How To Refinish Hardwood Floors Guidelines
This article provides some guidelines on how to refinish hardwood floors, particularly if your floor has become dull and damaged so that it is no longer shiny and beautiful. It should be noted that this procedure is untidy and needs a substantial amount of time to complete. However, if you still plan to pursue this project yourself, the results are really worthwhile. The initial step to take is to check first if there is really a need for refinishing hardwood floor. You can do this by letting a few drops of water fall on the hardwood floor. If the water soaks slowly into the wood or forms water beads, then simple cleaning and polishing are required. But if the water soaks into the wood fast, then you will need this guide on how to refinish hardwood floors.
One of the fastest ways to learn how to refinish hardwood floors is to watch a video demonstration. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, and video is worth several pictures. It is important to remember that sanding hardwood floors can remove a large portion of the surface of the planks. Thus, if what you have is engineered hardwood flooring, the process of sanding may ultimately result in the removal of the entire top layer and uncover the plywood substrate. Thus, refinishing without sanding may be recommended for this particular type of installation.
Before refinishing the floor, it is essential to remove everything, particularly the large and bulky pieces of furniture. You also need to tape every hole and provide a cover for the light fixtures. Remember that several passes of the sander may be required in order to achieve a smooth finish. Also do not forget that properly sanding hardwood floors means that the flooring surface is leveled and the grain is renewed. And after the sanding process has been completed, you can apply a stain if you want to. Or if you like the natural look, you can move on to the next step, which is the application of the wood finish. When applying the stain, remember to provide sufficient ventilation to prevent the accumulation of harmful fumes in the room. For a smooth finish, you will need to use a rag to apply the stain. For a thicker finish, use a brush but you will need to use the rag later to smoothen the finish.
The application of the polyurethane finish is the final step when you are learning how to refinish hardwood floors. Avoid shaking the polyurethane mix because this may result into the formation of bubbles in the completed finish. This finish can be applied on the hardwood boards using a brush or a roller. Remember to apply strokes that follow the direction of the grain. You will then need to allow the finish to dry for approximately three hours after which, you can apply the second coat. This second coat should be permitted to dry for at least 12 hours before the furniture and other things are moved back into the room.
