Take a 30-minute coffee break, allowing the damp floor to dry completely. 'This process involves lightly abrading the surface finish, leaving behind micro-scratches in the existing finish which allow the new coat of finish to bond to the old coat. He is a certified lead carpenter and also holds a certification from the EPA. Wear a respiratory mask and eye protection. Subscribe now from just 6 and receive issues full of inspiring real homes, expert project advice and on-trend shopping, Issues delivered direct to your door or device. Another mistake that is often made is to neglect the importance of vacuuming and sweeping the floors before restoring. Lets take a look at the top tips for how to refinish hardwood floors: Random orbital sanders are the best choice for do-it-yourself hardwood floor refinishing. Step 1 - Get Started Make sure the room is well ventilated when you are using the stain. Left on the floor too long, the etcher can seep into cracks between flooring strips and damage the core of laminated flooring. Make your ceramic tile look like new with these easy DIY cleaning tips. 'Chemical adhesion is a recoat process that involves using an adhesion promoter, or a bonding agent, that sticks to the existing finish and allows a new topcoat to stick to it - kind of like using double-sided tape.' Brett Miller Vice President, National Wood Flooring Association Leave the room for 10 to 15 minutes to let the powder settle. Because you removed the molding in the first step, you won't have to worry about cutting in around the edges of the floor. Check what your floors are made from, laminate, engineered wood or solid hardwood. Alternatively, you can buff on a fresh coat of wax for a fresh, although temporary, shine. Normal wear and shallow scratches in the finish only (not the wood) are no problem; theyll disappear under the new coat of finish. She went from women's magazine Options to Frank. Use a lambswool applicator or staining sponge. With either finish, we recommend a fresh coat every two years or whenever the floor looks worn. Walk the dog for 30 minutes while youre waiting for the etching liquid to dry. They take longer to remove old finishes than drum sanders, but they do not require a lot of experience to use and are less likely to damage your wood floor. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Solid Hardwood Flooring: Which Is Better? That's because unlocking a sad floor's hidden beauty doesn't always involve messy sanding and staining, particularly if yours aren't damaged. You may need to use a paintbrush around the edges of the room. References. All rights reserved. Building Clean, BlueGreen Alliance Foundation. To decide the best solution that works for your home, here are seven things to consider before renewing or refinishing old hardwood floors. With the motor running, start moving slowly forward. While refinishing hardwood floors is a great way to give them a fresh appearance and new color, refinishing too often can diminish . Vacuum the floor and wipe it with a damp cloth. Hardwood floor cleaner, mop, broom, vacuum, cleaning wipes, damp cloth, etc. You may need to apply a second coat in the same manner to achieve the desired color. You can use this method on wood floors that you would otherwise sand or on flooring thats difficult or impossible to sand, such as prefinished or laminated wood. Allow the floor to dry for at least 30 minutes. See how easily, safely and quickly the TurboRasp System on a WerkMaster. Rub the meat of the walnut across the scratch. 2023 Warner Bros. How Much Does It Cost to Refinish Hardwood Floors? Work in line with the flooring strips, then sweep across them to get any powder that settled between the boards. Check out some helpful tips about how to refinish hardwood floors below. Scrub a small section of floor with the abrasive pad and the liquid etcher. Scrub with the grain, applying firm pressure. Unfortunately, some hardwoodfloors are beyond quick fixes. . Either way, youll be able to refinish your hardwood floors relatively quickly and without the hassle, expense, and equipment required to sand to bare wood. Looking for help with repairs around your home? Stick a maroon buffing pad to the buffer, and put on a dust mask. Using a pole sander is a bit more time consuming, but also easier to use than a buffer and more affordable. August 06, 2019 Related To: DIY Flooring Refinishing If your hardwood floors are in need of refinishing, you have two main choices: Do it yourself, or hire and pay someone else to do it for you. If the scratches dont go all the way through to the wood, you can scuff-sand your floors with a buffer and apply a fresh coat or two of finish. Cost of DIY Hardwood Floor Refinishing. Last Updated: February 10, 2023 In a few hours, your floors will look as good as new. 