How to Buff a Hardwood Floor

If your hardwood floor has lost its luster, but is not so worn that an all-out sanding job is needed, then a buffing followed by a fresh coat of floor finish is in order. The buffing will remove minor scratches and imperfections, while the floor finish will bring back the shine that will become the envy of the neighborhood.

Things You'll Need

• Sanding Screen Discs
• Rotary Floor Buffer
• 1-inch pads
• Pad holder
• Floor finish
• Floor finish applicator
• Mineral spirits

Instructions

Buffing Hardwood Floors

1. Remove furniture from the room. Sweep and vacuum the floor to remove all dirt and debris.

2. Place a grit screen on the floor. Start with a coarse screen, such as an 80 or 100 grit. The lower the number, the more aggressive the sanding action will be. Next, place a 1-inch white or red buffing pad on top of the sanding pad. With the pad holder in place, maneuver the rotary machine on top of the buffing pad.

3. Buff the floor using a left to right motion following the grain of the wood.

4. Sweep and vacuum the floor, removing all sanding dust. Clean the floor with a rag dipped in mineral spirits. Allow to dry.

5. Repeat Steps 2 through 4 with a fine grit sanding screen, such as a 120 or 150 grit disc. This is an important step to prepare the floor for the floor finish.

6. Apply floor finish as recommended by the manufacturer.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose the grit carefully. Minor touch-ups will require less aggressive screening.

• Keep the buffing machine moving for an even screening of the floor. If left in one spot too long, the floor will look uneven when finished.

References

• Hardwood Installer.com; Screen and Coat Worn or Dull Hardwood Floors
• etcpads.com; How to refinish wood floors with sandscreen discs

Resources

• HardwoodInstaller.com; The Internet Consumer Guide To Hardwood Floors