Jul 26, 2021

Whether renovating your old home or just looking for a way to improve your home’s appearance, refinishing your hardwood floor is a great way to make your space feel brand new. The ultimate One-Stop Shop Home Depot store is here to lend you a hand. First, assess the damage to your floors. If you only have some minor scratches or a dull finish, you might be able to simply buff and add a new coat of varnish. But, even if your floors need a complete makeover, refinishing hardwood is a very manageable and rewarding do-it-yourself job that can help you save a lot of money

Prepare the Room

Remove all of your furniture, window treatments and rugs. Cover vents and electrical boxes with masking tape to prevent dust from getting into ducts and electrical work. If you are only refinishing one room, you might want to use plastic sheeting to seal doors. Use a pry bar to gently remove base molding. You can remove the small pieces of quarter-round and leave the rest of the baseboards in place.

Patch and Repair

Check the floor for larger holes or cracks and repair using wood filler and a spackle knife. If your floors are heavily damaged, it is best to use a trowel filler, a thinner wood filler that spreads and covers large areas. You will apply this with a large patch filler on individual spots. Let the fuller dry completely/ Wipe down the floor with a damp rag to remove all debris and dust. Let it dry fully before sanding.

Sand the Floor

For this step, you’ll use a drum sander rented from any AllHome store, working with a drum sander can be challenging, it can be hard to control and using it incorrectly can damage your floors. Ask for a quick tutorial and pointers when you rent the equipment. Then, practice sanding on a large sheet of plywood until you are comfortable. With the motor running, start moving slowly forward. Engage the sander as you are moving and disengage before you stop. Wear a respiratory mask and eye protection.

Start sanding with the 40-grit sandpaper. This is a very coarse paper that will do the heavy-duty work of removing scratches, dings and the old finish, but will leave a rough surface. Moving with the grain of the wood, work in 3- to 4-foot sections. Keep moving across the floor at a slow, steady pace; stopping can create permanent marks in your floors. Overlap rows by one board. Each piece of sandpaper will be good for about 20 square feet. Check it regularly and change the sandpaper as soon as it looks worn. Additionally, empty the dust bag on the sander regularly. It will perform better if you keep it less than half full.

Now repeat the process using 60, 80 and then the 120-grit paper on both the drum sander and the edge sander. Each round of sanding will reveal a smoother surface with all repaired holes or cracks flush with the floor surface. Vacuum and wipe dust from the floor between each step. Using the fine-grit paper will result in that professional-quality finish you want.

Buff the Floor

Buffing the floor will remove tiny sanding marks and give a completely smooth finish. Some people rent an industrial floor buffer for this step, but a pole sander, pictured, is another great option. Using a pole sander is a bit more time consuming, but also easier to use than a buffer and more affordable. Using a 120-grit sanding screen, buff the floor along each board, moving back and forth with the grain.

Prepare for Sealer or Stain

At this point, you’ll want to be sure your floor and room are completely clean. Any sand, hair or small debris will affect your finish. Wipe down walls to prevent dust from falling to the floor as your finish is drying. Use a shop vacuum with a brush head to clean the floor thoroughly and then follow with a sticky tack cloth to remove any remaining particles.

In order for the stain to penetrate the wood evenly, use a technique called “water popping.” Mix a solution of one part denatured alcohol to two parts water. Spray the floor using a pump sprayer, covering the floor completely. Run a rag or mop over the floor to evenly distribute the solution. This causes the wood grains to rise and better accept the stain. Allow the floor to dry for at least 30 minutes.

Seal the Floor

After the stain is dry or if you are skipping stain, finish by sealing the floor. Sealing protects the floor from water damage, dings and scratches and adds luster and shine to bring out the beauty of the wood.

Polyurethane sealer is probably the most popular hardwood sealer and is available as a water-based or oil-based product. Because polyurethane sits on top of the hardwood (it doesn’t soak in), it offers excellent protection from water and scratches and it requires minimal upkeep. It comes in a variety of finishes from glossy to matte. Make sure your space is well-ventilated and that you are wearing a respirator mask when using polyurethane, especially oil-based polyurethane.

Using the vacuum and tack cloth, make certain the floor is free of hair and dust. Then, apply the polyurethane with a smooth sponge roller (Image 1). You may need to use a paintbrush around the edges of the room. Work in small sections with the grain of the wood. Polyurethane requires multiple coats. Between each coat, let the product dry completely (refer to manufacturer’s instructions for drying times) and buff the floor between each coat. This can be accomplished with a machine buffer or done by hand with a #2 fine steel wool pad (Image 2). More coats typically equal more protection. Work from the far corner of the room toward the door, so you don’t “trap” yourself in the room. 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. Allowing for plenty of drying time will assure beautiful and durable floors.

Not that you have a home full of beautiful floors, keep them looking new by sweeping and mopping regularly using furniture pads and exercising caution with hard-soled shoes. Experts say you can refinish traditional hardwood floors up to 10 times, so with a bit of care, your floors should last for a lifetime.

If you ever plan to replace your hardwood floors with a new one, visit any AllHome branch near you or head to the AllHome online store now. For hardware stores near you, visit your closest AllHome branch. We offer DIY Hardware, Appliances, Construction Materials, Flooring, Furniture, Homewares, Linens, Sanitary ware, and more! You may also visit our website and enjoy the hassle-free experience of shopping online through AllHome.com.ph today! AllHome online shopping site offers fast delivery, cash delivery and easy payment terms. You may also follow us on our official Facebook page and Instagram account for more updates.