How to Finish Wood Floors

Finishing wood floors is a tedious job, but well worth the effort. It takes time to sand, stain and coat the floor with polyurethane to make it look new again. If you have wood flooring that needs a makeover, refinishing it yourself can save you a lot of money. Here's how to finish wood floors:

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• floor sander and edger
• sandpaper (coarse to fine grit)
• rotary polisher
• scraper for corners
• stain color of your choice with applicator(s)
• polyurethane coating of your choice with applicator(s)
• old rags
• masking tape
• small-large cloths to cover vents windows and doors
• eye protection
• face mask
• ear plugs
• mop
• broom and dustpan
• wet/dry vacuum
• non-marking shoes (avoid black soles!)

1. Remove any furniture in the room and clean the wood flooring. If you apply any wet cleansers, make sure the hardwood floor is completely dry before you begin sanding. Be sure to check the walls and ceilings for any dust - you don't want dust falling on the floor while they are drying.

2. Cover any vents or open spaces with cloths and masking tape to prevent dust from getting in the crevices when you sand the wood floor. Sealing off doors is a good idea too.

3. For safety while sanding the wood floor, put on your ear plugs, face mask, eye protection and non-marking shoes (no black soles).

4. Sand the entire wood flooring with the floor sander until you see the raw wood underneath (avoid edges close to the wall - that is the next step). Use a coarse grit on the sander at first, then work your way to a fine grit. It might take 3-4 passes of varied sandpaper grits. The newer the finish, the less time it will take.

5. Use the floor edger to sand the edges of the wood flooring. Start up against the wall and work your way back towards the area that has already been sanded. Use the scraper to scrape the corners.

6. Look around the wood floor for any areas that need touch up.

7. Sweep, wipe, vacuum and mop up all dust from the room and wood flooring. This includes walls, doors, windows, ceilings, etc. All dust particles must be removed from the room.

8. Use the rotary polisher to touch up the entire wood flooring and prepare it for finishing.

9. Stain the wood floor with the color of your choice or leave it the natural wood color if you prefer. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's directions for drying time.

10. After the stain dries on the flooring, apply one coat of polyurethane and let it dry. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for drying times and repeat coat recommendations.

11. Wait three days, then put the furniture back in the room. Keep in mind it could take up to 21 days for the finished wood floor to completely cure.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to keep everyone out of the room for the drying time - you don't want particles settling into the finished wood floor.
• For best results, use a Silver-Line SL-8 floor sander and a SL-7 floor edger
• Keep in mind the rental store will supply the sand paper, but it will be extra depending on how much you use.
• Floor sander rental stores usually have videos to show you how to finish your wood floors. Be sure to take advantage of that.
• It's a good idea to practice moving the floor sander before you begin.
• The floor sander rental sales staff can assist you in choosing the proper sandpaper grit for your wood floors.
• When sanding, keep the floor sander electrical cord behind you.
• Take your time sanding and don't rush from grit to grit. It's important to sand gradually.
• There are several finishes for wood floors - be sure to talk to sales staff to help determine which polyurethane finish is right for your floor. Basically, you get what you pay for.
• Use latex gloves when staining and applying polyurethane. It also helps to wear coveralls or old clothes when following each of these steps.
• Unplug the floor sander equipment before changing the sandpaper.
• Sawdust is flammable so be sure to dispose of it properly.

Resources

• How to Choose Hardwood Flooring For Any Room
• How to Find Discount Hardwood Flooring
• How to Install Ceramic Wall Tiles
• How to Install Marble Tile on a Fireplace
• How to Buy and Install Glass Tile
• How to Install Wall Tiles
• How to Paint a Room With a Vaulted Ceiling
• How To Install Bathroom Tiles
• How To Regrout Shower Tile
• How To Stop A Linoleum Floor From Being Slippery
• How to Lay a Tile Backsplash
• How to Lay Bathroom Floor Tile

[jenng]

on 10/23/2009 great article on How to Finish Wood Floors 5*

[NaimaManal]

on 3/15/2009 Very clear instructions. Thank you!

[ruth0046]

on 3/15/2009 Great instructions. Easier said than done. I refinished my hardwood floors doing just the way you recommend and they turned out great. Thanks! 5*

[elyria]

on 3/14/2009 Nice article and very informative! 5* and gave you a recommendation!

[kaytay]

on 3/14/2009 I am thinking about tearing up my carpet and refinishing the wood floors. Thanks for the advice