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. The average cost to refinish hardwood floors is about $1,850, with a range of $1,150 to $2,500. Stain and other finishing products emit harmful vapors. Then, apply the polyurethane with a smooth sponge roller (Image 1). Its the process of adding a new topcoat of finish to an existing wood floor finish,' explains Brett Miller, vice president, Technical Standards, Training, and Certification at the National Wood Flooring Association. To limit air movement, close windows, turn off the ceiling fan or window air conditioner, and block any ducts in the room (Photo 2). It is essential to apply the sealer evenly. A palm sander may be used to sand near baseboard moldings, but use a sharp scraper or putty knife to remove any old finish areas the sander may miss. Use heat or ice to effectively remove those accidental wax drippings from your wood floors. Work in small sections with the grain of the wood. Our step-by-step instructional DIY videos and expert advice will give you the confidence for your next project with hands-on learning. "That's why I'm here.". If you want to change the color of the wood, add a stain. A pole sander is another great option for achieving a smooth finish. Avoid letting the leading edge of your job dry; you will end up with lap marks (stripes). Check it regularly and change the sandpaper as soon as it looks worn. Once you've decided to refinish your hardwood floors, one of the first things you have to decide is whether you want to DIY the project or hire a contractor.As Pro Floor Tips explains, the DIY choice comes with several perks, including serious cost savings and complete control over the project. Avoid a mismatched look with the successful blending of new wood floors with preexisting sections. Random orbital sanders are the best choice for do-it-yourself hardwood floor refinishing. Read all of their online reviews carefully. Work in parallel rows toward the wall with the door. 16 March 2021. Brush a 3-inch-wide stripe beside the baseboards at a point farthest from your exit door. You can remove the small piece of quarter-round and leave the rest of the baseboards in place. Allow the sealer to dry for a full 24 hours before walking on the floor and at least 72 hours before replacing rugs or furniture. Refinishing your hardwood floors may seem like a difficult task, but with the right equipment, knowledge, and time you can save a lot of money by doing this project yourself. Dont worry about the milky, uneven color of the finish. It can be used dry or wet, and comes with 2 refillable bottles and 4 washable and reusable mop pads. This can be accomplished with a machine buffer or done by hand with a #2 fine steel wool pad (Image 2). Tools + Materials drum or belt floor sander (rent from a home improvement store) edger sander (rent a home improvement store) small pry bar needle-nosed pliers painter's tape plastic sheeting wood filler - either a full trowel filler or wood patch spackle knife Move the buffer from side to side across the floor in the direction of the grain, overlapping each course by 6 inches. 'The key is to use a light touch and to work in small sections at a time. In order to restore a hardwood floor without sanding, and achieve a professional-look finish in the process, the wood must be absolutely clean and smooth before any new coating is applied. Dip your sponge or rag in the stain and then wring out any excess liquid. Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Carefully dig out the hair with a pin or fingernail, if possible. Sarah Scott is a fact-checker and researcher who has worked in the custom home building industry in sales, marketing, and design. All You Need to Know About Waxing Hardwood Floors, 11 Tried-and-True Ways to Care for Hardwood Floors. All rights reserved. Just be sure to keep the sander level at all times. ft., but check the can to make sure its at least half full. You need some hardwood floor refinishing products, a mop, and a couple of hours to spare. 'For deeper scratches, a wood filler can be used to fill in the area and then sanded down until it is flush with the surrounding wood.'. After this, the rug that should've been protecting the floor may act like a piece of sandpaper, damaging the hardwood. So line up a helper and make sure all your equipment is ready before you begin. Use needle-nosed pliers to remove any nails or staples. Repeated use can permanently damage the wood and the floors finish.'