How To Finish Wood Floors Yourself

Pick at least two test areas on the floor.

How to finish wood floors yourself.

Consider three coats of oil based finish or four coats of water based finish. In order for the stain to penetrate the wood evenly use a technique called water popping. Unlike waxes or other hardwood floor refinisher products that provide a short term shine this added coat will last for years and extend the life of your floor. A step by step video for a home owner on how to use various wood floor sanders and how to apply the finish.

Before you start sanding remove everything from the room and vacuum the floor. Be sure to provide plenty of ventilation and wear a respirator. Area with sanding screen. Sanding the floor will kick up a lot of dust so protect light fixtures and tape over electrical outlets.

When each coat dries sand the floor lightly with 220 grit paper or 000 steel wool. Close the windows and doors to keep dust contained in the room you re sanding. If you oiled the wood you can also use floor wax. Wipe down walls to prevent dust from falling to the floor as your finish is drying.

This story will show you how to refinish hardwood floors and add a new coat of finish directly over the old by first applying a liquid that roughens the old finish so the new finish can bond to it. Many finishes take 24 hours to dry. One in a high traffic zone the other along a wall or in a closet. Remove shoe moulding the wood trim where the wall meets the floor.

Remove all the furniture and spray the floor with a hardwood flooring cleaner or your own mix of 10 parts water to 1 part white vinegar. Gently wipe the floor with a terry cloth mop or a towel wrapped around a mop head. Wait at least 24 hours after the final coat dries before moving furniture into the room. Use a shop vacuum with a brush head to clean the floor thoroughly and then follow with a sticky tack cloth to remove any remaining particles image 1.

Clean each area with a wood floor cleaner and roughen a 6 x 6 in. Watch how to refinish hardwood floors instead of having to replace them. Apply the first of two coats of finish wax or other floor finish such as polyurethane or varnish. Find the detailed instructions on sanding and refinishing hardwood flooring here.

When applying a finish it s always best to apply several thin coats rather than a heavy one. Apply the finish with a lamb s wool applicator in smooth even lines while avoiding drips. Roughen up two test areas and then coat them with urethane to begin refinishing hardwood floors. Follow the directions on the finish container for drying time between coats.