How to Refinish Hardwood Floors

If you are looking to update your hardwood floors in Toronto, you may want to consider refinishing them. While this is a time-consuming task, it is one that you can do yourself if you have basic DIY skills. You can make your hardwood floors look like new, which will enhance your space for your enjoyment or make it appeal to buyers if you are selling.

Step One – Prepare Ahead of Time

Know what you want your floor to look like before you begin. Are you simply re-staining it the same color or do you plan to lighten or darken the floor to give it a more modern look? You may want to take a picture of the current floor with you to the store if you want to match the color. The shade you see on the stain can may not be the exact shade your floors will turn out to be.

Clear out the room of all furniture and close the doors to other rooms to prevent dust from coating your entire house. Wear a mask and eye protection while you are working.

Step Two – Use the Right Equipment

Rent an orbital sander if you don’t own one. While you can use other types of sanders, an orbital sander is more forgiving for first-timers. Make sure that you maintain control when using the sander to prevent marks and damage to your floor.

Begin with a coarse grit abrasive on the floor. You only want to remove the old finish and scratches at this point. A coarse grit will help prevent you from damaging your floor. Grits of 60 or higher are recommended, but don’t choose one that is coarser than that. Once you have completed the sanding process with that grit, move on to the next level of abrasive. Continue re-sanding with finer grits until you are satisfied with the smoothness of your floor.

Step Three – Sand the Floor

Imagine that you are mowing your lawn when you sand your floor. Go along the grain row by row, making sure you overlap by about half the width of the sander. This ensures that you don’t miss any spots. Expect to make multiple passes over your floor with each grit.

Once you have completed the main part of the floor, use a palm sander to get the corners and around the baseboards. You may need to use a scraper to remove old finish in areas that the sander can’t reach.

Step Four – Seal and Apply the Stain

Clean the floor of all the sand before you apply stain. If you have old floors, you may want to use a sealer coat first. This step allows the stain to be applied evenly to the floor. Otherwise, you may notice differences in color.

Apply the first coat of stain with a thin layer. Continue reapplying until you have the desired color. Wipe off any excess stain so that it is smooth and even. It is better to apply extra thin coats than to put too much on at once.

Once the stain dries, you will have a beautiful new floor that you can be proud of.