Table of Contents
Your 9 Step Guide to Refinishing Hardwood Floors Step 1: Remove the Shoe Base Molding. Step 2: Fixing the Squeaks and Creeks. Step 3: Sand the Floors. Step 4: Sweep and Vacuum Between Sands. Step 5: Edges and Corners. Step 6: Screen Sand. Step 7: Dust Removal. Step 8: Staining Your Hardwood Floors.
Should I refinish 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.
Can I sand and refinish my hardwood floors myself?
If the scratches don’t go all the way through to the wood, you can scuff-sand your floors with a buffer and apply a fresh coat or two of finish. The hardwood floor refinishing process is easier and less expensive than sanding down to bare wood and takes less time. In a few hours, your floors will look as good as new.
Can you refinish wood floors 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 best time of year to refinish hardwood floors?
If you are in the market to have your hardwood floors refinished this summer, then you might want to consider having it done while you are on vacation.
Can you sand floors with a hand sander?
The process for sanding a floor by hand would be, as a general rule, to start on a 40 grit sandpaper and work your way up to 100 or 120 grit paper to leave a fine finish. It is important to keep any sander moving so it does not dig into or burn the floor. Get yourself a floor sander, or better still hire a pro.
What grit sandpaper do you use to refinish hardwood floors?
Start with 36-grit sandpaper for a floor that hasn’t been sanded in a long time or that has a lot of heavy finish on it. Floors that have been painted may even require you to go tougher and use 24 or 16-grit paper. Maple floors are so hard that they often require 36-grit sandpaper as well.
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 refinish hardwood floors without removing baseboards?
Installing hardwood floors without removing the baseboards is possible, and it’s a suitable option for other types of flooring as well. If your baseboards have been glued to the wall and would cause damage if you tried to remove them, it may be best to leave them.
What is the difference between refinishing and resurfacing wood floors?
Refinishing involves sanding off the top layer of the floor and adding a fresh top coat over the existing wood. Resurfacing your floor involves more than just putting a layer of polish on top. It may require removing old floorboards, grinding down uneven boards, and reinforcing wood planks with new nails.
Do I have to sand my hardwood floors before staining?
Yes. When you want to stain or change the color of your hardwood floors, you MUST fully sand and refinish the floors. If you don’t sand the floors first, the stain won’t properly penetrate the hardwood nor will the polyurethane properly adhere. This is the ONLY way to change the color of your hardwood floors.
Is Murphy’s oil soap good for hardwood floors?
THOROUGHLY SATISFYING For a deep, conventional cleaning, consider using a concentrated product like Murphy® Original Formula. Whether you’re cleaning one area or all of your flooring, Murphy® Oil Soap is safe to use on hardwood floors.
Can you sand a hardwood floor with an orbital sander?
Random orbital sanders are the best choice for do-it-yourself hardwood floor refinishing. They take longer to remove old finishes than drum sanders, but they do not require a lot of experience to use and are less likely to damage your wood floor. Just be sure to keep the sander level at all times.
Can you refinish hardwood floors by hand?
How to sand a hardwood floor by hand? The exact same way you would with floor sanding machines, but with a lot more elbow grease! Start with a low grit like 40, climb to 60, 80 then 100. Use a handheld orbital sander, ideally with a gear-driven setting.
Can you use a belt sander to sand hardwood floors?
A belt sander will make stripping and sanding the floor quick and easy. A belt sander for finishing a wood floor should be a hand-held one so you can move the tool around on the surface of the floor. Belt sanders will do a good job of leveling out the floor and preparing it for a finer sand.
How long before you can put furniture on refinished hardwood floors?
Wait 48 to 72 hours after the hardwood has been refinished/ finished before “PLACING” furniture back in its place. Keep a steady temperature and humidity within your home. Dramatic swings in temperature will cause hardwood to shrink or to cup. Sweep/dust and mop often.
How long before dogs can walk on refinished hardwood floors?
After you’ve refinished your hardwood floors, you need to wait before walking on them and/or moving (or returning furniture). At a minimum, you should wait at least 24 hrs before walking on the floors; for hours 24-48, it’s best to wear socks only (no shoes, no bare feet).
How long does it take for the smell to go away after refinishing hardwood floors?
Typically, as he mentioned, “full cure” (hardness) may not be reached for 10-14 days and the fumes will probably dissipate over the following 10-12 days. The smell can be around for anywhere from 3-6 weeks, however.
