Staining Hardwood Floors

Stained Hardwood Floor

Maybe you've discovered hardwood floors underneath you carpeting, or your current hardwood floor needs a new stain and finish. You can do it yourself without hiring expensive contractors. Preparing the floor properly and applying stain with the right techniques and tools can ensure a long-lasting and professional-looking finish.

Things You'll Need

• Rags Paint brush Paint scraper Adhesive remover Sander Sandpaper Stain Polyurethane

Instructions

1. Remove carpeting or tile flooring. If this is the first time your floors are to be stained, you need to remove any flooring that may be covering the hardwood. Remove all glue and residue before staining the floor. Use a commercial-strength adhesive remover for gummy glue and gently scrape away the residue with a firm scraper, such as a paint scraper. If the glue beneath the flooring is hardened, you can chip and scrape this away with the same type of scraper. Be careful not to gouge the hardwood in the process.

2. Sand the floor to the natural wood. The easiest way to remove prior finishes from a hardwood floor is to sand it. Using a hand-held belt sander or drum sander, start in one corner of the room and move outward toward the center of the floor. Be sure to keep the sander moving constantly and never press the sander into the floor. Use an even motion throughout the room and finish up details in hard-to-reach corners or crevices by hand.

3. Clean the floor after sanding to remove dust and correct imperfections. Any dirt or imperfections left on the floor before staining and sealing will be amplified once you have a gloss on the floor. Sweep the area thoroughly and fill in any scratches or gouges with wood putty. Sand the corrected areas by hand to create a uniform finish.

4. Test a small section of the floor with your stain before applying it to the rest of the hardwood to make sure it's the correct color. Then apply with a rag in sections, either one floorboard at a time or in squares. Wait three to five minutes and rub the stained area with a clean cloth to help even out the color and remove extra stain.

5. Wait for the time specified for your particular stain to fully dry and saturate the hardwood. Apply a polyurethane finish with a brush and allow it to dry. You will need to apply several coats of polyurethane to properly finish the floor. To eliminate bubbles and bumps, sand between coats of finish with a very fine grade of sandpaper and buff to clean the floor.

Tips & Warnings

• Mix your can of stain right before applying it, as stain, like paint, can settle when stored.

• Always stain in a well-ventilated area.

Resources

• Hardwood Refinishing Tips
• Do it Yourself Hardwood Floors