How to Remodel a Church for Pews
- 1). Remove everything from the section of the sanctuary that you will be remodeling. Have a wrench, screwdriver, and crowbar handy to unfasten any items that have been bolted to the floor. If you are not planning on replacing the flooring, be cautious while removing items so that you do not damage the floor.
- 2). Check if your floor is level, using a long level throughout the sanctuary, both widthwise and lengthwise. A level floor is essential to installing wood or tile flooring. If the floor slopes, you will have to build it up until it is level. Fill in any pits in the floor and caulk any cracks between the floorboards.
- 3). Cover the space you are reflooring in asphalt felt. Overlap sections of felt by approximately 3 inches and staple them down to the floor.
- 4). Mark the floor with chalk to plan your installation. If you are installing tile, place the first tile at the center of the space you are reflooring, then trace around it. Lay mortar within this space and attach the tile. If you are instead laying wood, mark the floor in sections equal to the width of the wood you are using, beginning 1/2 inch from the edge of the space.
- 5). Lay the rest of the floor. If you are using tile, continue from the center, placing dividers between the tiles to ensure an even appearance. If you are laying wood, nail the largest planks 1/2 inch from the wall, then hammer each sequential row into place, using a wood floor nailer for the fourth row onwards.
- 6). Insert the final pieces of your flooring into the edges of the space. If you are using tile, cut these pieces to the dimensions of the space between the tile you have already laid and the edge of the space. If you are installing a wood floor, use a pry bar to wedge the last bars into place.
- 7). Install the pews. Leave 3 to four 4 feet for the central aisle and 3 feet for the side and rear aisles. Depending on the size of your sanctuary, allow 5 to 7 feet between the front of the pews an the stage.
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