Refinishing hardwood floors is a time consuming, messy, endeavor.
Hiring a professional to do the work can be very expensive.
If you invest the time and effort, it is possible to get beautiful results, even if you are not usually a handy person.
You can rent the drum and belt sander from your local rental center or home improvement store.
You will also need dust masks, ear plugs, plastic sheets to mask off as much of the the house as possible, different grades of sandpaper, stain, and the polymer finish you choose.
Most places also have helpful how-to videos you can watch free of charge.
The drum sander is self propelled and moves easily.
Keep the sander moving constantly for the best results.
The old finish/stain is removed first with the coarser grit sandpaper, next you expose new wood and sand it smooth with the finer grit sandpaper.
You repeat this process with the belt sander along the floor edges or any other areas the drum sander can not reach.
When you are sure the floor is smooth and the old finish/stain has been removed, it is time to clean the area and remove all the sawdust.
Having a clean, dust free surface is imperative.
Clean until you are satisfied the sawdust is gone and finish by damp mopping the surface to remove the last of the dust.
Allow to dry completely before proceeding.
Apply the stain quickly and evenly.
After the stain is dry and your results are satisfactory, start applying the final finish.
Several coats are usually necessary; the floor should be allowed to dry between coats.
The baseboards or mop boards are normally replaced or refinished when the floors are re-done so you can use the time between coats of finish to work on the baseboards.
Hiring a professional to do the work can be very expensive.
If you invest the time and effort, it is possible to get beautiful results, even if you are not usually a handy person.
You can rent the drum and belt sander from your local rental center or home improvement store.
You will also need dust masks, ear plugs, plastic sheets to mask off as much of the the house as possible, different grades of sandpaper, stain, and the polymer finish you choose.
Most places also have helpful how-to videos you can watch free of charge.
The drum sander is self propelled and moves easily.
Keep the sander moving constantly for the best results.
The old finish/stain is removed first with the coarser grit sandpaper, next you expose new wood and sand it smooth with the finer grit sandpaper.
You repeat this process with the belt sander along the floor edges or any other areas the drum sander can not reach.
When you are sure the floor is smooth and the old finish/stain has been removed, it is time to clean the area and remove all the sawdust.
Having a clean, dust free surface is imperative.
Clean until you are satisfied the sawdust is gone and finish by damp mopping the surface to remove the last of the dust.
Allow to dry completely before proceeding.
Apply the stain quickly and evenly.
After the stain is dry and your results are satisfactory, start applying the final finish.
Several coats are usually necessary; the floor should be allowed to dry between coats.
The baseboards or mop boards are normally replaced or refinished when the floors are re-done so you can use the time between coats of finish to work on the baseboards.
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