How to Refinish Hardwood Floors Yourself
Over time, wood floors lose their luster and shine. Paying someone to refinish your floors for you can be very expensive, but you can do the work yourself for much less of a cost. It does take a lot of effort and sweat, but the results are worth it, especially if you plan to sell your home. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Hammer
- Plastic sheets
- Masking tape
- Pry bar
- Broom and mop
- Drum sander
- Sandpaper
- Vacuum cleaner
- Piece of cloth
- Stain
- Brushes
- Water-based polyurethane
Instructions
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1
Clear out everything form the room, including furniture, rugs and window treatments.
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Check for any exposed nail heads around the room and use a hammer to make them flush with the surface, if necessary. Cover all electrical outlets and light fixtures and vents with plastic and masking tape.
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3
Remove shoe molding with a pry bar so you have access to the edge of the floor.
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4
Seal the room from the rest of the house with a plastic sheet to prevent dust from getting out.
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Sweep and mop the floors to remove all dust and debris.
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Rent a drum sander and ask an employee from the store to show you how to use it properly.
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Begin sanding with 32-grit sandpaper, which is very coarse. Sand along with the grain of the floor from one end of the room to the other, overlapping by 1 or 2 inches. Use the edge sander to go back and get the edges. Corners may need sanding by hand if you don't have an edge attachment. Vacuum up all the dust.
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Repeat the process with a finer grit sandpaper, 60 or 80 grit. Vacuum.
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Sand one last round with 100-grit sandpaper, which is very fine. Vacuum all the dust again and then wipe the floor with a wet cloth.
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Stain the floor. You can use a clear finish for a natural look or a stain to alter the color of your wood floor.
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Apply four or five coats of water-based polyurethane when the stain is dry, to seal the floor.
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Tips & Warnings
Be careful not to hold the drum sander in place long, it can gouge the floor or create circular divots. Practice on a piece of plywood or in an area that will be covered by a large piece of furniture.
Floors thinner than 3/4" can't be refinished.
Be careful not to hold the drum sander in place long, it can gouge the floor or create circular divots. Practice on a piece of plywood or in an area that will be covered by a large piece of furniture.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
