Tips for Refinishing Your Hardwood Flooring
If the new home you purchased has hardwood flooring that's seen better days, you can refinish the wood to give it a whole new look. If you're handy around the house and confident tackling a project like this, it can be rewarding. Understanding what's ahead of you makes a big difference when preparing for a sizable project, so here are some tips to help you refinish your hardwood floors with confidence.
Prep Them Properly
Start with a complete inspection of the floors. You need to identify and replace any boards that are damaged before you can do anything else. You should also look for any low spots where the wood has cupped or high spots where it has crowned. You'll need to pay special attention to these areas when you sand so that you can smooth it all out.
If there are any nails protruding from the floor surface, drive them back into position and fill the holes with some wood putty. Once the patchwork is finished, pull the molding from the edge of the wall with a flat-bladed screw driver. Just be careful, because you'll want to put it back in place when you're done.
Cover the air vents, floor registers, electrical outlets, and intake vents with plastic and tape it in place with painter's tape. Turn off the pilot lights on any appliances, because the open flame could cause combustion of the sanding dust. Open some windows if possible, because the air movement is helpful to keep dust from settling.
Sand the Floors
Start with a rough-grit sandpaper attached to a floor sander. The first sanding stage is to remove any surface damage and scuff the wood finish. If you've never used a power sander before, it's important to remember to keep it moving in steady, consistent strokes at all times. If you leave it in one place for a second or two too long, you'll gouge the floors.
After passing over the floor with the rough grit paper, it's time to start gradually working toward finer paper. Your last passes should be done with a fine-grit sandpaper to smooth the surface out. Keep in mind that the sanding process will take time. Don't try to rush your way through it, because this is key to getting the wood ready for the new finish.
Clean up all of the dust residue with a shop vacuum. Then, wipe the whole surface down with tack cloths to make sure there is no dust or debris left on the floor. You need a clean work area for staining.
Finish the Floors
Apply the wood stain in a smooth, even coat. Follow the application instructions from the manufacturer of the stain that you choose, because the application process can vary. Make sure you check the drying time so that you can be sure to buff it at the right time. Work in small sections, starting in the corner farthest from the door and working your way toward the door. That way, you don't trap yourself in a corner with a wet-stained floor.
Once the stain is ready for buffing, use soft, lint-free cloths to do it. That way, you'll pick up any residual stain on the surface without leaving any lint behind in the floor stain. Then, once the stain has soaked in, treat the whole floor with a clear sealant. Do this as soon as possible so that you don't risk any moisture absorption in the wood floors from ambient humidity. Once the sealant has dried, replace the trim and molding that you removed and pull all of the plastic covers off the vents and outlets.
If you aren't confident in your ability to handle the power sander or apply the wood stain, talk with a local hardwood floor refinishing company about doing the work for you. Find a company through a website like http://www.nationalcarpetmilloutlet.com.