Refurbishing Hardwood Floors

Tools and Materials Needed

Determine Floor Condition
- Refine if dirty but not worn to bare wood.
- Refinish if floors are damaged.
Prepare the Area
- Remove shoe molding or base molding to protect floors from sanding.
- Nail down loose floorboards to fix squeaks (use 8d finishing nails).
- Fill holes with latex wood putty.
- Seal doorways and ducts with plastic sheeting and masking tape to minimize dust.
Choose the Right Sander
- For badly worn floors, start with a drum sander using coarse sandpaper (36 or 40 grit).
- For minor refinishing, use a vibrating sander.
- Practice using the sander on a plywood sheet if needed.
- Move the sander with the grain, covering 3-4 foot strokes.
- Overlap strokes by at least one-third of the belt width.
Manage Dust
- Sweep and vacuum between sanding grades to minimize dust accumulation.
- Consider fine sanding with a vibrating sander for an even surface before switching grits.
Edge and Corner Sanding
- Use an edge sander with 80 grit paper for corners and tight spaces.
- Finish tight spaces with a random orbit sander for better control.
Post-Sanding Preparation
- Vacuum dust from the floors and wipe clean with a tack cloth.
- Apply a bio wood stain with foam applicator, working with the grain.
- Remove excess stain using clean cloths or paper towels.
Finishing Coats
- After stain dries, apply a finish using a lamb’s wool applicator.
- Apply 3-4 coats, lightly sanding with 220 grit paper between each coat.