Table of Contents
What should I use to finish my hardwood floor?
Which Finish Is Right for Your Hardwood Floors? Water-Based Polyurethane. Best for: Floors in need of a clear finish that dries quickly. Oil-Based Polyurethane. Best for: High-traffic areas. Moisture-Cure Urethane. Wax. Shellac. Penetrating Oil Sealer. Acid-Cured Finish. Aluminum Oxide.
How can I refinish my hardwood floors myself?
Prepare the Floor for Refinishing. Take the following steps before wood floor refinishing. Pull Up the Shoe Base Moulding. Rough-Sand the Floor. Sand the Edges and Corners. Screen Sand the Floor. Remove All Dust. Apply the Wood Stain. Apply the Finish.
How much does it cost to finish a hardwood floor?
How Much Does it Cost to Refinish Hardwood Floors? Room Size Square Feet Average Cost 10×10 100 $300 – $500 12×12 144 $450 – $750 16×16 256 $800 – $1,300 20×20 400 $1,200 – $2,000.
What is the most durable finish for hardwood floors?
Polyurethane is actually the most durable hardwood floor finish.
How many coats of polyurethane should you put on hardwood floors?
You should apply at least three coats of polyurethane on hardwood floors. Of course, this will depend on the type of polyurethane you are using. What is this? Oil-based polyurethane will rarely need more than three coats on floors.
What is Swedish finish on hardwood floors?
“Swedish finish” is simply a nice-sounding name for a conversion varnish, which cures by chemical reaction. Unlike most finishes, which form a layer on top of the hardwood, a Swedish finish actually chemically bonds with the wood—a “conversion” process that results in an especially hard finish.
Is it worth refinishing hardwood floors yourself?
If you only have some minor scratches and dings or a dull finish, you might be able to simply buff and add a new coat of varnish. But, even if your floors need a complete makeover, refinishing hardwood is a very manageable and rewarding do-it-yourself job that can save a lot of money.
Can wood floors be refinished without sanding?
The best way to refinish wood floors without sanding is to use a technique called screen and recoat. This involves scuffing up the finish with a floor buffer and applying a refresher coat of finish. The former is a proven floor restoration method, while the latter is the “Hail Mary” pass of floor care.
What is the cheapest way to refinish hardwood floors?
Applying a revitalizer gloss is the simplest and cheapest way to refinish hardwood floors. This approach works best on floors that only have surface-level scratches and other minor wear and tear issues. You can get the job done without the need for equipment rentals or hard-to-find materials.
Can you stay in house while floors are refinished?
The strong scent of polyurethane and stain lingers in the atmosphere for very long and can kick-start a migraine any time or all the time. Even if it’s not causing migraines, it’s still uncomfortable to live in a house where the floor is being refinished and there are strong odors in the air.
Do you tip floor refinishers?
You do not have to tip floor installers or refinishers. If you’re feeling generous, they are usually allowed to accept tips, but it is not mandatory or expected. If the installers do an exceptionally good job and you would like to tip them, then $10 to $30 per day is a suitable range.
How much does it cost to refinish 1500 square feet of hardwood?
Cost per square foot to refinish hardwood floors: Flooring square footage Average cost 751 – 1000 sq. ft. $2,100 1001 – 1500 sq. ft. $2,350 1501 – 2000 sq. ft. $3,500 2001 – 3000 sq. ft. $5,000.
Is water based or oil based polyurethane better for floors?
Oil based poly is a thicker poly, but it is also softer. Water based poly, an acrylic product, forms a thinner, but harder coating. Oil poly can be more susceptible to dents, while water based poly can be more susceptible to surface scratching.
Can you sleep in house after polyurethane?
We recommend a minimum of 2 days of socks-only traffic for floors finished with oil polyurethane. The house is not inhabitable for a minimum of 2 days after the job is completed, and better to stay out for at least 5 as the fumes/off-gassing is not advisable to breathe in, even if there are other rooms to sleep in.
What happens if you dont sand between coats of polyurethane?
For some types of poly, nothing happens if you don’t sand between coats of polyurethane. However, most polyurethane will not adhere properly if you skip sanding dust nibs and brush marks on the finish. The polyurethane finish will eventually peel off or become deformed.
How many square feet will one gallon of polyurethane cover?
Product Details Sheens: gloss, semi-gloss, satin Recoat: after 3-4 hours Dry Time: 12-18 hours for light foot traffic; 72 hours to replace furniture Cleanup: mineral spirits or paint thinner Coverage: 600-700 sq. ft. per gallon.
When can you walk on polyurethane wood floors?
Fresh polyurethane can be walked on as soon as all signs of wet finish disappear. You may be able to walk on the floor as soon as two hours after applying WBP and eight hours after applying WBP. You should wait two days before moving furniture onto a floor finished with WBP — four days for OBP.
Does Swedish finish yellow over time?
Yellows Over Time: A Swedish finish will change the color of the floor over time. As it ages, acid-cured finish will yellow to an amber patina altering the original color you so carefully selected.
Does bona have yellow traffic?
Bona Traffic remains clear for the life of the floor meaning it will not amber or turn yellow with time. There is also Bona Traffic Anti Slip which only comes in satin sheen.
How long does Swedish finish last?
Acid-Cured (Swedish) Finish Pros Cons Extremely hard and durable Difficult to refinish (must use acid-cured finish if used previously) Fast drying time (2 hours) but up to 60 days to fully cure Volatile odors; high VOCs More expensive than most finishes Pro-only application.
Should I sand my own hardwood floors?
Sanding wood floors is a time consuming but relatively easy procedure. Sanding wood floors & refinishing yourself will definitely save money, and even an inexperienced homeowner can likely do a better job than the lowest bidding handyperson who quotes on it.
Should I remove baseboards before refinishing hardwood floors?
As a general rule, we recommend leaving your base and shoe on when having your floors refinished, especially if it is painted. The only time that we would really want you to remove your base or shoe is if your floors have been refinished multiple times and the base was left on during that process.
Should I sand my hardwood floors myself?
“You can walk across the floor the next day, but we recommend that people leave it alone for a week,” Williams said. “It may look dry, feel dry and smell dry, but it’s not dry.” Williams said he would never consider refinishing the floors himself. “I’m going to handpick a crew when my floors need to be done,” he said.
