How to Refinish Hardwood Floors & the Best Protection

Hardwood floors bring elegance to any room.

Refinishing hardwood floors will make any room more attractive. A weekend of time is a small price to pay for this do-it-yourself project. This project should not be rushed. The key to floor refinishing success is taking your time.

Things You'll Need

• Floor sander
• Sandpaper, various grit levels
• Hand sander
• Broom
• Utility vacuum
• Mineral spirits
• Rags
• Polyurethane
• Lambswool applicator

Instructions

Sanding a Wood Floor

1. Remove all furniture from the space to be sanded. It is important to have a clean, open area to work in.

2. Sweep and vacuum the floor to remove all debris. Small pebbles and grit can gouge the wood floor if they find their way under your sander.

3. Set-up the sander at the farthest end of the room. An orbital sander, if available, is easier to use since it can work with or against the grain. Drum sanders, often preferred by professionals, may work quicker but require a greater skill level to operate.

4. Sand the floor with a coarse grit sand paper. Exactly which grit you choose will depend on the condition of the floor. For most applications, 60 grit sand paper is a good starting point.
   Work with the grain, even if using an orbital sander. Work systematically from one side of the room to the other. Use a hand sander to work close to molding, corners and other areas the machine cannot reach.

   This is the most important step and should not be rushed. Allow a couple hours to properly sand a room.

5. Sweep and vacuum floor to remove dust.

6. Repeat the sanding step twice more with progressively finer sand paper, such as 80 grit followed by 100 grit. Though the appearance of the wood will not drastically change, the polyurethane will adhere better and look better on a smoother floor.

7. Vacuum and sweep the floor to remove the sawdust. Wipe down the entire floor with a rag soaked in mineral spirits. This will grab the fine sawdust particles trapped in the wood grain.

Apply Polyurethane

1. Dip a lambswool applicator into a shallow pail, or paint pan, of polyurethane. Allow to drip before applying to floor.

2. Apply a thin coat of polyurethane from the farthest end of the room. Do not stretch the solution; keep the lambswool applicator wet enough to deliver a uniform coat. Allow to dry as per the manufacturer's instructions.

3. Sand the floor by hand with a fine grit sand paper if instructed by the manufacturer. Wipe down the floor with a cloth soaked in mineral spirits to remove dust and impurities from the surface before applying the next coat.

4. Apply a second coat of polyurethane using the lambswool applicator. Consult the manufacturer's instructions for advice in applying more than two coats.

Protecting Your Wood Floor

1. Apply felt or plastic glide to the bottom of all furniture. Glides will protect the wood finish from becoming scratched when furniture is moved.

2. Sweep and vacuum often to remove grit from the floor. Even the finest bits of sand, dirt and gravel will wear away the floor's finish if left unchecked.

3. Remove accumulated boxes from a floor carefully. Sliding them across the floor can damage the wood if there is debris trapped underneath them.

Tips & Warnings

• When choosing sand paper, remember low numbers are coarse grit; high numbers are fine grit.

• Wood stain can be applied between the sanding and polyurethane step, if desired.

• Follow manufacturer instructions on all materials used in this project.

• Apply polyurethane in a well-ventilated room, away from open flames.

References

• ETC Pads: How to Refinish Wood Floors
• Hammerzone.com: Refinishing Hardwood Floors

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• The Flooring Lady: Refinishing Pine Floors