how do i refinish a hardwood floor

How to Refinish Hardwood Floors

1. Choose DIY-friendly sanding equipment. Unless you plan to sand many floors in your lifetime, random orbital sanders are the best choice for do ...
2. Watch your back. Avoid back injury when transporting sanders from the rental store to your house (or up stairs) by always having a helper. Use ...
3. Take precautions. Hardwood floor refinishing and sanding generates a large amount of dust and fumes. Stock up on dust masks and earplugs and ...
4. Don’t get too aggressive. Begin with coarse-grit abrasives sufficient to remove the old finish and most surface scratches. Avoid using grits ...

Full Answer

How do I know if my hardwood floors need refinishing?

How to Tell If a Hardwood Floor Needs to Be Refinished

1. Locate the section of the floor that gets the most daily traffic. This is the area that is most likely to need refinishing.
2. Pour a tablespoon of water onto the section of floor and watch what it does. ...
3. Wipe up the water with a paper towel if any remains on the surface of the wood. ...

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Can You restain hardwood floors without sanding?

You can restain hardwood floors without sanding them. To do this, you will want to scuff up the surface using brass wool and then apply a coat of the new hardwood stain. Do this evenly and it will settle nicely. Remember, this is going to take a bit of time and you will have to be meticulous too.

How to restore hardwood floors without sanding?

Case #2: Non-Waxed Floors

1. Clear and Clean the Area. The first step here is to clear the area of all furniture and belongings. ...
2. Apply the Liquid Abrasive and Scrub. In your liquid abrasion kit, you should have a scrubber pad with a wooden block, one that allows you to screw your ...
3. Reclean the Floor. ...
4. Take Care of the Worst Damage. ...
5. Apply the Finish. ...

How to darken hardwood floors without sanding?

To stain a hardwood floor without sanding, you’ll need the following tools and supplies:

• Clean rags
• A degreaser or acetone
• A soft brush
• A paintbrush
• A can of a dark stain
• A vacuum
• A sealant (optional)

Do you have to sand hardwood floors before restaining?

When you want to stain or change the color of your hardwood floors, you MUST fully sand and refinish the floors. If you don't sand the floors first, the stain won't properly penetrate the hardwood nor will the polyurethane properly adhere. This is the ONLY way to change the color of your hardwood floors.

How do you make old hardwood floors look new?

0:352:09Make wood floors look like new again! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd wring out the microfiber applicator pad with water start spreading wood floor restorer to aMoreAnd wring out the microfiber applicator pad with water start spreading wood floor restorer to a small section of the floor until a thin coat is. Achieved.

Is it cheaper to refinish or replace hardwood floors?

Refinishing hardwood floors is more cost-effective than replacing them. On average, it costs about $2,000 to $7,000 to replace hardwood flooring (two to three times more than to refinish).

How do I make my hardwood floors look new without sanding?

3 Approaches to Refinishing Hardwood Floors Without SandingUse a store-bought chemical abrasion kit.Buff and recoat floors with polyurethane.Use a revitalizer.

Can I refinish hardwood floors myself?

Learning how to refinish hardwood floors can be a time-intensive process that involves multiple steps. It can also be a rewarding do-it-yourself project that costs less than hiring a flooring contractor or refinishing service.

When can wood floors not be refinished?

Antique Floors Besides, a properly maintained wood floor can go 20 or 30 years or more before needing to be refinished, says Lupresto. And it can be sanded and refinished "easily six or seven times" over its lifetime, he says.

How do you tell if your wood floors can be refinished?

Water Test. Pour a spoonful of water onto the floor. If it forms droplets that stay on the surface of the wood, the floor finish is still good. If the water is slowly absorbed into the wood, the finish is worn and needs to be restored.

How much does it cost to refinish 1000 square feet of hardwood floors?

Cost per square foot to refinish hardwood floors:Flooring square footageAverage cost100 - 250 sq. ft.$600251 - 500 sq. ft.$750501 - 750 sq. ft.$1,601751 - 1000 sq. ft.$2,1003 more rows•Oct 26, 2020

How can I make my old hardwood floors look better without refinishing?

