Hardwood Floor Refinishing
Are your beautiful hardwood floors not so beautiful anymore? Maybe they just need a refinishing job. It can be a daunting task, but here are some ideas to make it a little easier.
If your hardwood floors are in dire need of refinishing, get a few estimates from professionals. You may be surprised at the figures. You'll want to sit down when they tell you it will cost you $1200 to have your living room redone. You could carpet over it for less, but doesn't carpeting over beautiful hardwood floors seem, well, wrong?
Contrary to what you may have heard, the finish doesn't take days and days to dry. It's quite simple actually. Go to your favorite local home improvement store, Lowe's, Menard's, Home Depot or other. Rent a sander. You'll need a drum sander, a belt sander or both. They will explain to you how to use the machine and tell you what kind of sand paper to purchase. They will also tell you what kind of stain and finish to get. Make sure you also pick up some dust masks because you will have saw dust everywhere.
The sanders are very easy to use. They're a bit on the loud side. The key is to keep it moving at all times. Do not stop or you will get a divot in your wood. Think of it like a clothes iron. You need to keep it moving or you will burn your clothes. Same deal with the sander. It creates a lot of heat and you will burn or dent your floors if you hesitate in one place too long.
You will feel like a Zamboni driver smoothing out your surface. Word of caution, you do need to maintain control of the machine at all times. It is self propelled, like a lawn mower or a basset hound on a leash. When you power it up, hold on to the machine tightly. Don't be afraid of it and after a few passes, you'll start to even have fun.
First you need to remove the old finish, basecoat, color, and top coat. You may opt to forgo the color (stain) and just use the nature color of the wood. You will still need to apply a finish to it.
There are basically two types of floor finishes: one is oil-based and the other is water-based polyurethane. Oil-based is available in a satin, semi-gloss or gloss finish. Satin works well on floors because it hides small flaws and lets the natural beauty of the wood show without a bright shine. Oil-based also produces a warm amber look that gives you the traditional glow of wood floors. Water-based polyurethane dries clear and resists yellowing. Water-based also dries quicker.
Make sure you let each coat thoroughly dry before applying the next; same as you would nail polish. Give your floor at least 24-36 hours before moving furniture back on it. It will continue to harden in the first couple of weeks.
Don't be overwhelmed. Instead of looking at refinishing your hardwood floors as a humungous job, look at it as giving your room a manicure, one step at a time. You'll also save yourself as much as $1,000 by doing it yourself.
Luz Madera loves to work with wood. She is the webmaster of http://www.funwoodworks.com which is the premier woodwork and woodworking site on the internet. Please visit http://www.funwoodworks.com for some excellent woodworking resources.
Latest News
The Associated Press | Home improvement retail sinks on data Forbes, NY - AP , 11.19.08, 03:13 PM EST Shares of home improvement chains dipped Wednesday after the federal government said construction of new homes and apartments ... How home improvement chains fared in 3rd quarter Home Depot Posts 31% Fall in Net Income, Cuts View Tough economy takes toll on Home Depot |
Sector roundup: Solar, home improvement Forbes, NY - CHICAGO (AP) - Shares of home improvement chains dipped Wednesday after the federal government said construction of new homes and apartments slowed at a ... |
Ahead of the Bell: Home improvement retailers Forbes, NY - The home improvement retailers are part of a sector that has "competitive dynamics, stable gross margins through the downturn, and clear cyclicality ... Home Depot Is Not in a Fix |
AG Van Hollen: Home improvement company and owner charged with ... Wisbusiness.com, WI - The complaint alleges that in November, 2005 defendants entered into a $55250 home improvement contract with a Menasha couple promising, among other things, ... |
Home improvement Q&A Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, GA - (Want Alan J. Heavens' advice on a home-improvement project or purchase? E-mail him at aheavens@phillynews.com or write to him at The Inquirer, Box 8263, ... |
![]() Voice of America | Endeavour Docks at Space Station on Home-Improvement Mission Bloomberg - 16 (Bloomberg) -- NASA’s space shuttle Endeavour docked with the International Space Station today just after 5 pm New York time on a home-improvement ... Video: Space Shuttle Endeavour Blasts Into Night Sky Shuttle Endeavour docks with ISS on 'home-improvement' mission Endeavour to launch on 'home improvement' flight |
Economic Downturn Sparks New Home Improvement Trend MarketWatch - With the harsh reality of uncertain economic times, and the average consumer shouldering $10000 or more in credit card debt, a new trend in home improvement ... |
Raven Industries Announces Higher Sales and Earnings for Third Quarter MarketWatch - "These include lower levels of new home construction and home improvements negatively affecting our bed-control deliveries, and the loss of a significant ... The Home Depot Announces Third Quarter Results Raven Industries Announces Higher Sales and Earnings for Third Quarter Patrick Industries, Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2008 Financial ... |
Kudzu.com Survey Reveals DIY Projects Are an Unreliable Way to ... MarketWatch - In fact, one in four (25%) Americans have hired a professional to fix or finish a home improvement project they first attempted themselves. ... |
Land owners say gas well was reason for decision Carlsbad Current Argus, NM - Talk of a site selector for Lowe's Home Improvement visiting a potential location in south Carlsbad began at a recent meeting of the Carlsbad Department of ... CDOD Board president clarifies comments |
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