others,
but also remember to enjoy your new old floor every time you are sitting there
staring down at it.

On a less philosophical and more practical note: We often lay a sheet of
plywood or metal over an historic floor and lay a new floor on top of it, and
call it high preservation at lowest cost. All the original material, including
the old failing grout is still there and could be uncovered at any time.

John Leeke