Just squirt Reviver on the floor in an "S" pattern and spread a thin, even coat using a damp painter's pad or a synthetic applicator attached to a long handle. Work in small sections, moving in the direction of the floorboards using a back-and-forth motion, until the entire floor is coated. Even the cleanup is easy.

How do you clean 100 year old hardwood floors?

Only use cleaners labelled for hardwood floors. Stay away from vinegar, ammonia, and harsh chemicals. Spray a small amount of hardwood cleaner directly onto the floor, then wipe the floor down with a dry terry cloth mop. Remember to go with mineral spirits if your finish is unsound.

How can I make my hardwood floor look good?

Newer hardwood floors are surface-sealed with polyurethane, so all you have to do is sweep and mop to give it a bright look. Don't use abrasive cleaners, wax or oil on these floors; simple soap and water is best. Murphy's Oil Soap, a time-tested, gentle wood cleaner, generally costs less than $3 at a grocery store.

How do you clean worn hardwood floors?

Begin by dusting or sweeping your floors well. Then make a cleaning mixture using 4 cups warm water and a few drops of castile soap or dish soap. Do not shake, but gently mix this, then mop or scrub small sections at a time, drying them with a clean cloth or dry mop after."

How long does it take to refinish hardwood floors?

If you’re doing this home improvement project yourself, expect prep work such as fixing gouges as well as the actual process of staining and refinishing hardwood floors to take about four days of work and around $700. Here we will dive into the materials, work, and process to refinish hardwood floors, including: 1 Choosing DIY-friendly sanding equipment 2 Avoiding injuries 3 Using personal protective equipment (PPE) such as a respirator 4 Choosing the appropriate sandpaper and floor sander 5 Being careful sanding tight corners 6 Controlling dust 7 Applying sealer 8 Applying wood stain evenly 9 Applying polyurethane 10 Having an exit strategy

What to wear when refinishing hardwood floors?

Hardwood floor refinishing and sanding generates a large amount of dust and fumes. Stock up on dust masks and earplugs and, when applying sealers and oil-based polyurethane, wear NIOSH-approved organic vapor respirators, neoprene or vinyl gloves, and eye protection with splash guards.

How to do it yourself polyurethane?

A better way for the do-it-yourselfer is to roll on the polyurethane using a foam roller, preferably a high-density foam roller. The coat will be thin, even, and will quickly dry to a glassy smooth finish. Use a good brush for cutting in around the room perimeter. Photo: JProvey.

What is the best sander for hardwood floors?

Random orbital sanders are the best choice for do-it-yourself hardwood floor refinishing. They take longer to remove old finishes than drum sanders, but they do not require a lot of experience to use and are less likely to damage your wood floor. With a random orbital sander, you can move with or against the wood grain.

What is recoating hardwood flooring?

Recoating hardwood flooring is an excellent choice for homeowners whether you’re renovating a single room or you want to breathe new life into all of the flooring in your home. Let’s take a look at the top tips for how to refinish hardwood floors: Advertisement. 1. Choose DIY-friendly sanding equipment.

Do you need a sealer coat on hardwood floors?

A sealer coat is not normally needed, but if your floor takes stain unevenly, it will help ensure even stain coverage. Test for this by applying stain to an area that will not be visible once the furniture is moved back into place. It is essential to apply the sealer evenly. Otherwise, ”holidays” (skipped areas), stop marks, and lap marks may show through after staining hardwood floors.

Deciding to Refinish Your Floor

Refinishing solid 3/4-inch hardwood is a good DIY project. However, refinishing engineered wood should be left to the pros. Look inside a vent or along a baseboard to see which flooring you have. Engineered is layered, as opposed to solid hardwood.

Preparing to Refinish Your Floor

Start by clearing the room of everything, including curtains, pictures and register covers. Also remove the doors and shoe moulding. Label the shoe moulding and use painters tape to mark the corresponding wall.

How long does it take for a floor finish to dry?

