You may wonder whether refinishing a hard wood floor is a do-it-yourself job that a homeowner should tackle, and the answer just may be yes.
If you are willing to make an effort, put in the hard labor that the job requires, and find the right tools, you should be able to give your hard woods a brand new look.
Two of the most critical parts of a successful operation are the sander you choose and the finish coat you select.
Most people have a tendency to go down to the local rental place and rent an orbital sander.
This is the wrong machine to use.
Instead, you want to get a belt or drum sander which is going to do a better job of cutting through finish layers and leveling an uneven floor.
You will also need a variety of sand paper so that you can use the right papers in an appropriate sequence.
For example, you don't want to skip from a 40 grit to a 100 grit without using something else in between.
The grits you choose will depend on the job you have to do.
If someone has painted your floors with a heavy coat of paint, you'll need to start with something between a 12 grit and a 24 grit.
For polyurethane removal, choose a 30 to a 50 grit.
Before you start sanding, you'll want to do a lot of prep work.
Sanding dust is messy, and it can work its way into everything in your home if you don't take precautions.
You will want to cover doors and air vents with plastic to keep the dust from spreading.
You will also want to put painters tape over all electric outlets to keep the dust out of your electrical system.
If you have a ceiling fan, either take it down and cover the wires with plastic, or cover the entire fan with a plastic bag.
A final precaution is to check the floor for any protruding nail heads.
If you find any, hammer then down flat to the floor.
As for your finish coats, the best choice for a do-it-yourselfer is a water-based polyurethane.
You'll like the fact that this product has much less of an odor than oil-based urethanes have.
It will dry quickly and be durable enough to keep your floors looking lovely for many years.
If you are willing to make an effort, put in the hard labor that the job requires, and find the right tools, you should be able to give your hard woods a brand new look.
Two of the most critical parts of a successful operation are the sander you choose and the finish coat you select.
Most people have a tendency to go down to the local rental place and rent an orbital sander.
This is the wrong machine to use.
Instead, you want to get a belt or drum sander which is going to do a better job of cutting through finish layers and leveling an uneven floor.
You will also need a variety of sand paper so that you can use the right papers in an appropriate sequence.
For example, you don't want to skip from a 40 grit to a 100 grit without using something else in between.
The grits you choose will depend on the job you have to do.
If someone has painted your floors with a heavy coat of paint, you'll need to start with something between a 12 grit and a 24 grit.
For polyurethane removal, choose a 30 to a 50 grit.
Before you start sanding, you'll want to do a lot of prep work.
Sanding dust is messy, and it can work its way into everything in your home if you don't take precautions.
You will want to cover doors and air vents with plastic to keep the dust from spreading.
You will also want to put painters tape over all electric outlets to keep the dust out of your electrical system.
If you have a ceiling fan, either take it down and cover the wires with plastic, or cover the entire fan with a plastic bag.
A final precaution is to check the floor for any protruding nail heads.
If you find any, hammer then down flat to the floor.
As for your finish coats, the best choice for a do-it-yourselfer is a water-based polyurethane.
You'll like the fact that this product has much less of an odor than oil-based urethanes have.
It will dry quickly and be durable enough to keep your floors looking lovely for many years.