Other than that, yes you can definitely sand and seal your engineered wood flooring. It takes some elbow grease to refinish hardwood floors, but it's worth it. You can choose from a variety of colors and finishes to fit your needs. 1 decade ago. He spent more than 15 years as a third-generation tile and stone contractor before transitioning into freelance writing. Work in small sections with the grain of the wood. Mix a solution of one part denatured alcohol to two parts water. Pull on your big boy pants (or big girl!) Each piece of sandpaper will be good for about 20 square feet. Here are a few of the most popular. There are finishing options in addition to polyurethane. Experts say you can refinish traditional hardwood floors up to 10 times, so with a bit of care, your floors should last (and remain beautiful) for a lifetime. Reclaimed wood creates floors that are truly one-of-a-kind and Mother Nature-friendly. If your floors are lightly damaged, use a wood patch filler on individual spots. Learn how to care for hardwood floors by using these natural cleaners and following these simple tips. Apply stain in the same direction as the grain in 3- to 4-foot sections at a time. Fortunately, you can refinish hardwood floors without sanding by buffing or mopping first instead. Can you restain a light hardwood floor a darker color? Using the fine-grit paper will result in that professional-quality finish you want. It will perform better if you keep it less than half full. Wear a respiratory mask and eye protection. You can find hardwood floor cleaner at most home improvement stores. The best way to refinish wood floors without sanding is to use a technique called screen and recoat. Using a 120-grit sanding screen, buff the floor along each board, moving back and forth with the grain. Apply the stain in even coats, let it sit and then wipe it up. Use a sticky tack cloth to remove any particles on the wood floor. Run a rag or mop over the floor to evenly distribute the solution (Image 3). 0 0. arizonakal. Lv 6. You may need to use a paintbrush around the edges of the room. This how-to refinish wood floors article will show you how to do just that. This can be accomplished with a machine buffer or done by hand with a #2 fine steel wool pad (Image 2). The bare floor is now ready for either stain or sealer. Could you please explain for me. Wood is a common building product used as a finish material for floors, and it is usually stained and sealed to protect the surface from damage. Pick an oil-based stain in the color of your choice. Knowing how to stain and seal a hardwood floor properly pays off in having a beautiful finish and enduring protection. Are they “real” wood floors or the recently modern “engineered” wood floors ? Run a rag or mop over the floor to evenly distribute the solution. If you are happy with your flooring and just want to refinish your flooring to give them a new life, hardwood flooring usually only needs to be refinished once every 7- 10 years. It is possible to complete an entire 2,000-square-foot home in as little as four days for about $700. Make sure your space is well-ventilated and that you are wearing a respirator mask when using polyurethane, especially oil-based polyurethane. This involves sanding down the top layer of stain so you can achieve a seamless look. If your hardwood floor is only lightly worn, damaged, or scratched, you may be able to refinish it without sanding. So, we naturally get the question, “Can you refinish pre-finished floors?”. 2 Answers. If your flooring is solid hardwood, it can be sanded and refinished in a different stain for a different appearance. Use a shop vacuum with a brush head to clean the floor thoroughly and then follow with a sticky tack cloth to remove any remaining particles (Image 1). Many homeowners don’t realize that you can change the color of hardwood flooring when you refinish your floors. Sweep the floors as often as needed to remove dust and dirt, which will scratch the floor's surface. Because the drum sander is large and cumbersome, you will need to use a different sander for the edges of the room. Sealing protects the floor from water damage, dings and scratches and adds luster and shine to bring out the beauty of the wood. With solid hardwood you usually can refinish them. With the motor running, start moving slowly forward. Learn how to install a "floating" hardwood floor. You can opt to remove the baseboard trim after cleaning, since the sanding machines may damage the baseboard. Where engineered hardwood floors are made of 2 or more layers, the top layer's thickness, meaning the exposed flooring, is thin. Think of the way you would plywood. For different dimension of floorings in different locations there are various suggestions that I can share to you. Engineered hardwood you can think of like a cake, which has different layers. Favorite Answer. After sanding yes you can. When you refinish your floors, you can change the color of your flooring. Use a pry bar to gently remove base molding (Image 2). Safety Tip: Store and dispose of oil-soaked rags properly. If your hardwood floors are dull and in need of rejuvenation, you should consider whether buffing or