How old are Decatur houses?
Census estimates put the median Decatur house at 1977. Of roughly 25,500 homes, about 9,400 were built in the 1960s and 1970s, and about 2,100 before 1950. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B25034, via Census Reporter. Decatur became the Morgan County seat in 1891, and Albany, once New Decatur, is now part of the city. Source: Morgan County place names, University of Alabama Alabama Maps.
The city has five National Register districts, including Bank Street/Old Decatur and the Albany district around Delano Park, where Victorian, Craftsman, and Colonial Revival houses share streets. Source: Historic Preservation in Decatur, City of Decatur.
What hardwood work do Decatur houses need?
Old houses here may have original heart pine or oak, and many mid-century houses have oak strip under carpet. That is usually a refinish or repair question first. Boards that have been sanded several times, or that took river-valley humidity through a crawlspace, need someone to look. Start with the refinish or replace page.
Matching old boards is its own problem. Species, width, and the color of a 60-year-old finish all change a patch. The staining page explains why a new board rarely matches on the first coat. This site does not claim Decatur jobs. The projects page explains why there are no photos yet.
Do Decatur historic district rules cover floors?
The city says parts of Old Decatur and the Albany district are locally zoned historic districts, and properties there go through design review for exterior work by the Architectural Review Board. Source: Historic Preservation in Decatur, City of Decatur. Interior floors are not described as part of that review. Confirm with the City of Decatur before work that touches a porch or exterior.
Decatur is not Huntsville, and the Huntsville inspections FAQ does not apply here. Source: Inspections FAQ. Decatur also reaches into Limestone County, per the Census place file. Source: Alabama place codes, U.S. Census Bureau. Outside city limits, ask Morgan County. This site has not verified a Decatur floor permit rule and will not state one.
How do you request an estimate for a Decatur address?
Send the ZIP, the age of the house, the rooms, any water history, and whether you want to match an existing floor. Call (256) 440-7100 or use the estimate form. The answer may be that no contractor covers that ZIP yet. National sanding ranges are on the refinishing cost page. The national install average about $4,723 per project (Angi, 2026, https://www.angi.com/articles/how-much-does-hardwood-flooring-cost.htm) is not a Decatur quote.
The Athens page covers the other older city west of Huntsville, and the Madison page covers newer houses closer in.
Questions on this page
Can an old Decatur floor be refinished?
Often, if the boards have enough wood left above the tongue and are dry. Several past sandings or old water damage can rule it out. Someone has to see it.
Do Decatur historic district rules apply to interior floors?
The city describes Architectural Review Board review of exterior work in the locally zoned districts. Interior floors are not described. Confirm with the City of Decatur.
Can new boards match an old Decatur floor?
Sometimes, with the same species and width and a careful stain. Expect some difference. Many owners refinish the whole connected area so it blends.
Is Decatur covered by this site?
Requests are taken, but coverage is not confirmed until a contractor confirms the ZIP. The answer may be that no one is sent.
Does this site publish Decatur prices?
No. National refinishing ranges from Angi are labeled national. A local number comes from someone seeing the floor.