Wood floors become discolored with constant use. Most of the times, refinishing is usually what is required. Refinishing is a process that takes a lot of elbow grease. It is a very straightforward process with three major steps. The process starts with sanding of the floor. Then comes the staining of the floor. The process is completed with a finish that protects the floor.
Sanding is the first step in the process. For this remove all furniture and rugs from the floor. Carefully inspect the floor for any nails and carpet staples. Once you are done, start sanding with the heaviest grit sandpaper. You can use the drum sanders or the more modern orbital sanders. Always move the sanders in the direction parallel to the grain of the floor. Never sand across the grain. Once you are finished sanding the floor with the heavy grit sandpaper, switch to a lighter grit sandpaper and restart the process. Go through several grits to remove the scratches and even out the floor. Use a shop vacuum cleaner to gather the sawdust. The more even the floor is, the brighter and smoother would the finish be. Make sure that all the sawdust is cleaned away from the floor. Once you are finished with the sanding of the wood floor, you can either go for a stained dark look or a more “natural” look.
For a stained look, you need to apply a stain to the wood floor. For this, you need to clean the floor thoroughly. Any sawdust will mar the color of the finish. Use a broom and a vacuum cleaner to clean the floor. First check the stain by applying it to a back corner of the room. Let it dry and they check the result. If you are satisfied with the color, apply the stain to the whole floor. Try to keep the coat even and thin. Brush in the direction of the grain. Let the coat dry completely and then check the result. If a darker shade is required, apply another coat. Otherwise, touch up the lighter spots. Let the wood floor dry completely before proceeding to the next step.
The last part is the application of the finish to the wood floor. This can be done directly after the sanding process to get a more natural look. Usually the finish is polyurethane based. Many people make the mistake of shaking the can which mixes the air into the finish. These air bubbles show up on the floor and destroy the look. Always stir the can to mix the contents. Use a roller to apply the finish. This ensures that the finish is applied in even strokes. This is important as a thin layer is sufficient for the finished look. Make sure that the area is well ventilated otherwise the irritating and sometimes toxic fumes of the finish could harm you. It usually takes two to three days for the finish to dry properly.
Wood floor refinishing is nothing very complicated. It just takes time and some effort to renovate the floor.
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