subject: Transform Your Previous-Looking Hardwood Floors [print this page] Transform Your Previous-Looking Hardwood Floors
In the modern day, that might be a sin, however it happened a lot back when wall-to-wall carpet was the craze. We have a tendency to typically find older homes with previous worn out carpet that covers seemingly pale and weathered hardwood flooring. Do not be deceived, the resurfacing process of hardwood floors and its potential beauty will have you ever patting yourself on the rear for years.Restoring hardwood isn't simple, but it's positively price the trouble.
If your floor has been coated with carpet, then be positive to remove all the carpet and tack strips. Then you'll want to work out if there are any nail holes that need to be filled.If you are resurfacing your hardwood floors because they are previous looking, then you may begin out with a heavy duty sander referred to as a drum sander. You may be able to rent this sander at any rental stores or building centers as a result of they're very fashionable and regularly used.
To strip off the finish you'll need 24 grit sand paper on the drum sander. A drum sander goes in an exceedingly straight line therefore you'll need to move toward a wall and go in a very straight direction till you come back to the wall, then you may would like to flip around and head for the alternative wall. Do this till the complete floor is done.You do not need to be worried about sanding completely through your floor because most hardwood floors, particularly the older floors are regarding 3/4 "thick. You should be able to sand your hardwood floor over a dozen times before it wears through.You will would like to do a second sanding to smooth the rough gouges created by the end-stripping sand paper. This can also take away any of the remaining patches of finish left behind. You'll be able to accomplish this with 36 grit sand paper. Check the floor the same means you did with the heavier sand paper.You will not be ready to get very shut to the walls with the drum sander therefore you may need a smaller sander to sand next to the walls and corners.
An orbital hand sander will work really well for this. You will use the same grit of sand paper for the hand sander as you may use for the drum sander at every part of the sanding process.The third step of the sanding method can be the smoothing section where the sand paper will sand out all the rough cuts from the heavier sand paper. You'll use sixty grit sand paper for this. This grit of paper will not strip off any remaining end materials so you may have to make positive that you just get it all with the second sanding.The fourth sanding phase will be where the light grit sand paper brings out the wood grains even without the final finishes. You'll use 80 grit sand paper for this step. You will notice how the previous hardwood sheds its previous appearance for a brand new vibrant, trendy display.The ultimate sanding part is terribly necessary, nonetheless it's a step usually omitted by flooring contractors. You'll use 150 grit sand paper with a small hand sander. Be sure to sand with the grain. This will make an enormous distinction in the deep luster shine and the appearance of the wood grains.When you've got completed the sanding phases, you will then want to brush the ground clean of all dirt and wood particles. This will not be quite enough though, as a result of you would like the wood grains to be completely exposed and free of dirt thus they take in the finish higher and deeper. If you have got an air compressor you can spray the floor with air to induce the dirt free. If but you do not have an air compressor, then you'll use a vacuum on very cheap surface setting to suck the dust out. Be certain to make slow thorough passes with the vacuum.Next, you may begin the first application of the ground finish. There are a number of finishes to choose from, however most flooring specialists' select a water-based mostly Urethane as a result of of its characteristics. It dries quickly and therefore the odors will not kill you.
The primary coat can go on during a copious fashion. You can use a brush or a floor brush on a pole. This will facilitate your get a fair coat.Let the primary coat dry for at least twelve hours and then apply the second coat. The third coat ought to create the final end appear as a deep end that creates the wood grains stand out almost as if in three-D.Once the floor has dried, you may notice that it is terribly laborious and durable. The shine and therefore the wood grains are new looking. The floor doesn't even look something just like the recent floor. That's half of the restoration process. Get pleasure from it. Spread out on the floor and offer it a hug. That's how I feel after thus a lot of work, yet so abundant reward.