The few oil-based floor finishes on the market make success much easier. The best by far right now in my tests are Varathane Pro Finisher in the matte sheen. It goes down nicely, it flows out well, but it’s also dry to the touch in about 6 hours.

How much did Paul sand his floors?

Paul had never finished a piece of wood before, but after some coaching from me and considerable effort on his part, the floors are now smooth, the ugly, grey areas you see above are gone, and a lot of money was saved. Except for a few minor issues, his floors look as good as if a pro refinished them. Even though it took him 96 hours to sand and seal 1300 square feet of floor (he’d be much faster if he had to do it again) , the work “earned” Paul $37 per hour in after-tax dollars saved. I’m a firm believer in Benjamin Franklin’s old saying, “a penny saved is a penny earned.”

What grit sander should I use for a walk behind sander?

Coarse sanding removes old finish and grey discolouration. Paul used a 16-grit sanding pad in the walk-behind pad sander initially. When it comes to abrasives, the “grit” number refers to the approximate number of abrasive particles on each square inch. So 16-grit is extremely coarse, and really only applies to the square buff sander. If you’re using a belt-style walk-behind sander, then 40-grit is what you want to start with. Will you be trying the hand-held belt sander approach I suggested to Paul initially? In that case a 60-grit belt in that machine is the thing to begin with

Do you need to sand between coats of urethane?

After that, apply another coat of urethane. When it dries you may or may not need to sand between coats. It all depends on how the surface feels.

Is Pro Finisher urethane good?

Urethane quality has gone way down as low odour formulations have been made to satisfy government regulations. Pro Finisher is every bit as good as the old oil-based urethanes of years ago, and it’s still available. Whatever you do, be sure to choose a urethane with a satin or matte sheen.

Pull Up the Shoe Base Moulding

Before floor refinishing with a sander, you should pull up the shoe base moulding along where the floor meets the wall.

Rough-Sand the Floor

Sanding eliminates scratches and stains from a hardwood floor, but may not be able to alleviate the deepest gouges or discolored patches of wood.

Sand the Edges and Corners

Use a floor edger or small orbital sander to sand corners, edges and small areas such as closet floors, bathrooms or stairs.

Screen Sand the Floor

Next, use a floor buffer fitted with a fine-grit screening pad to “screen-sand” the flooring.

Remove All Dust

Thoroughly sweep and vacuum the flooring and then follow up with a tack cloth to remove all the dust that you can. Dust and hairs can leave imperfections in the floor finish.

Apply the Finish

Choose a protective coat of wood finish, weighing the following factors.

What is the best way to clean wood floors?

Method Squirt and Mop, and Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner are two good ones. Keep in mind steam, water, vinegar and cleaners like Murphy's Oil Soap that produces suds should never be used to clean wood floors. 3:21.

How much does it cost to refinish a floor?

Average cost depends on your area, but you can expect to pay at least $3 or $4 per square foot.

Why are satin floors so popular?

The main reason: compared to their shiny counterparts, it's harder to slip on a satin finish.

What is rejuvenate wood floor restoration?

Rejuvenate Wood Floor Restorer: This stuff is created to restore previously sealed old hardwood woods. It's available in both satin and glossy finishes.

How long does it take for rustoleum to dry?

Once applied it takes 24 hours to dry, and seven to 14 days to cure. FYI, this stuff is not compatible with waxed wood floors.

Do you need to deep clean hardwood floors?

Hardwood floors in high-traffic areas in your home may require a deep cleaning by a flooring professional. Experts like these typically use a scrubbing machine designed to remove embedded dirt . After deep cleaning your floors, here's what you need to do to keep them in tip-top shape:

When is it best to fill gaps between floorboards?

That's why it's best to fill floors when the humidity is higher during the summer.

How to remove top layer of wood finish?

Sand the spot with very fine grit sandpaper, being careful not to apply too much pressure. You want to remove the top layer of finish without damaging any of the wood beneath.

What to use to fill scratches in wood?

