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Wood Floor Refinishing
How to Refinish a Wood Floor to Have it
Looking like New Again
By Mark J. Donovan
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If your hardwood floor is looking
shabby and faded then it is in need of refinishing. Wood floor refinishing is a
messy, noisy and tedious job however the results can be amazing. Wood floor
refinishing also requires the right tools and equipment. The three basic steps
for refinishing hardwood floors involve sanding, staining and polyurethaning.
Preparing the Room
or Home for Wood Floor Refinishing
First remove all furniture and
objects from the room including curtains and any throw rugs.
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Then inspect the wood floor for any
popped nails or staples. Pound the nails or screws down or replace them. Leaving
nail heads exposed will result in torn sandpaper and possible damage to the
floor sander.
Wood Floor Refinishing – Sanding
Stage
Next use a floor sander to remove the
old finish from the wood floors. You can rent a floor sander from most home
improvement centers. Ask for instructions on how to use it before leaving the
rental store and make sure to purchase sufficient sandpaper for the project,
including a variety of grits (e.g. from 36 to 100 grit). Also, make sure when
using a floor sander to first use a coarse grit sandpaper followed later with a
fine grit sandpaper. Finally, always make sure to keep the floor sander moving
when it is turned on to prevent grooves from forming in the wood floor.
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When using the floor sander move it
back and forth in wide sweeps in the direction of the wood grain. Do not sand
across the grain of the wood.
After sanding the entire wood floor
with the coarse grit sandpaper shift to a fine grit sandpaper for your final
pass. The fine grit sandpaper will help to remove any minor scratches that may
have occurred when using the coarse grit sandpaper.
Every so often while sanding the wood floor, stop and vacuum up the dust.
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This will help to keep the dust down
in your home as well as enable you to see your work better.
Use an edge sander or palm sander
around the edge of the wood floor and in tight corners if your floor sander is
unable to get to these areas.
Wood Floor
Refinishing – Staining Stage
After sanding the wood floor it’s now
time to apply stain, if you plan on staining the wood. In many cases, homeowners
prefer to see the natural grain of the wood and simply apply a polyurethane
sealer over the bare wood.
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Before applying the stain to the hardwood floors you want to make sure the wood
floor is spotless of dust and debris. Use a broom and sweep the floor, and then
follow up with a vacuum to remove any dust or debris.
Before applying the stain make sure to open windows to allow stain fumes to
quickly exit the home.
Next, before going wild and applying the stain to the main area of the wood
floor, do a small test case. Find a small corner and use a rag to apply a little
stain to the corner. Allow the stain to dry a few minutes and then confirm that
the stain is the desired color you’re looking for.
Assuming you have the desired color, apply a coat of stain to the entire floor.
For lighter coats apply with a rag. For darker heavier coats apply with a brush.
Always apply the stain with long strokes that flow with the grain of the wood.
Allow the first coat of stain to fully dry and apply a second coat if desired or
touch up any light areas.
Wood Floor
Refinishing – Finishing with a Polyurethane Sealer
Once the final coat of stain has
fully dried you can move on to the final step of applying a polyurethane sealer
to the wood floor. Stir the can of polyurethane, versus shaking it, to prevent
bubbles forming in the polyurethane.
Use a roller or a brush to apply the polyurethane to the freshly stained
hardwood floor. Make sure to apply the polyurethane with long and even strokes,
again going with the grain of the wood.
Once the first coat of polyurethane has been applied, allow it to fully dry
before applying a second coat. Again, if a third coat is desired, let the second
coat fully dry prior to applying the third coat.
After the final coat of polyurethane has been applied, allow the wood floor to
dry for a few days prior to walking on it and returning rugs and furniture to
the room.
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