An In-Depth Guide to Properly Refinishing Your Hardwood Floor

With hardwood floors coming back in style, you might be thinking about having it refinished. If so, follow this guide and your hardwood floor will look better than ever!

Set-up And Materials

Before you begin, it’s important to check the entire floor first. If there are any gaps in the floor where nails are visible, don’t bother trying to refinish it at all. You’ll also want to take a look at the thickness of the wood. Some newer hardwood floors are only about ¼ inch thick. If you have a floor like this, it can’t be sanded at all or you might wear through the whole floor!

Refinishing an entire hardwood floor is a big job, and you’ll need a lot of materials. We won’t list them all here, but be sure to do a quick internet search and write down a list of all the materials you’ll need.

Cleaning And Sanding

First, cut the flooring into sections to remove the top layer of flooring, revealing the hardwood underneath. Then clean the floor thoroughly, removing as much dirt and debris as possible. Make sure there are no protruding nail heads that could tear the sandpaper. Cover up any doors or areas of the house that dust could fly into while you’re sanding. Then, attach a 20-grit sandpaper to your sander and begin sanding the entire floor thoroughly. Then, go over your work again with the edge sander, and finally with a power buffer. After you’ve sanded the entire floor three times, use an industrial-grade vacuum to get rid of the dust particles.

The Finish

Now that you’re done sanding and cleaning, it’s time for the big finish. Choose whatever sealant you prefer for the job, and start applying it all around the perimeter of the room. When the perimeter is finished, apply the sealant to the rest of the floor. Allow the sealant to dry for 24 hours, buff it with the power buffer, vacuum, and then finally, apply a second coat of sealant with the same procedure as before, and then you’re done!

While DIY’s can often be effective and save you money, it’s also important to remember that no one can do the job quite like The Steam Team!