How to Finish Unfinished Hardwood Floor
Whether you've just laid a new hardwood floor, or you have one that's decades old and was never finished, you should sand, stain and seal it as soon as possible to protect it from moisture and damage. Since the floor is unfinished, you don't have to worry about stripping off a top coat of gloss and stain, but it's a still a messy, difficult job. Expect it to take four or five days, due to the drying time of the stain and gloss. Makes sure the rest of the house is sealed off from the dust and fumes. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Drum sander
- 80 and 120-grit sandpaper for the drum sander
- Rubber gloves
- Wood stain
- Brushes
- Cotton rags
- Polyurethane gloss
- Floor gloss applicator (looks like a cloth push broom)
- 220-grit sandpaper
Instructions
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1
Load a drum sander with 80-grit sandpaper. Sand the floor by running the drum sander back and forth at a 45-degree angle from the direction of the floorboards, to grind the edges of the boards even with one another. Do the whole floor.
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2
Re-load the sander with 120-grit sandpaper, and sand it in the direction of the floorboards to smooth out the surface. Thoroughly clean up the dust.
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3
Starting at one corner, brush on your wood stain, covering four or five square feet. Let the stain sit on the wood for a minute, then wipe up the excess stain with your cotton rags. Repeat section by section until the floor is completely stained. Let it dry overnight.
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4
Pour a line of floor gloss across the floor boards near one wall, making the line about as long as your gloss applicator is wide. Use the applicator to slowly pull the gloss across the floor, avoiding the creation of bubbles. Repeat and continue pouring and pulling until the whole floor is glossed. Let it dry overnight.
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5
Use a 220-grit sandpaper to lightly sand the whole floor by hand. Sand it just enough to take the shine off of the gloss. Re-apply a second gloss layer in the same manner as the first. Let it dry, sand it, and apply a third layer. Let it dry completely before using the floor.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear a particle mask when sanding the floor. Wear rubber gloves when staining.
