If your hardwood floors are in great shape and only feature surface scratches or scuffs, refreshing them without the cost and mess associated with full-scale sanding could be just what is needed to revive them.
This method involves buffing and recoating an existing floor finish, typically used on oil-finished hardwood flooring. Usually completed within a day.
Preparation
First step to successful work: Prepare the space you’re working in by plugging any heating ducts, closing all windows and doors, shutting off fans or ventilation systems and masking off baseboards and furniture with painter’s tape to protect from dust or dirt while you work.
Use a pH-neutral cleaner and a damp cloth to thoroughly scrub down your floor, eliminating all dirt or residue, before allowing it to fully dry before moving onto it – this should take anywhere between several hours and one full day depending on the finish and room conditions.
This method works well for floors that need some general care but need an added shine to look their best again. For deeper scratches or dents, however, sanding may be required; also in cases of previous refinishing where a new stain does not adhere well with old finish, requiring further sanding to bare wood before applying new stain.
Wood Stain or Paint
Refinishing hardwood floors requires either stain or paint. Stain allows the natural grain of the floor to show through while paint gives you solid color options that require different levels of maintenance.
If you decide to stain your floors, pick a color that complements your space. Remember that wood species and age can influence how stain looks on its surfaces – darker wood species tend to take on an orange tint while lighter yellowish species take more transparent or translucent stain applications.
Before beginning the refinishing process, empty out your room and remove any furniture or rugs. Clean your floors thoroughly using a cleaner specifically made for wood flooring to remove dirt or debris and allow rejuvenator to bond properly with wood grain. Be sure to address any deep scratches or dents as part of this step, although sanding may still be required depending on their severity; renew them without it for minimal damage instead.
Applying the Stain or Paint
Refinishing wood floors usually doesn’t require sanding, as long as there are no top coats that prevent new stain from adhering or other imperfections. If the floor has already been finished and you want to stain it darker, simply clean it using a degreaser (such as one available commercially for hardwood floor cleaning) before applying new stain.
For your own safety, always perform a preliminary test on a small area of floorboards before beginning refinishing processes on them. If the method doesn’t suit them properly, sand down the entire project again until a suitable process can be found that meets them all.
Use a hardwood floor refinishing kit to save both time and hassle. These kits typically contain everything necessary, making purchasing one much simpler. These can usually be found at most large home centers, hardware stores and online. Just follow the directions of your product of choice to keep your floors looking their best while protecting against wear-and-tear in the future.
Sealing
Use a wood floor sealant that does not require sanding to finish your floors without needing to resort to sanding – such as one designed specifically to protect moisture damage while giving them a fresh new shine. Sealing can usually be accomplished within one day but should allow enough drying time before walking on or replacing furniture onto it.
This method isn’t appropriate for all hardwood floors; prefinished and laminated flooring are often difficult to refinish successfully while it may even be impossible to do linoleum refinishing. Furthermore, recoating may not be an option in extreme scratched or stained situations.
Rent a buffer early, as this technique requires renting one and selecting an appropriate type of finish if your floors are oiled; oil reacts differently with water-based finishes and can cause discoloration; you can test their color with mineral spirit solution to ensure you choose the appropriate one.