Easiest Way to Refinish a Hardwood Floor

Polyurethane protects hardwood flooring.

The easiest way to refinish a hardwood floor is not always the quickest. Expect the process to take a day for preparation and a day for refinishing. Although there are many steps in the process, the use of the right equipment and the right refinishing materials will make the task easier for you to complete.

Things You'll Need

• Electric floor sander
• Edge sander
• 33-grit sandpaper
• 60-grit sandpaper
• 90-grit sandpaper
• Cotton cloth
• Mineral spirits
• Water-based sealer
• Water-based polyurethane
• 4-inch paintbrush
• Synthetic floor finish applicator

Instructions

1. Sand the wooden floor down to the bare wood using an electric floor sander and an edge sander. You can rent both from most home repair centers. Start with a 30-grit sandpaper and then graduate to 60-grit and then 80-grit paper. Vacuum the floor between each grit. Graduating to finer grits will help to eliminate any visible scratches in the floor surface. Also, vacuum after sanding with the 80-grit paper as well.

2. Wet a cloth with mineral spirits and wipe the floor clean of any residual sanding dust the vacuum failed to pick up. Mineral spirits take a few minutes to dry. Give it approximately 30 minutes drying time before moving on.

3. Apply a water-based base coat sealer to the floor. Pour a small amount of base coat sealer onto the floor and spread it on the floor around your cabinets and the room parameter with a 4-inch paintbrush. Even out the basecoat sealer across the entire floor with a synthetic floor finish applicator on a pole. This will ensure the sealer dries smooth on the floor. Work slowly to avoid bubbles in the sealer. Allow two hours drying time for the base coat sealer.

4. Apply a water-based polyurethane onto the floor in the same manner as you did the base coat. Apply a second coat within two hours of the first coat. Give adequate drying time between coats and then add a third and final coat.

References

• This Old House: How to Refinish Hardwood Floors; Tom Silvia; April 2009