Things You'll Need:
- Hammer
- Putty knife
- Floor sander
- Vacuum cleaner
- Broom
- Thinner
- Paint roller
- Paint brush
- Clean rag
- Sand paper
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Step 1
Check the floor for raised nails. Walk around with a hammer and pound any nails down which are sticking up above the floor surface.
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Step 2
Apply filler over the top of nail heads with a putty knife. You'll want to make sure the holes are filled in and even with the floor surface. Choose a filler which blends well with the wood, but it a little lighter in shade. The filler will darken when varnish is applied.
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Step 3
Go over the floor with a floor sander after the filler has dried. Ensure the excess filler is removed by the sander. The idea is to make the entire surface one level plane.
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Step 4
Vacuum the floor to remove any dirt from the floor. You do not want to apply varnish over any dirt, so the floor must be free of it. Vacuum, sweep up any ground in dirt and then vacuum again. An industrial vacuum is best.
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Step 5
Put the first layer of varnish on the floor. For the first layer, thin the varnish by adding 1/4th thinner by volume. Apply the varnish with a paint roller. Let this layer dry before continuing.
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Step 6
Add a second and third coat of varnish. For these coats, use pure varnish without thinner mixed in. Use a paint brush to touch up hard-to-get-to areas around walls. Keep a clean rag and some sand paper handy while applying the final coats in case you find any dirt or rough spots.
