After three days of sanding, staining, and buffing, our floors came out great.
Ever think you’d find buried treasure in your own home? Years ago, homeowners decided to go for a more “modern” look and covered their hardwood floors with vinyl or carpet. These days, with hardwood back in style, it might be worthwhile to look into Floor Refinishing. If it turns out that your floor was among those treasures that were buried, we can help you put it back on display. Be warned, though: this project takes a lot of time, patience and elbow grease.
Before You Start:
1.Check the gaps between the floor planks. If they’re widening and you can see the nails that hold the floor down, don’t bother trying to refinish the floor.
2.Some newer hardwood floors are only 1/4 inch thick with a laminate coating on top. These floors can’t be sanded and refinished. If you try, you’re likely to wear away the entire floor!
3.Some floors are easier to refinish than others. Pine and oak, the most common, are fairly easy to work with. Harder woods such as maple, mahogany and walnut take more time.
Materials:
pry bar
pliers
stiff, wide-blade putty knife
utility knife
hammer
nail set
flat-head screwdriver
power floor sander
edge sander
power floor buffer
industrial-grade vacuum cleaner
box fan
plastic sheeting
painter’s tape
box fan
4″ Chinese bristle brush
large lamb’s-wool paint/stain applicator
polyurethane floor sealant
safety glasses
work gloves
breathing protection
hearing protection
Warning: Some older vinyl floors contain asbestos, either in the backing or in the adhesive. Before you begin removing a vinyl floor, check with a licensed asbestos contractor to make sure your floor is safe for you to remove.
