Alex Engberg, a homeowner from Wilmington, North Carolina, was renovating her newly purchased house when she made an unexpected discovery. After ripping up the dated green carpets in her living room, she found original hardwood flooring in perfect condition underneath.
Social media reaction
In a TikTok video, Alex panned her camera across the room, showing a pile of old carpet surrounded by the exposed timber floors. "Buying an older home and ripping up the carpets to find perfect original hardwood floors," she wrote in the overlay text. In the caption, she described it as 'a dream come true.'
Viewers shared her excitement, with one commenting, "How does it feel to live my dreammmmm." Another said, "Yeah I'm sat for your renovation content this place is gonna look like a dream." A fellow renovator added, "Mine are so good too except PAINTED."
How to check for hidden hardwood
To see if hardwood floors are hidden under carpet, gently peel back a corner in a discreet spot, like inside a wardrobe, or remove a heating vent cover. If the wood is at least three-quarters of an inch thick, it is likely original hardwood. Check for a consistent solid grain pattern rather than layered plywood or MDF. Also look for signs of dampness, staining, or deterioration.
