How to Repair & Refinish Hardwood Floor

Beautiful Hardwood Floor

Hardwood flooring is a strong and durable finish material and can last for decades if properly installed. Over time, however, these floors can become damaged due to heavy traffic, impact from dropped objects, or simple wear and tear. Fortunately, you can restore the look of these floors through simple repair and refinishing. By refinishing your floor, you can remove signs of damage, restore its appearance and improve the look of your home.

Things You'll Need

• Hammer
• Nails or screws
• Circular saw
• Chisel
• Replacement boards
• Wood putty or filler
• Putty knife
• Plastic sheets
• Tape
• Sander
• Sand paper in various grits
• Vacuum
• Tack cloth
• Stains, seals or wax
• Brushes or rollers

Instructions

Repair the Floor

1. Secure loose or squeaky boards by adding nails or screws. Remove any stray nails or staples and countersink nails that are not flush with the floor's surface.

2. Replace badly damaged boards. Planks with large cracks or flaws can be easily removed and replaced. Cut down the middle of the plank, lengthwise, using a circular saw. If the area is too small for circular saw use, scribe the plank down the center using a utility knife and a straight edge. After the board is cut or scribed, use a chisel and mallet to pry it from the floor in sections.

3. Take the plank to your local flooring distributor or home improvement store and buy matching boards for replacement. If your floor is made from very old or hard-to-find wood, you may have better luck at a salvage yard or reclaimed wood facility.

4. Cut the new planks as necessary, then nail them into place to replace the ones you removed. You may need to sand the bottom of each board along the sides. This creates a beveled edge that will fit more easily into the opening.

5. Fill small cracks or voids using wood putty or wood flooring filler. Apply this material with a putty knife, then quickly wipe away any excess. Use filler that is similar in color to the floor.

Refinish the Floor

1. Cover air grilles, registers and doorways with plastic sheets to keep sanding dust from traveling through the home. Remove or cover curtains and other items in the room to protect them.

2. Sand the floor using a low grit (80 to 100 grit) sandpaper. You can use an orbital, belt or hand sander. Orbital sanders are difficult to work with and can cause gouges that will ruin wood floors. If you have never used an orbital sander, consider sticking with a belt or hand sander instead.

3. Sand the floor using a finer grit paper (100 to 200 grit). This will smooth out the scratches and texturing caused by sanding and leave the floor ready for staining. If you feel that your floor needs further refinement, sand the surface once more using a very fine grit (over 200).

4. Vacuum the room to remove sanding dust, then rub the surface with a tack cloth to pick up finer duct particles.

5. Apply stains, seals or wax as desired. Polyurethane stains are used to give the wood color and should be tested in an out-of-the-way place before being applied to the entire floor. Seals, or varnishes, are clear-top coats that protect the floor from dirt and moisture and give it a glossy finish. Both of these products can be applied using a paint brush or roller. Floor wax can also be used to provide shine and protection, and should be applied using a clean, dry cloth.

Tips & Warnings

• Protect yourself while you work. Wear a face mask to keep sanding dust from irritating your respiratory system. When applying stains or seals, always work in a well-ventilated area.

References

• Wood Floor Doctor
• Refinishing Hardwood Floors
• Lowes Home Improvement Library