How to Refinish Hardwood Floors & Bubbles

This floor is an example of hardwood that needs to be refinished.

Wood flooring is a beautiful feature in homes both old and new. Wood floors are resistant to traffic and liquid, providing that they are properly cared for. Over time, the finish on the flooring wears down. When a floor starts to absorb liquids and becomes dull in appearance, it's time to refinish it. Hardwood is a porous and easy-to-sand material, so it can easily be restored to its original beauty with some effort. Refinishing a hardwood floor can be done once or twice during the life of the flooring.

Things You'll Need

• Hammer
• Broom
• Wood filler crayon
• Vacuum cleaner
• Plastic tarps
• Floor sander
• 20 grit floor sander sandpaper
• 100 grit floor sander sandpaper
• Paint scraper
• Tack cloth
• Water-based sealer
• Paint roller
• New paintbrush
• Non-yellowing polyurethane

Instructions

1. Remove any nails or staples in the flooring with the back of your hammer. Fill in any holes with a wood filler crayon.

2. Prepare the room by sweeping the floor that will be finished, and then vacuum to be sure there is no dirt in small crevices. Make sure to get into corners as well. Remove everything from the room and hang plastic tarps over doorways and windows.

3. Sand the floor using 20 grit sandpaper on your floor sander. Make sure that the floor sander's rotation is going with the grain, and not across it. Sand the middle of your floor, and work your way out to the edges. At the edges, sand slowly, and be careful near walls and heating units. Sand the areas that are too small for the sander to fit by hand using the same 20 grit sandpaper.

4. Switch the sandpaper on the floor sander to 100 grit. The 100 grit paper will smooth the swirls and scratches on surface made by the coarser 20 grit paper. Sand the entire floor again from the center of the room, out.

5. Sweep and vacuum again to remove all of the dust created by sanding. If you notice any swirls or scratches, scrape them out with a paint scraper. To be absolutely sure you have picked up all of the dust, use a tack cloth to remove any microscopic dust particles.

6. Use a paint roller to apply water-based sealer to the entire floor. Cover the area evenly and let it dry for about two hours. Vacuum the floor again to eliminate newly settled dust.

7. 

   Apply your polyurethane with a brush or a roller and allow it to dry for four to five hours, and vacuum again. Apply a second coat and allow it to dry another four to five hours. The new finish on your floor will last for years.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear a dust mask when sanding to prevent breathing dust from the wood and old varnish, stain or polyurethane. Operate floor sanders with caution, and wear protective boots.

References

• Refinshed Hardwood: How to Refinish a Wood Floor