Hardwood Floor Refinishing: Getting the Desired Results

For the best results, hardwood floor refinishing should be done either by or with the supervision of a professional in the business. Of course, that isn't a realistic option for many homeowners, who instead choose to do it on their own. With the right tools and techniques, you can get good results using this method as well. Many homeowners choose to go with a liquid system when they want their wood to look its best. One important aspect of this is to keep your expectations realistic. If you have major problems with the wood, such as deep scratches or well-worn areas, it isn't going to look brand new after you're finished. It can look much better, though.

Cleaning

The first step to any successful hardwood floor refinishing is to get the wood clean before you start with the products. Go over it with a vacuum and get up any of the loose dust and dirt. If you don't own a vacuum, you can do this with a broom, but be thorough. If there are any sticky spots such as the remnants of spilled juice, you need to try and get this up as well. Go over the wood with a damp mop, using only a cleaner appropriate for your wood. Soap and water should be sufficient to do the trick. Use clean water to rinse off this solution. You may want to keep your water usage low so you don't have to wait forever for it to dry. It will need to be completely dry before you begin the process.

Deglossing

Many hardwood floor refinishing products come in two stages. The first of these stages is deglossing. You apply the deglosser to the wood and it will take away that shine that is usually a characteristic of good flooring. The base of any refinisher is going to be adhesive. This adhesive isn't going to work unless you give it something to grab onto, and a glossy surface isn't best for this purpose. If you've ever attempted to paint a surface without sanding first, you know the basics behind the process.

Getting it Done

Once your deglosser has dried, there may be an intermediate step that gives the wood an even better chance of accepting the final liquid. If so, apply that and wait for it to dry. If not, move directly to the refinisher and activate it with the catalyst included. The catalyst is what causes it to harden after application, but it will harden in the can if you don't use it right away. Apply the hardwood floor refinishing liquid evenly using wide strokes. Go over the floor a couple of times and then let it dry. Your wood should look better than ever!