Prepare Test Areas. Find protruding nails by sliding the blade of a putty knife across the floor. Thoroughly sweep and vacuum the flooring and then follow up with a tack cloth to remove all the dust that you can. Getting the job done is a lengthy and labor-intensive process. Once applied it takes 24 hours to dry, and seven to 14 days to cure. Repairing and refinishing old hardwood floors can be a labor-intensive and complex process. Got questions? This creates a “wear layer” that people, pets, and furniture stand on top of. To do ask for each number and certification, then confirm if all are up to date. ", Step 5: Many solid woods come with grooves cut into the back of the wood that run the length of each plank, often called ‘absorption strips,’ that are intended to reduce cupping. Not only do I dislike this style but they're terrible dirt traps. Leaving the smaller ones unpatched will accommodate wood expansion. Move the furniture and pull up any carpeting or rugs in the room. At some time, carpet had been put over the top in all rooms. When returning the furniture to room, place felt pads on the feet to prevent them from scratching the floor. Be prepared for the buffer to swing to the right or left depending on how you position the handle, making broad arcs across the floor to get a smooth surface. Then, go back over the floor with a clean, damp mop to remove any excess cleaner. Check the Better Business Bureau for complaints. Cost to Refinish Hardwood Floors. Water-based polyurethane finishes are low VOC, which means they aren't as stinky or hazardous to inhale as their oil-based counterparts.Â. Seal air vent covers to prevent dust from sanding from getting in your ductwork. We floundered a bit in figuring it ou… Renewing your old hardwood floor may be easier and cheaper than you think. Concerned about fake reviews? Refinish hardwood floors … Prepare the Floor for Refinishing For flawless wood floors, avoid these 11 Wood-Flooring installation and finishing mistakes. Learning how to refinish hardwood floors can be a time-intensive process that involves multiple steps. heathersxoxo. After the pieces are planed for a smooth finish, a tongue and groove is cut into their sides. Deep Cleaning is as Easy as One-Two-Three, What You Need to Know About Dark Floor Stains, How to Clean Hardwood Floors and Make Them Shine, What You Need to Know About Hardwood Floors in Kitchens, Sanders to Use When Refinishing Hardwood Floors, How to Protect Hardwood Floors From Damage, The 7 Best Hardwood Floor Cleaners of 2020, How to Remove Indoor Water Stains From Wood, Engineered Wood Floors: What to Know Before You Buy. If you want to change or improve the floor color, apply a stain. Rent equipment such as drum sanders and edger sanders. On the other hand, penetrating oil actually incorporates itself into the wood. But with N-Hance, you can skip sanding entirely. Removing the Old Finish with a Chemical Stripper Use a chemical stripper in lieu of sanding. Many manufacturers recommend removing excess stain as you go, usually a few minutes after application. With the wear and tear of everyday use, they will eventually need refinishing. After deep cleaning your floors, here's what you need to do to keep them in tip-top shape: If deep cleaning didn't restore your wood floor's glow, you could give it a fresh new finish without sanding or staining using one of the following products: Another good to know, products like these that were created to refresh floors without sanding, have a thick consistency that will fill light scratches and soften small dings.Â. The flooring throughout is tongue and groove pine. use a scrubbing machine designed to remove embedded dirt. Need Help? New owners of an older home often think the best way to spiff up their worn and stained floors is to sand and refinish them, but often, in order to achieve the desired like-new results, they remove too much flooring material. This can leave the upper edge of the groove in tongue-and-groove floors dangerously thin—so thin that breakage is common. What to do? It's available in both satin and glossy finishes. Buy special hardwood floor refinishing kit. When problems arise or when a floor fails, it can be costly. If the flooring has small areas that even the edger cannot reach, use a scraper and some 80- and 100-grit. ", Step 7: If you want your floors professional refinished, you can find local contractors using several online services like Yelp or Angie's List. … My hardwood floors have grooves in between each board. Remove All Dust This may not be how the pros would do it, but it's done for about $150 in materials and a few days of my time. 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