The Process of Refinishing Hardwood Floors
The process of refinishing hardwood floors can be one of the most satisfying of home improvement projects. Hardwood floors are durable, can last for generations, and can be a major selling point for your home when it is time to move on. What does a homeowner do if they have wood floors that are worn or scratched? Refinish them, of course!
The process of refinishing hardwood floors is not really that difficult. While some people prefer to hire an expert, this is really a project that anyone with some time and patience can easily accomplish. Hardwood floor refinishing is a do it yourself project that any ambitious and energetic homeowner can tackle in no time. Let's take a look at the supplies needed and the steps involved in the process of refinishing hardwood floors.
Hardwood floor refinishing really boils down to a few simple steps - preparation, sanding, staining, and finishing. If you intend to go for a totally natural finish, which is especially advisable with older hardwood floors, then staining is a step that you can skip altogether, which will make the job go even faster.
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Preparation is essential to a good hardwood floor refinishing job. Always remove everything from the room before beginning your work. Don't forget to remove pictures, wall hangings and window treatments, too. Cover light fixtures with trash bags secured with masking tape, and tape over all electrical outlets. Then, give your floor a good sweeping and vacuuming, and check for any protruding nails, carpet tacks, or carpet staples that might have gotten left behind. Finally, make sure you have excellent ventilation of the room before continuing!
If your floor has several coats of paint or stain on it, you may choose to use a chemical finish stripper before proceeding to sanding and staining. These strippers usually come in a gel formula that you just wipe on and wipe off. Be sure to adequately ventilate the room during the process, and wear breathing and eye protection, as well as rubber gloves.
The next step is sanding. You will probably be best off renting an orbital floor sander, which is ideally suited to hardwood floor refinishing. Using a professional grade sander, and don't overdo it. You'll need to sand the floor several times, with varying degrees of grit, starting with the heaviest (lower numbered) grit, and working your way to the finer (higher numbered) grits. 100 grit is usually adequate for floors, but for a really satin finish, you can go as high as a 200 grit.
When sanding your floor, always work in the direction of the grain of the wood, and move the sander in as straight a line as possible. Don't forget to use a hand sander near edges and corners to get a complete job, and use the same grit sequence as with your larger sander.
Next, sweep and vacuum your floor thoroughly to remove all remnants of sanding dust. Many people also use a tack rag at this stage, since the quality of your final finish will depend greatly on how clean and dust-free the floor is when you apply your stain and finish coats. After you are sure that your floor is clean and smooth, it's time for the stain and/or sealer coat.
Some people prefer to simply apply a clear sealant, while others choose a stain in a darker shade than that of the natural wood floor. Check the package directions for application instructions and drying time for various stains, and always let each coat dry thoroughly before applying the next. Drying time varies with different brands, but it is best to allow one to three hours between coats. And don't forget to keep things well ventilated during the whole process!
You may want to apply several coats of sealant, especially in high traffic areas, and should allow the floor to dry overnight before walking on it, or waxing or buffing it. When all finish coats are dry, you can buff your wood floor for the ultimate shine. And that's it!
Now you can enjoy your beautiful hardwood floor again! Your guests may think that you got a new floor -- and your home will automatically increase in value. Hardwood floor refinishing is a do it yourself project that you'll be proud of having completed for years to come!
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