| Is your wood flooring already worn out? Has | | | | time. |
| it already gone through the tough tests and | | | | |
| is now looking old and pale? It may be time | | | | After a few hours, repeat the sanding process |
| to refinish your wood flooring and make it | | | | again, this time doing it along the grain |
| look new again. | | | | with a much finer grit. Do this twice using |
| | | | the highest grit number on the last sanding. |
| How do you know it is time to refinish the | | | | After which, vacuum the floor once more and |
| floor? You can do this simple step. Go to the | | | | sweep off the sanddust. |
| area where the floor is mostly used, your | | | | |
| living room perhaps. Get a tablespoon of | | | | Once the floor is dust-free, it is now time |
| water and pour it onto the floor. If the | | | | to apply the coat. You would need a roller to |
| water forms beads and can easily be wiped | | | | do this. Before using the roller, make sure |
| out, there is no need to refinish it yet. | | | | it is clean first using a stiff brush to |
| Your floor is still in good condition. | | | | remove dirt and loose hairs that might get |
| | | | into the finish. |
| If the water that you just poured slowly | | | | |
| seeps into the floor and creates a visible | | | | The urethane coating can now be applied |
| spot, it may already need refinishing | | | | across the floor grain by strips. Once the |
| touches. You may want to keep it in your | | | | whole array of strips is completed, go back |
| to-do list and schedule a time when you can | | | | to the starting strip and make sure there are |
| do the refinishing. However, if the water | | | | no roller marks or urethane build up. |
| seeps in as quickly as you had poured it, | | | | |
| then don't waste more time. Your floor | | | | Let the first coating dry for some time. When |
| definitely needs refinishing, and soon. | | | | the coat is completely dry, the next step is |
| | | | to sand the whole floor using an orbital |
| Refinishing your wood flooring would require | | | | sander. Vacuum and sweep the floor afterwards |
| equipments such as a drum sander. Other | | | | to remove the dust. |
| equipments may be needed for other more | | | | |
| detailed tasks in the finishing process. You | | | | Finally, the second coating can now be |
| need not buy those equipments, though. These | | | | applied using the same procedure as the |
| equipments are available for rent in your | | | | first. When you do the second coating, make |
| local home shops such as Home Depot. You can | | | | sure the sun doesn't shine through the window |
| rent them on a daily or weekly basis. | | | | to any part of the floor to avoid uneven |
| | | | marks. |
| Different grit papers are used in the drum | | | | |
| sander for different floor types. The lower | | | | Refinishing your wood flooring is relatively |
| the grit paper number is, the coarser it is | | | | easy as long as you have the right equipment. |
| for use on more damaged woods. Once you have | | | | The rent may be a little costly though, but |
| chosen the right grit paper, you can now | | | | not as expensive as replacing your whole |
| start sanding the wood using the equipment. | | | | floor. You can even save more doing it |
| It is suggested that you do the sanding | | | | yourself than hiring somebody to do it for |
| diagonally on both ways then along the grain. | | | | you. Also, wouldn't you be proud to show off |
| | | | your work and tell your friends you did it by |
| Once you are done sanding the whole floor | | | | yourself? |
| with that procedure, repeat the process again | | | | |
| using a finer grit paper (one with a higher | | | | Nicely finished or refinished floors make |
| number). After sanding the whole floor again, | | | | your home look more beautiful. It is also a |
| you can now sand the edges using a spinner | | | | healthy alternative than carpets. Carpets are |
| edger machine. | | | | known to cause allergies because they are |
| | | | difficult to clean. Having just bare, nicely |
| Vacuuming is the next step to clean off the | | | | finished wood flooring will help you have a |
| sand dusts. Should there be gaps present | | | | healthy environment inside your own home. |
| after the sanding process, fill them in using | | | | Dusts, pests, molds, and animal stains can |
| the sand dust mixed with varnish to form a | | | | easily be cleaned up as well. |
| paste. Then leave the floor alone for some | | | | |