. If your floor has been finished with wax, rather than oil or lacquer, buffing and recoating won't work because the finish may end up leaving ugly bubbles. Do I have to sand down to bare wood to get rid of them? Plug heating ducts with old towels, close windows and turn off fans to limit dust. Because the drum sander is large and cumbersome, you will need to use a different sander for the edges of the room. Then clean the room to make it as dust-free as possible. Refinishing hardwood floors yourself can be. 'Routine maintenance should be all you need with wood floors daily sweeping, vacuuming on the bare floor setting about once per week and using a damp mop with the right cleaning product monthly,' advises Brett Miller from the National Wood Flooring Association. Work from the far corner of the room toward the door, so you dont "trap" yourself in the room. Theres no harm in applying new finish over these spots. Read these 6 steps for refinishing the wood floors in your home: Pro Tip: Dont use a sanding block for refinishing hardwoodit might miss uneven spots in the floor. Attach the abrasive pad from the kit to the wood applicator block and screw a broom handle into the block. It depends on the type of wood you have and how much wear it experiences. Chefs and grill experts share their top tips for preparing a grill for cooking after winter storage for great tasting and safe summer cookouts. Wipe down walls to prevent dust from falling to the floor as your finish is drying. Choose DIY-friendly sanding equipment. Then seal the stain with floor finish from the kit. If not, buy another gallon of Varathane Diamond Water-Based Finish for Floors. If you have heavy traffic paths where the finish is completely worn away or areas where the finish is flaking off (often caused by water damage), dont use this process. One of the first steps in restoring hardwood floors without sanding is to thoroughly clean the surface. For more on flooring, see our All About Hardwood, Laminate, and Vinyl Flooring playlist: https://thd.co/2TdxChB#TheHomeDepot #HomeImprovement #DIYSUBSCRIBE to The Home Depot: http://thd.co/2iib0HEReview our How to Refinish Hardwood Floors guide to see the steps and tools required for the job: https://thd.co/2IB6kO2Follow these steps to complete this DIY project:0:09 Gather tools and supplies 0:21 Determine whether floors need to be refinished or refurbished0:36 Remove the shoe molding0:46 Fix loose floorboards and fill holes0:56 Contain the dust1:08 Rough-sand the floor 1:48 Sweep and vacuum1:55 Fine-sand the floor2:11 Sand edges and corners2:20 Finish-sand the edges2:32 Clean area then apply stain2:46 Apply finishCheck on the availability of flooring equipment in your area: https://thd.co/2XjfIJkAbout The Home Depot:How doers get more done. Allowing for plenty of drying time will assure beautiful and durable floors. Don't miss HGTV in your favorite social media feeds. Here are a few tips to help you replace hardwood floor boards. You also need to use proper form when bent over sanding, applying varnish, or cleaning up throughout the project. Renew the finish on your wood floor without the hassle of sanding. feet. How much did it cost you to refinish your hardwood floors? Additionally, empty the dust bag on the sander regularly. Smooth the base coat out evenly around the edges with a paint brush. Engage the sander as you are moving and disengage before you stop. The process involves removing the top layer of the covering material using a large sander, which removes the surface finish and digs down past any surface scratches, stains, or imperfections that might exist. The typical cost for hardwood floor refinishing ranges from $1,098 to $2,598, with a national average cost of $1,828. 'At the National Wood Flooring Association, we suggest using a wood floor cleaner recommended by the floor manufacturer. RELATED: 11 Tried-and-True Ways to Care for Hardwood Floors. Most hardwood floors are finished with polyurethane that may, or may not, be resting on top of a stain. Because polyurethane sits on top of the hardwood (it doesnt soak in), it offers excellent protection from water and scratches and it requires minimal upkeep. With a random orbital sander, you can move with or against the wood grain. But if your floors are less damaged, use a wood patch filler on individual spots (Image 2). But if done during the wrong time of year, it's not a long-lasting fix. In a nutshell, wood compresses during the winter and expands in summer. Engage the sander as you are moving and disengage before you stop (Image 1).
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