For the accomplished carpenter, refinishing hardwood floors may be a simple task, but for the rest of us, it can be quite a daunting undertaking. You should start with a small bedroom or some other room not used by company.
Refinishing wood is time consuming. Until you get the hang of it, you don’t want the whole house in an uproar. It is best to handle the learning curve in an inconspicuous space.
Refinishing Hardwood Floors - Tools you will need:
- Dust mask – the small particles of sanding dust will aggravate your sinuses. Rent equipment as dustless as possible.
- Sander – a drum sander or belt sander are you best options.
- Edger – to refinish the hard to reach edges.
- Buffer – to smooth the hardwood floor to perfection.
- Sand paper – each machine and stage of refinishing needs a special grit. You will need 40, 60, 80 and 100 grit. If the floors have been painted, you will need quite a bit of paper to remove the paint thoroughly.
- Buffer screens – a 150 and 180 should be adequate for a small room.
- Vacuum.
- Sealer, final finish and applicators.
Refinishing Hardwood Floors - How to Refinish Wood Floors
Start by vacuuming the floor to remove any dust or dirt. Then you will use the main sander with 40 grit paper. Sand the wood with the grain, not against it. This will prevent unsightly scratches. Keep a steady pace. Stopping the sander will create nasty marks or over sanding of certain areas.
Get as close to the walls as possible, then use the edger to sand the rest. You will still be using the 40 grit. Taking off the baseboards will enable you to get right up to the wall. Once you have rough sanded the entire floor, change to 60 grit paper and do the whole floor again. Repeat this once more with the 80 grit paper.
Reset any nails that may have come loose and vacuum the floor thoroughly. Now, take a large spatula and apply the wood filler. Once the filler is completely dry – this may take as little as one hour in dry hot climates or a day, depending on where you live – you can sand the floor again. This time you will use the 100 grit paper. Repeat sanding with the 100 grit until all of the excess filler is removed.
Vacuum the floor thoroughly. It is very important that the floor be clean and dry. With the buffer, sand the floor with 150 grit paper, vacuum and sand with the 180 grit. Vacuum thoroughly one more time and apply the hardwood floor sealer. Wait for the sealer to dry completely and then apply the finish. You will probably need two coats for the best results.
Refinishing Hardwood Floors - Hardwood Floors Add Elegance
Hardwood floors give your home an air of elegance. Aside from being durable and beautiful, they are environmentally a good choice, as well. Wood is a renewable resource that can be recycled. And since most hardwood floors can be refinished, they hardly ever need to be replaced. A hardwood floor can add thousands of dollars to your home’s value. Hardwood is also much easier to keep clean and maintain than carpets.
If you are putting in a hardwood floor for the first time, you will probably be using unfinished hardwood flooring. Unfinished boards have not been sanded, stained or treated with sealant. Unfinished wood can swell if exposed to moisture, so try to pick up your supplies on a dry day and store them in a well ventilated area for a few days before installation. This gives the wood time to acclimate.
Refinishing Hardwood Floors - Pros and Cons of Installing Your Floor
Most people take on do-it-yourself projects to save money. Labor is usually the highest part of the cost of hiring professionals. Some, however, like the challenge and satisfaction of doing a job themselves. Aside from costs, other factors to consider before starting your project are:
- Can you accomplish the professional look you desire?
- How long will it take to install the new hardwood floor?
- How much money can you save by doing it yourself?
The easiest hardwood floors to install are pre-finished wood pieces that come sealed and finished. They cost a bit more, but the time you save might be worth the extra cost. You are still saving a bundle on labor. The process is the same as installing unfinished hardwood flooring, except you have to take extra care not to scratch the surface.
Huge technological advances have made installing hardwood floors much easier than they were in the past. Whether finished or unfinished, the boards are pre-cut to fit together like a T. you can just slip them in place without much fuss or bother.
With unfinished boards you have to go through the same steps as when refinishing hardwood floors, except the initial sanding will go quicker because there is no old varnish or paint to remove. But, then there is the cost of buying new boards. If you have an existing wood floor, refinishing is cheaper.
If you are removing old carpeting and there is no hardwood floor underneath, then you will need all new boards. Again, you have to weigh the pros and cons. Do you want to get the job over quickly with pre-finished wood or save money with unfinished hardwood flooring. Either way, you will have a great looking floor when you are done.
Refinishing hardwood floors or installing a new ones will increase the beauty and value of your home.