After the floors were installed they were left with the raw wood exposed.  Wooden floors were rarely finished in the 18th and early 19th centuries and so the floors in Madison's cellar were not stained, varnished, or painted in any way.  Today visitors to Montpelier are also encouraged to walk on the floors of the ca. 1797 cellars and so the new floorboards are slowly being worn down.  Far from being a problem, the visitors are actually helping and with each footfall the currently pristine floors are one step closer to their rough, soiled Madison-period appearance.