Hardwood is a timeless flooring material, but it can start to look tired after years of wear and tear. You can give your hardwood floor new life again by refinishing it.

Refinishing hardwood floors can be a difficult but worthwhile job for any do-it-yourselfer. A new coat can transform the look of most hardwood floors, bringing out their natural beauty. Learn how to refinish hardwood floors in this blog post.

What You Will Need:

• Plastic sheeting
• Wood stain
• Wood finish (choose between an oil-based, water-based or wax finish)
• Masking tape
• Pry bar
• Sandpaper
• Tack or microfiber cloth
• Drum sander and sanding pad
• Dust mask
• Safety goggles
• Hammer
• Wool applicator

The Step-By-Step Guide to Refinishing Hardwood Floors

1. Prepare the room

The first step to refinishing your floors is to get the area ready. Move any furniture, rugs, and objects off of the entire floor. Tape electrical outlets or remove them altogether. If there are any protruding nails, hammer them down firmly.

Next, clean the floor to remove any of the dust or dirt. It could be beneficial for you to mop the floor or vacuum it with a vacuum cleaner. After this is completed, cover the air vents and close any open windows to ensure that no dust from sanding escapes into your home.

2. Remove the baseboard

Before you start floor sanding, you will need to remove the baseboard. The baseboard or shoe base moulding covers the entire perimeter of the floor, so it should be removed for a consistent finish.

Use a pry bar to pull up the baseboard. Be careful not to scratch the baseboard or damage it.

3. Sand hardwood floors

It’s time to sand the floor!

General sanding

General sanding is when you sand the interior area of the floor, leaving the perimeter for more precise work. Use a drum sander or belt sander for general sanding, moving it back and forth along the grain of the wood in 3 to 4 feet strips to remove the existing finish. Start with 36 to 40 grit, increasing the fineness as you sand. This will help you get a nice, smooth surface finish.

Tip: Overlap the strokes of your sander to ensure that it does not leave marks to create deep scratches in the hardwood.

Sand the edges and corners

Once you have completed general sanding, it is time to move on to the edges and corners. Use fine-grit sandpaper to sand the wood on the perimeter of the room. This will involve you having to get down on your hands and knees, but it will be worthwhile to get stunning wood floors.

4. Vacuum up the sanding dust

After sanding, there is likely a thin layer of dust on the floor. It will need to be removed before you can start applying the floor finish to the bare wood. Use a vacuum to remove the dust. Then follow up with a microfiber or tack cloth to catch any dust that you may have missed.

5. Start staining the hardwood floor

Apply an even coat of the stain to the solid hardwood with a high-quality brush made out of foam. Move the brush back and forth along the wood grain, not against it. Work in sections from the far wall of the room and work towards the door, covering one square foot at a time.

Some stains will need excess stain to be removed as you go. Use paper towels or a cloth to remove the top layer.

6. Apply finish to the wood floor

To protect your floor, add a protective coat of wood finish. There are a variety of floor finishes to choose from, including water-based polyurethane and linseed oil.

Apply the finish with a steel wool brush. Let it dry thoroughly, then sand the floors lightly with sandpaper. Apply at least two coats of finish to seal and protect the newly finished floor.

Tip: Remember that oil-based products are slow drying, taking about 8 hours for penetrating oils to dry. If you are finishing high traffic areas, try to do them later in the evening.

7. Project wrap up

After the final coat has dried, you are done! If you need to do spot repairs, this is the time to use your wood putty and patch any spots. If you are happy with the results, put your room back together and enjoy your new flooring.