How To Finish Unfinished Pine Flooring

Cleaning and sanding the pine floor.

How to finish unfinished pine flooring.

Pine is a softwood so an old pine floor is usually distressed which is part of its charm. This process is detailed in this post. Although in my opinion 4 coats of satin polyurethane makes the very best finish for a pine floor there are many alternatives. For you purposes at least 5 6 coats of shellac can be brushed or rolled on to a well sanded pine floor.

Ryan used an air nailer to nail the boards in place. If you want to refinish sanding pine floors is easier than sanding hardwood. For maximum protection and durability give the floor 2 coats of stain or varnish and wait 24 hours for the floor to dry. Most people prefer a clear oil finish.

The pine will develop a slightly darker patina with age and exposure to light. Part 1 of 3. When the finish gets dull you can restore it by a screen and recoat. But pine also takes stain and paint well.

Because pine flooring typically comes unfinished you have the chance to finish your floor in any color that suits your preferences and the color palette of your home. To finish a pine floor which is basically plywood that is purchased and finished from large sheets you need to use stain varnish or oil. Stain it or leave it natural and topcoat it with an oil or varnish. Tung oil alone will give the floor a traditional look and a warm glow.

For the best results clean the floor first with a duster or vacuum to remove any lingering dirt or debris. Four things to look for in heart pine flooring. It dries very fast so 2 3 coats can be applied. Maple and birch are tight grained woods with very small pores and the density of the pore wall fibers varies drastically.

Oil based finish will last much longer in comparison. You can buy heart pine flooring in a variety of widths and grades. Before applying stain to your wood floor you need to know what species it is. You ll need to finish your own pine flooring using stain varnish or oil.

A step by step video for a home owner on how to use various wood floor sanders and how to apply the finish. Then apply a final coat of stain varnish or oil. Floors made of maple birch and coniferous woods especially pine or fir are all very difficult to stain evenly. The most natural but least water resistant film finish is shellac.

It needs regular sweeping and mopping to protect the finish.