Fill very small, fine scratches with a wood refinishing crayon, especially if they're in very low-traffic areas.

How to clean a patch on a sandpaper?

Sand the patch with medium-grit sandpaper, using a very light touch. Sand it again with very fine sandpaper. Wipe away the dust with a clean tack cloth.

How to make a patch on a floor?

Hold the edge of the craft stick or scraper at a 90-degree angle to the floor and scrape over the patch to make sure that it's perfectly level with the floor. Feather the edges where they overlap the floor so that the patch will be as invisible as you can make it. Let the patch dry according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, adding 30 to 60 minutes if you live in a very wet climate, or it's raining.

Do you need to strip hardwood floors?

But even the most careful households can fall prey to accidents that result in spills or scratches that can mar a well-cared for floor. It’s not necessary to strip and re-stain the entire floor when this happens. With a little bit of work and some attention to detail, you can refinish that spot so well that you’ll forget it was ever there.

Can you use a belt sander to refinish wood floors?

Never use a belt or hand sander to spot refinish wood floors because it may damage the wood. Emmy-award nominated screenwriter Brynne Chandler is a single mother of three who divides her time between professional research and varied cooking, fitness and home & gardening enterprises.

What is the best way to refinish hardwood floors?

Refinishing a hardwood floor is a great way to revitalize the look of a room without the trouble and expense of installing brand-new flooring. The process involves removing the top layer of the covering material using a large sander, which removes the surface finish and digs down past any surface scratches, stains, or imperfections that might exist. The result is a fresh surface that is then stained and top-coated with whatever protective coating you prefer.

How much does it cost to sand a hardwood floor?

If you perform the work yourself, then you will have to rent a walk-behind, solid-wood sanding machine as well as hand sanding tools, which will cost roughly $200 per day. And it's easy to make mistakes that can irreparably damage the wood flooring surface. More than one homeowner has eagerly set out to save money by sanding a hardwood floor, only to end up spending a lot more to replace the floor entirely.

How to sand corners of a room?

Using a hand sander fitted with 40- or 60-grit sandpaper, sand the edges and corners of the room, up to the baseboards. In corners, you may need to use a paint scraper to remove the last bits of finish.

How to protect wood from scratches?

Use a Protective Treatment 1 Polyurethane: This is the best and most widely used protective coating. A clear almost plastic-like substance, it is applied with a standard paintbrush and is available in a variety of finishes from matte to glossy. Its purpose is to create a clear, protective layer over the top of the wood, which is resistant to liquids, stains, and scratching damage. Note: Polyurethane is a toxic substance and should only be applied in well-ventilated areas with the proper eye, hand, and breathing equipment. 2  It will also require at least 24 hours to fully dry before the floor can be used again. 2 Varnish: This is similar to polyurethane, except that it has a more dramatic effect on the wood, darkening it noticeably. The advantage of this substance is that it is thinner, so spot repairs can be more easily made when future damage occurs. 3 Sealer: This is a thin, protective liquid that goes over hardwood, both seeping into the pores of the material and creating a clear surface coating over its top. It has very little effect on the look of the floor, but it also provides the least protection and may need to be reapplied every six to 12 months depending on traffic use.

How to start and stop a sander?

How you start and stop the sander is crucial. Make sure the drum is raised off the floor when you turn the machine on, then lower it down onto the floor as you begin moving with a long forward stroke. When you reach the far wall, raise the drum before you stop moving the sander. Failure to follow this method can result in dips and severe damage to the floor.

What is the best protective coating for flooring?

Some products can also enhance the appearance of the flooring itself. Polyurethane: This is the best and most widely used protective coating. A clear almost plastic-like substance, it is applied with a standard paintbrush and is available in a variety of finishes from matte to glossy.

Does sanding remove scratches?

But be aware that sanding cannot be expected to remove very deep scratches, gouges, and stains. Even professionals advise homeowners to lower their expectations on what floor sanding can accomplish. Floor sanding removes at most about 1/16 inch of wood, and damage that is deeper than that usually will still be evident, though less obvious.