Refinish Your Hardwood Floors In 5 Steps

1. OTTAWA DIAMOND FLOORING INC Refinish Your Hardwood Floors In 5 Steps www.ottawadiamondflooring.com

2. If hiring a professional to do the hardwood flooring refinishing is not an option and if you are planning to do it yourself, be sure to equip yourself first with the important knowledge and skills to successfully carry out the project. Try reading some hardwood floors refinishing guides like this article before starting the project.

3. Do your floors already look old and rugged? Are they covered with scratches and dents? Well then, it may be about time for you to renew them. If you want your floors to look like brand new again, you would need to have them refinished. Unlike common beliefs, refinishing is not that really easy and it would require you to have certain skills to be able to do it the right way.

4. What you need: Small edging-sander or random-orbital sander Large random-orbital sander 60, 80, 100, 240 grit sanding discs Masking tape Sharp scraper Vacuum cleaner Oil based stain color Varnish or polyurethane sealant Rags and tack cloth Protective clothing like vinyl gloves, dust masks, vapor respirators, goggles, boiler suit, and earplugs High-quality brushes Paint trays Porous sponge High-density foam rollers with long handle A stick to being used for stirring the sealant Plastic tarps and cellophane

5. Step 1: Prepare the room • Before starting with refinishing, you need to prepare the room first by taking out everything movable that occupies the flooring space. Clean the entire area and then cover everything left inside the room with a plastic tarp or cellophane. • To prevent the sanding dust from spreading to the other rooms, try to attach a plastic cellophane on the door. Secure the sockets with masking tape. If there are protruding nail heads, hammer them down.

6. Step 2: Sanding Eliminate the old finish and stains, and smoothen scratches, imperfections, and dents by sanding the floor. Start by sanding the perimeter of the floor that the mechanical sander can't reach. Use your palm or hand and an 180-grit sandpaper for this. Once done, grab the mechanical sanding machines and gently sand the floor using a coarse grit. Change the disks as needed. If you want a quicker fix, you can substitute sanding with a chemical stripper.

7. Step 3: Cleaning Thoroughly clean the area using your vacuum cleaner. Be sure the entire floor is completely dry and is free from any sawdust, stripper, and debris before applying the new finish.

8. Step 4: Applying the finish or stain • Before you start staining your floor, open the windows first so you won't be taking in too many fumes. Also, protect yourself by wearing a mask and a pair of protective gloves. When applying the finish, start with the perimeter and then work your way in. Wait for the first coat to completely dry before applying the second coat.

9. Step 5: Applying the polyurethane coating If you wish to, you can also finish the floors with polyurethane coating. For easier application and nicer finish, use a long-handled roller. Hardwood flooring refinishing can be tedious and challenging but it can as well be an enjoyable thing you can do once in a couple of years.