The Best Way to Refinish Hardwood Floors

Your hardwood floors can take on a whole new shine.

Your hardwood floors can look like new again. However, before this is possible you will need to take the time to refinish them in the best way possible. The best way is generally the way that will be the most time consuming. When you take your time to refinish your hardwood floors, you will be able to enjoy the best results, and you can then go years before having to think about refinishing them again.

Things You'll Need

• 180-grit sandpaper
• Buffing pad
• Floor buffer machine
• Vacuum cleaner
• Tack cloth
• Paintbrush
• Finish
• Nap cover paint roller

Instructions

1. Sand the hardwood floors around the edges by hand with 180-grit sandpaper. Go out about six inches from the wall.

2. Attach a buffing pad to a floor buffer machine, and use it to sand down the rest of your hardwood floors. Use a back-and forth-motion for best results.

3. Use the brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner to vacuum the floors.

4. Wipe down the floors with a microfiber tack cloth to remove any remaining dust.

5. Dip a paintbrush into the finish you're using on the hardwood floors. Run it along the perimeter of your floors. Use one constant motion, and don't take longer than 10 minutes or it will start to dry.

6. Pour the finish directly onto the floor in a one inch strip. Pour with the grain if the wood.

7. Spread the finish with a nap cover paint roller. Continue spreading first with the grain and then against it for 10 minutes.

8. Pour out more finish in a one inch strip and spread it out with the paint roller for 10 minutes. Continue this process to refinish the entire floor.

References

• This Old House: How to Refinish Wood Floors