How To Refinish A Hardwood Floor

In this world, if you are willing, almost anything is possible. If you have that fire in your belly to achieve the impossible, then the impossible becomes nothing. Transport this way of looking at life to the idea of refinishing a hardwood floor all by yourself and suddenly the idea of refinishing a hardwood floor may seem like a breeze. If you let it to, it may even seem like a walk in a park. After all, everything really is all about perception. What you perceive of reality may very well be it. So, if you are looking to refinish a hardwood floor and you are willing to do it all by yourself, help for you has finally arrived. With the successful implementation of the step-by-step by instructions that are to follow, you can be rest assured that professional help for anything at all may seem passé. Go ahead and read on to gain access to instructions that can help you refinish a hardwood floor all by yourself!

Refinishing A Hardwood Floor 

• Wide Brooms
• Gloves
• Rollers
• Wood Stain
• Heavy and Light Sandpaper
• Rags
• Shop Vacuums
• Floor Sanders
• Polyurethane Finish
• Brushes
• Dust Masks

• Begin by removing the furniture and rugs from the room. Then, take a good look at the floor. If you see any nails, pound them below the surface and pull out tacks if any. This is done to prevent the sandpaper from turning into shreds.
• Get out the floor sander. If you don’t want to buy one, you can always feel free to rent it from an equipment rental shop. For best results with a sander, it is advisable to use an orbital sander.
• Now, find yourself heavy-grit sandpaper, 36 grit should do just fine. Clip this sandpaper into the sander and run it over the floor in the exact direction of the wood grain. You will have to take care to push or pull the sander in straight and even strokes. Make it a point not to use the sander across the grain. Also remember to keep the machine on when it is in motion.
• If at all the floor gets gouged while your sanding it, make it a point to go over it with the sander. Myriad long strokes with the sander should do just fine to correct the odds.
• Once the floor is sanded, remove the heavy-grit sandpaper and clip lighter-grain sandpaper into the sander. Here, you will have to sand scratches and lines as long as it may take to completely remove them.
• Once you’re done with this, you can use a shop vacuum to get rid of sanding dust from the floor. Finish off the process of sanding by going over the floor all over again. You can use light-grain sandpaper for this.
• If you’re looking to stain your floor, you will first have to brush the sawdust off your floor and from the sander. You can use a broom to brush the dust off the sander and for the floor you can use the shop vacuum.
• Apply some stain onto a rag and check it on a corner of the floor. Once it dries, you will know if that particular color is the color you are looking for. If you’re happy with the color, you can proceed or you can keep trying until you get to the desired color.
• Apply the first coat of stain on the floor. If you are looking at darker coats of stain, you can use a brush. If you are looking at lighter coats of stain, you can simply use rugs. However, make it a point to apply the stain on with long and even strokes and go with the grain.
• Wait until the first coat dries, and if you think it is necessary to apply a second coat of stain or simply correct the light spots.
• It’s now time to move on to the finish. Begin by stirring the container of polyurethane finish. Do not shake the mix, because this can create air bubbles that will be difficult to get rid of.
• With a brush or a roller, apply the finish. You will have to employ smooth and even strokes to avoid messing up the application of the finish. Wait for the finish to dry. Your hardwood floor is now as good as ‘refinished’.