DIY Hardwood Floor Refinishing For Beginners

If your once beautiful hardwood floors are starting to look worn, scratched, and damaged, it might be time to try this type of refinishing. If you've been wondering, "can I refinish hardwood floors myself," don't worry. It doesn't have to be difficult if you have the right tools and knowledge, and it can make your floors have the glow of brand new wood again!

First, before you begin the refinishing process, take a look at your old floors. Fill any large cracks or gouges. If your floor is not in good shape, you can use a commercial paint stripper and some kind of putty knife to scrape off the old finish and begin again. This is a great option when there are many stains on the old floor.

The second step in this is that you will need to sand down your floors. You can use a drum sander or orbital sander for the main part of the floor, and you will also need an edge sander for the area around the walls and corners. To get beautiful, well-sanded floors, start with heavy grit sandpaper and sequentially work your way down to lighter grit sandpaper. You will need to do several sandings.

Next, it is time to stain the floor. You can achieve practically any color using stains, but pick the color carefully. Another option is to keep the natural color of the floor, in which case you can skip this step. Follow the instructions on the can of stain and make sure to let the stain set for the recommended time period.

The next step in DIY hardwood floor refinishing is to apply a finish. Once again, you will want to follow the instructions on the can. Generally, at least two coats will need to be applied, and you will need to leave time for the finish to dry properly between coats. A special brush or roller is used to apply the finish smoothly and evenly.

Do it yourself hardwood refinishing requires some basic experience in DIY home projects as well as the right equipment. However, it is a simple and rewarding job that will increase your home's value and make your hardwood shine with its natural beauty. Make sure you have recruited some people to help, because the sanding and finishing process can be time-consuming.

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