sanding is the right approach. Between coats of polyurethane, let the product dry completely (refer to manufacturer’s instructions for drying times) and buff the floor between each coat with a machine buffer or by hand with a #2 fine steel wool pad. As with any wood floor refinishing project, 90 percent of this job is preparation. Stain and other finishing products emit harmful vapors. Most are pleasantly surprised it doesn’t matter if you are going light to dark or vice versa. our dogs damaged our hardwood flooring. If you are only refinishing one room, you might want to use plastic sheeting to seal doors. Answer: Dear David. Sometimes, the floors are just worn and it’s time to refinish them, or the pre-finished floors just don’t match the rest of the home. Use a pry bar to gently remove base molding. Over time, the flooring may also get some slight warping. The heat generated naturally from wood oils on rags can be a fire hazard, … Place area rugs in high traffic areas or in areas where the floors may be exposed to water. Nail down any boards that are loose. It comes in a variety of finishes from glossy to matte. How to Install Hardwood Flooring in a Kitchen, How to Remove Candle Wax From Hardwood Floors, How To: Installing Floating Wooden Floors, 100 Beautiful Kitchen Island Inspiration Ideas, 5 Best Portable Air Conditioners Under $700, drum or belt floor sander (rent from a home improvement store), edger sander (rent a home improvement store), wood filler - either a full trowel filler or wood patch, 40, 60, 80 and 120-grit sandpaper to fit each sander. But, even if your floors need a complete makeover, refinishing hardwood is a very manageable and rewarding do-it-yourself job that can save a lot of money. Keep the machines moving and lightly sand the surface to expose the wood under the top layer of stain. Start sanding with the 40-grit sandpaper. In this video, I teach a college student how to give new life to an old hardwood floor in her apartment. Before you start,make sure that you have read my articles on using a … If you want to change the color of the wood, add a stain. For this step, you'll use a drum sander rented from a home improvement store. Chances are, your stained floor was also covered with a sealer to protect it over the years. Most hardwood floors can be made darker, lighter, redder, or anywhere in between. The answer is usually YES! Some people rent an industrial floor buffer for this step, but a pole sander, pictured, is another great option. it now looks all discolored and old. Overlap rows by one board. There are two types of prefinished hardwood floors: solid wood, which is made of actual planks of real wood, and engineered wood. DIY experts give step-by-step instructions on how to install hardwood floors in any room. A single coat may be sufficient for your floor, but additional coats allow for more protection against foot traffic and damage. Yes, it’s true…you can go light or dark or red tones or anywhere in between. Use needle-nosed pliers to remove any nails or staples. Keep it quiet with these troubleshooting tips. Working with a drum sander can be challenging — it can be hard to control and using it incorrectly can damage your floors. Let it dry fully before sanding (Image 3). More sanding with higher grits can be done if you want a smoother finish. Let the filler dry completely. Whether renovating an old home or just looking for a way to spruce up your current abode, refinishing hardwood floors is a great way to make a space feel brand new. For a 2,000-square-foot house, that can mean a bill as high as $8,000. With the wonderful variety available in hardwood, you may find that laying a contrasting floor with serve your purposes just as well as trying to extend your existing flooring. Ready to tackle the project? Each round of sanding will reveal a smoother surface with all repaired holes or cracks flush with the floor surface (Image 3). If you can’t find any, you can mix your own with 10 parts water to … You must mean laminated or engineered wood floor, laminates are vinyl. Spray the floor using a pump sprayer, covering the floor completely. Because polyurethane sits on top of the hardwood (it doesn’t soak in), it offers excellent protection from water and scratches and it requires minimal upkeep. Wipe down floors with a damp rag to remove all debris and dust. Now repeat the process using 60, 80 and then the 120-grit paper on both the drum sander and the edge sander. If your floors are heavily damaged, it is best to use a trowel filler, a thinner wood filler that spreads and covers large areas. It’s tedious and will create a lot of dust. Refinishing hardwood floors will add charm to any room and is a great way to make a space feel new. You may have a different species, but usually they are solid and you can refinish them. Work from the far corner of your room toward the door so you don't step on the fresh stain. Source(s): 20 years in flooring as a store owner/installer. Wipe away excess stain from the floor before moving to the next area. But as long as the damage is shallow—in the coating and not in the wood itself—you can renew the hardwood floor by adding a new coat of polyurethane right over the