Steps To Restoring Hardwood Floors
You may think that when your hardwood floor finish become scratched, worn, and dull, your only option is to call in an expert in restoring hardwood floors. What you don’t know is that there is a simpler and cheaper approach, well within the capabilities and skills of a do-it-yourselfer like you.
For fast and easier process, make sure that you prepare all the things you need. These are Plastic Drop Cloths, Angled Sash Brush, 100-grit Abrasive Screens, Soft Cloths, Box Fan, Soft-bristle Push Broom, Finish for regular or exotic hardwood floors, and Vacuum with Floor-brush And Wand Attachments, Varnish Brush, Floor Polisher, Abrasive Pad, and Abrasive Discs for Sander, Fine Sandpaper, Dust Mask Or Respirator, Rubber Sanding Block, and Random-orbit Electric Sander.
Prepare the room and move all wall decorations and furniture to another room. You should also install a box fan within the window of the room and open the window for exhaust. The negative pressure from the exhaust keeps the dust from being blown outside the room. Don’t forget to screen any floor with carpet.
Affix an abrasive pad on the floor polisher's rubberized wheel and check if you are already comfortable with controlling the machine. You should also install a 100-grit abrasive screen on your floor polisher and proceed to sanding the floor. Do it in around repeatedly or in overlapping passes. Make sure that both ends of the room have been sanded.
Inspect the floor, vacuum it, sweep it, and inspect it again. Make sure all finish is dull. No wear patterns should be noticeable and all stains and scratches should be gone. Repeat the sanding process if needed. With your random-orbit electric sander, proceed to sanding the areas at the areas or portions where the polisher failed to touch. For areas that could not be reached, you can use a rubber sanding block with sanding sponge of fine sand paper when sanding hardwood floors. Remove all the dust, sweep, vacuum, and inspect it again. Make sure all dust is eliminated.
Use a soft cloth dampened with mineral spirits to the floor when wiping it down. Make sure to turn and shake out the cloth often. Turn off the box fan and vacuum for the last time, but this time using floor brush on larger areas and pointed wand in cracks.
Now, it's time to apply the finish. Using a good angled sash brush and varnish brush, start applying the finishing coat. Work across the room following the flooring planks direction.
Restoring hardwood floors is not hard and tough even for a do-it-yourselfer like you. However, it's better to just prevent your wood floor from being damaged to prevent the need for restoring hardwood floors. Even if it's only restoration, you still need to spend some dollars, and it's a better and more practical idea if your hardwood flooring will maintain its beauty and shine for a long time. The Internet offers a lot of tips about how you can care for your wood floor. Check them out!
