HARDWOOD FLOORING 101: A GUIDE FOR FALL REFINISHING
Before we know it, the snow will be upon us, making the fall season the ideal time to refinish your hardwood floor. The seemingly arduous task of refinishing consists of three steps: sanding, staining, and finishing. And with the right tools, time, and patience, and you値l find amazing results by achieving a beautiful floor much easier than you expected, and you値l gain the satisfaction of knowing that you did the job yourself.
Rental shops make it very easy, and affordable, to begin your job. But first, you will, of course, need to clear out all the furniture and rugs in the space where you will be working. Also, remove any staples and nails, or pound them down under the surface of the floor to help prevent the sandpaper from shredding. Most rental shops carry three types of sanders: vibrating orbital, drum and edge sanders.
If you have an older, rougher floor, you will need to start with a drum sander, and if you have never used one before, it will take some practice to get a good feel for the heavy machine. When renting the sander, ask for a demonstration, beginning with how to change the paper, and the proper way to control the sander. One of the keys to sanding properly is to sand along with the grain of the floor. Drum sanders work very quickly, and if you are not careful, you could leave grooves in your floor which will be very difficult, and nearly impossible, to remove. Along with the drum sander, you値l need an edger, which utilizes circular discs and rotates along the edge of the floor, and evens out what you had already sanded with the drum sander. Ideally, it is best to start with a heavier grit, such as a 20 or 40, switch to a 60, and then work your way towards the lighter 80 and 100 to finish.
A great alternative to the drum sander is the newer vibrating orbital sanders. Orbital sanders are much easier to use, and leave a very smooth and even finish on your floors. Also, they will go right to the edge of your walls, and an edger will not be needed. While most sanders include bags to gather some of the dust, it is inevitable that there will be a large amount floating around, making it a good idea to have adequate ventilation, wear a dust mask, and perhaps even hang wet sheets over your doorways.
Once your floors are sanded, you値l have to decide if you want to stain your floors, or go straight to applying the finish. After cleaning up all the excess sawdust using a broom, and finer remnants using a shop vacuum, find a rag and apply a small amount of stain to a somewhat hidden area of the floor to see if that is the right color for you. Once you are satisfied with the color, it will be time to apply the first coat to the rest of the floor. Using lengthy strokes along the grain of the wood, apply some stain to either a brush for heavier coats, or a rag for a lighter hue. Once the first coat is completely dry, apply a second if necessary, or simply touch up any light spots.
Be sure that your floor is completely dry, and begin to apply the finish, making certain the area is well ventilated, as most finishes are filled with harmful vapors and chemicals. It is best to apply numerous light coats, as opposed to one heavy coat which may come out darker than you want. Stir, but do not shake, the can of polyurethane to prevent air bubbles from forming which would subsequently show up in the final finish. Apply the finish using even strokes with the grain of the wood with a brush or a roller. Once your first coat is complete, it will probably take a few hours to dry. Repeat as needed, until you reach the tint you desire.
It may take as little as one night, or as much as three days to dry and move your furniture and carpets back onto the floor. But you値l be surprised by the results. Not only will you have stunningly beautiful floors, but you will have the personal satisfaction of knowing that you were able to do it yourself, with time, patience, affordability, and of course, the right tools.
About the Author: Born in Somerville, New Jersey in 1980, and raised in Waymart, Pennsylvania, Jesse graduated from Western Wayne High School in 1998, and achieved a Bachelor's Degree in Communication Studies in 2003 from East Stroudsburg University. Jesse works in sales and marketing at Rent-E-Quip in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, where he purchases and sells Yanmar Construction Equipment parts, creates various advertisements and editorials which appear in local publications, implements direct mail and internet marketing campaigns, and much more. Outside of work, Jesse is an avid music fan, enjoying an array of music from bluegrass and jazz, to funk and improvisational and classic rock. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends (and pets), fishing, New York Yankees baseball, reading, and playing various percussion instruments. He follows politics and current events, and enjoys promoting and maintaining environmental awareness.
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