If your hardwood flooring needs a slight refreshing, the repair and refinishing task is not as impossible as most people imagine it would be. With the right products and a little patience you can completely restore your old hardwood flooring and make the atmosphere at your home cozy again.
The tools you will need are a grinding machine and coarse sandpaper and fine sandpaper for the grinding machine’s equipment. You can use a suitable roller with an extendable handle or a wider brush with natural long bristles to apply the finish. For harder to reach places, such as the corners of the room, it is good to have a small brush. Last but not least, to avoid any health hazard, get a dust mask and goggles.
Preparation is very important and should not be overlooked. Before you begin, remove all skirting boards. Start by sanding the hardwood floor using coarse sandpaper, designed for rougher initial processing of wood. Experts’ advice is to open a window and let some fresh air come in in order to limit the accumulation of fine dust particles. Start sanding from one end of the flooring (for your convenience you can start from the opposite end of the door), in the direction in which the wooden planks are arranged. Sand carefully all scratches and imperfections to make the surface smooth. Thus, the application of the finish will be much easier.
After you have finished sanding the floor, it is vital to carefully remove the fine residual particles. You can use suitable household appliances to clean, but make sure to wipe the floor with a damp cloth to thoroughly remove the dust that has accumulated in the floor after sanding.
After you have finished cleaning the hardwood flooring it is time to apply the stain and the finish. Stain application is not a necessary step. Especially if you are happy with the color of your flooring, you can skip this one. The finish, on the other hand, is quite necessary. Most of the products for hardwood flooring restoration are two-component polyurethane coatings that are a mix of varnish and hardener. If you choose this option, the only drawback is the heavy odor, which will spread in your home for several days. This type of finish is particularly suitable for high-traffic areas that are prone to daily pressure and scratching. Such places are sport halls or rooms that have a daily heavy load. Most homes’ rooms are with medium-intense traffic and if you do not have the opportunity to move out for a few days while renovating, the ideal option is to apply a water-based product, which is scratch resistant. You can choose either one that has a glossy finish, or a matte finish, depending on your personal preference.
Mix the product well. Start applying the first layer on the edges of the floor using a smaller brush. Then, take a roller and cover the entire surface using cross movements. First go with the roller in a horizontal direction, then in a vertical. However, it is important to know that the final pass with the roller should be in the direction in which the wooden planks are arranged in order to even out the coating.
After the first layer is applied you will have to wait for a while for it to dry. Water-based varnishes are known for rapidly drying, so after 2-3 hours the coating will probably be ready for application of a second layer. Make sure that the varnish is well dried. Before applying the second coat, experts recommend sanding the flooring again in order to remove small air bubbles that usually appear after applying the first layer. Thus, you will achieve a perfectly smooth surface. For re-sanding you will need fine sandpaper. Consequently, you must clean the hardwood flooring for dust particles again in order to eliminate the possibility of unevenness after the final application of the second coat of varnish. The second coat has to be applied the same way as the first one.
Overall, restoring your hardwood flooring is not a difficult task and you can easily do it yourself. All you will need are the right products and tools, and some research on the subject. And last but not least, after you have finished with renovating your flooring, pay attention to the fact that the varnish will fully harden in a week and during this time you will have to avoid intense mechanical load, such as moving around and arranging heavy furniture.
Photo by Eric Parks on Unsplash
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