Refinishing Hardwood Floors - Do It Right The First Time

Now that you have decided to give that old hardwood floor a
new shine it is time to plan the job properly and in
advance. The first and most obvious thing to do when
planning is to decide when to do the job. Once you have
that, then you make a list of everything you will need.
Some things you will want on this list are: A Sander, a box
of trash bags, masking tape, a couple of plastic sheets or
a role of plastic, vacuum, dust pan and broom, a clear
floor sealer, floor stain if you want to change the
coloring, pieces of sample wood that match your floor
sanded down, a pry bar for any baseboards you are going to
replace, face mask and gloves to help keep you safe. Also,
do not forget hardwood floor cleaner that does not have any
wax added to it. Making sure you have these items will
make refinishing your Hardwood Floors an easier task.

When Refinishing Hardwood Floors, the first thing you have
to do is begin removing all the furniture, wall hangings,
window treatments or curtains, and any closets connecting
to the floor you are working on have to be emptied out as
well. Use the floor cleaner and a vacuum to get the floor
ready for sanding. Now you want to cover any light
fixtures with the trash bags mentioned earlier using the
masking tape to help secure the bags. Cover any electrical
outlets in the room with the tape as well. When it comes
time to sand, you want to plug the sander into an extension
cord plugged in an outlet outside of the room.

Now is the time to remove the baseboards if you are going
to replace them. Once everything possible is covered and
the room and any closets or cubbyholes emptied, it is time
to block the room off from the rest of the house using the
plastic sheets. You will want to use the masking tape to
keep the plastic sheets closed on any doorway you will not
be using. Be generous with the plastic sheets and leave a
little room on each side, the top and bottom of the
doorway, this will help in keeping the mess inside the
room. Finally, open a window and put a fan in it blowing
outwards. This helps keep the room healthy for you to work
in. I recommend a box fan, as they are easier to clean and
fit in most windows. Doing this makes Refinishing Hardwood
Floors a safer project.

When you sand be sure you move quickly and smoothly while
using the machine. Letting the sander sit in one spot to
long while running will cause serious damage to your floor.
Start out with a lower sander setting to help even the
floor, and work up to the highest setting such as 120 to
finish the sanding process. This helps with getting the
floor even and smooth. If you do the sanding properly, you
will notice the grains or markings in the wood returning.

A drum sander is recommended by many to do the sanding
process, but be forewarned though it is very efficient and
does the job quickly it can damage the floor if not
properly operated. Tilt the sander towards you before
starting it up, once it is moving as fast as it is supposed
to be then slowly lower it to the floor. This makes sure
you start out with an even sanding. Start on plywood or
some other wood you will not be using so you can get used
to the feel of the machine. Once you get the hang of it
start in the center of the room. After you have finished
sanding each time, vacuum the floor before starting again
and at the end. Follow up with a dry clothe.

It is now time to stain and seal or just seal your new
floor. Remember to check the drying times on each making
sure you do not mess up all your hard work.
Congratulations, you just refinished your Hardwood Floors.

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Get step-by-step do-it-yourself instructions for
refinishing hardwood floors at
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one stop solution to getting your home repair questions
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