Prior to buffing, ensure your floors are free from dirt and dust by vacuuming frequently using a soft brush attachment with soft bristle attachment – this will prevent scratching the hardwood surface.
Make sure that all nails and screws are embedded into the floor to prevent them from getting caught by the sanding screen and damaging your buffer.
Chemical abrasion kit
Refresh hardwood floors without sanding with this method that utilizes store-bought chemical abrasion kits. This method may not work for all floors but it is certainly easier than traditional methods and offers less expense and faster completion time than sanding.
Before beginning this process, it’s essential to clear out all furniture and organize the room. Additionally, all exposed fixtures should be covered with a tarp or cloth to protect from dust. Because this process is messy, a mask should also be worn during this process.
The main disadvantage to this approach is that it may not be as durable, effective at covering deeper scratches, and costs around $100 USD for an all-inclusive kit containing all major materials. Nonetheless, many homeowners find this an appealing solution.
Buffing
This technique is similar to chemical abrasion but uses a floor buffer instead of liquid sander. Although faster, buffing your floors could leave them with an uneven finish; to prevent this, apply polish slowly in small sections while working. Be cautious not to apply too much polish as too much might create cloudy areas which take longer to dry off.
Before beginning buffing, remove any furniture from the room and cover baseboards with painter’s tape. It is also wise to close any windows and turn off fans or ventilation systems to help reduce dust production. Finally, before beginning buffing ensure your buffer has a fresh sanding screen as this wears quickly and may cause scratches to form in wood floors while you work.
Revitalizer
revitalizers offer the ideal way to refinish hardwood floors without the need for sanding: polyurethane finishes that restore shine and prevent further damage on existing wood floors, using existing polyurethane finishes as rejuvenaters. You can purchase revitalizers online or at local hardware stores. Before using, always clean the floor thoroughly, using microfiber mop, to remove all dirt or debris before testing mineral spirits on small portions of floorboard to make sure it is safe before applying it all over.
Restoring hardwood floors may take time and effort, but the effort can pay dividends. Routine vacuuming, sweeping, and the use of furniture protectors can reduce wear-and-tear on surfaces while moisture or chemicals should be kept at bay; otherwise it may become necessary to refinish them with alternative methods.
Wood stain or paint
If the hardwood floors in your home have become dull and outdated, refreshing them without full sanding is possible. Simply ensure they are free from wax residue that could prevent new coating from adhering properly.
Use a wood floor cleaner to prep the surface. Sand them using a floor buffer with 180-grit sandpaper; remember to close all windows and doors during this process as it can become quite dusty.
Stain your floor to cover up imperfections. Choose a shade that complements the overall design of your home or mix different stains together to create your own shade. When refinishing floors to sell a house, choose light stain colors like natural to appeal to a wide variety of potential buyers. Once dried, apply 2-3 coats of polyurethane sealant as protection and your floors should look like new!