old finish. Traditionally, hardwood flooring was always installed as unfinished planks that were then stained and finished with a protective surface layer, right on the worksite. Hardwood floors are tough, beautiful and can work in most rooms in your home. Hardwood floors are classic, timeless and durable. Typically, a professional will charge anywhere from $3 to $4 per square foot to refinish floors. Use a lambswool applicator or staining sponge. Work from the far corner of the room toward the door, so you don’t "trap" yourself in the room. Mix a solution of one part denatured alcohol to two parts water. Pick an oil-based stain in the color of your choice. Ultimately, the manufacturer's guidelines are the deciding factor, because while installer preference may vary from professional to professional, warranties are voided if manufacturer recommendations aren’t followed. Tim Anderson has been freelance writing since 2007. rob s. Lv 7. Because the drum sander is large and cumbersome, you will need to use a different sander for the edges of the room. Wipe down the floor with a damp rag to remove all debris and dust. Make sure your area is properly ventilated and wear a respirator mask. Check the floor for larger holes or cracks and repair using wood filler and a spackle knife. Avoid a mismatched look with the successful blending of new wood floors with preexisting sections. Allow approximately 30 minutes drying time before staining. Check it regularly and change the sandpaper as soon as it looks worn. Refinishing hardwood floors will add charm to any room and is a great way to make a space feel new. © 2021 Discovery or its subsidiaries and affiliates. or is it too late for that? As a general rule, you should avoid letting stain sit on the surface of wood for more than 3 to 5 minutes. If you want to change the color of the wood, add a stain. Situations differ, but you may not be able to refinish your hardwood floor more than 10 times. After the stain is dry or if you are skipping stain, finish by sealing the floor. The goal of refinishing, or restaining, a wood floor is to bring it back to its original luster. Start with a 60- to 80-grit paper and make sure you don’t let the belt or pads of the machines sit in one place for too long or they will eat into the wood. Spray the floor using a pump sprayer, covering the floor completely (Image 2). and get to work, because your tatty old floors could be lookin’ brand new in no time. Now that you have a home full of beautiful floors, keep them looking new by sweeping and mopping regularly, using furniture pads, and exercising caution with hard-soled shoes. Apply polyurethane with a smooth sponge roller. Oils can take up to 8 hours or more, depending on humidity and temperature. All rights reserved. Water-based polyurethane is the easiest to work with and dries the quickest — within 3 to 4 hours in optimal conditions. Changing the Color of Your Hardwood. You can remove the small piece of quarter-round and leave the rest of the baseboards in place. Sand using the 40-grit sandpaper until the floor color is completely uniform. Staining and sealing hardwood floors the right way — whether you’re refinishing, refurbishing, or stripping the wood floor — results in years of enjoyment. If you only have some minor scratches and dings or a dull finish, you might be able to simply buff and add a new coat of varnish. Method 1: Buffing Don't allow stain to pool on the floor. 1 decade ago. Refinishing, or restaining, a wood floor to bring it back to its original glory is a common part of being a hardwood-floor owner and ensures that your floor remains looking as colorful as the day it was installed. The experts show how to install fold and lock hardwood flooring material. Between each coat, let the product dry completely (refer to manufacturer’s instructions for drying times) and buff the floor between each coat. Engage the sander as you are moving and disengage before you stop. But since the introduction of prefinished solid hardwood during the 1940s, this newer form of flooring has become increasingly popular, and today you may find that it's easier to find than traditional unfinished hardwood planks. Hardwood floors refinishing is a hurry-up-and-wait process. Through decades of use, old wood floors can develop foot-traffic paths or suffer discoloration and fading from bright sunshine coming through windows. Once you know whether the whole patch needs stain, or the floor can be polyurethaned without staining, it's time to choose polyurethane to match the surrounding flooring. If the floor is reasonably flat you MIGHT find a professional willing to chance this sanding. Try to avoid letting the edges dry. GL. Using a pole sander is a bit more time consuming, but also easier to use than a buffer and more affordable. Using the vacuum and tack cloth, make certain the floor is free of hair and dust. For a 2,000-square-foot house, that can mean a bill as high as $8,000. Installing hardwood flooring in a kitchen is a great option because it lasts a long time. More coats typically equal more protection. This causes the wood grains to rise and better accept the stain. 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