2006-08-30 02:55:03 · 12 answers · asked by Adaon 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Decorating & Remodeling
Generally, you have to sand then restain them. Sanders are big things that can be rented at rental outlets. It's possible that Home Depot and Lowes rents floor sanders. Move all the furniture out of the way and take the floor down to bare, unfinished wood.
Then decide if you are going to stain or simply protect the floor with a polyurethane finish. You can spray, brush or roll on the finish.
For most people, this is such difficult work that they simply hire a contractor to do it. However, an individual can do it, if you're willing to do some hard work.
2006-08-30 03:03:38 · answer #1 · answered by pvreditor 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Do your self a favor hire a pro as running these sanders most people burn the floors so that they have dips and the edges have swirl spots I have been called in so many times to repair and that gets really expensive cleaning will not change the floor as it has been away from light and the finish has taken on a new color which will not lighten nor be uniform .You get at least 3 estimates
the cheapest is not always the best check for references and then make your decision you can finish your floors after they are done use a water based poly or a water based floor cover and you will be suprised apply as directed and your floors will give you a lot of use I have seen 20 year old floors look great with oak most of it is red which has it's own character leave it if it is white oak you may stain but keep in mind that hardwoods take stain differently from board to board.
2006-09-04 03:32:54 · answer #2 · answered by btempered1 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sanding the floors would be the first step. The sandpaper comes in different size grits, so you will want to start with a rougher grit sandpaper to remove all of the old finish and end with a smoother grit sandpaper to smooth out the wood before restaining the floor. Sanding the floor is the hardest part but taking your time and doing it right will pay off with a terrific looking floor. Renting an electric rotary sander will save you a lot of time and has terrific results. Just be sure and don't use the rough grit sandpaper for extensive periods of time because it can cut deep groves into the wood.
2006-09-06 09:17:32 · answer #3 · answered by John T 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a lot of work, but I wanted to tell you how worth it it is. The former owners of my house had green variegated shag carpet, wall to wall, and I suspected there was hardwood underneath. I had it pulled up. Viola, red oak hardwood. I hired a professional, and for a thousand bucks, he did the living room and hall, and put new quarter round around the baseboards.
He did not stain it, I liked the natural color, but he did coat it.
It is beautiful. He sanded it several times with a low dust machine, then laid down the protective coating. I hear you can rent those machines, but I needed it done, fast. I had to move in.
2006-09-03 07:13:29 · answer #4 · answered by riversconfluence 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your floors have just lost their luster, but finish is still intack (Urethane finish). You can give them a renewed look with a product made by Hartco Floor Called Renew. It is a finish and color renewer all in one. It comes in several shades and sells for about $12.99 quart. Many flooring retailers will carry it, just call around. One of the best things you can do for any floor is to buff them. A buffer can be rented and makes the world of difference in a good finish vs. a fabulous finish. Floors should be buffed occasionally just to give them their best look.
If your finish is in need of being redone. You can rent a floor sander with a screen that will just screen the top layer of finish off so that you can restain if necessary and then refinish once floors are properly screened. It would be wise to hire this done by a professional floor refinisher vs doing it yourself. You could end up with obvious circle marks or uneven screening job unless you take the time to properly learn the machine.
A floor refinisher is well worth the money paid. Even if you wanted to just have them to do the screening part, and you do the finishing.
The last option would be if you have waxed floors, unlikely unless your floors are very old. Then you just would need to strip the wax and rewax the floors. Careful to go easy on the new wax or you could be polishing for days.
Don't forget to buff, it is good for wood no matter what finish you have.
2006-09-03 16:12:26 · answer #5 · answered by damsel36 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Before you try sanding it all and refinishing. Buy some Murphy's wood cleaner ( at any grocery store), and just try scrubbing it good with the wood cleaner and a good stiff scrub brush. Do small sections at a time, wiping up the water after each time. You may find you don't have to sand it all down and refinish. If the wood cleaner works for you, then you might just try putting some polyurethane on top to keep it looking good, or just giving it a good waxing. But this just works for floors that are just old and very dull and grimy from old age. Huge stains on the floor or water damage, you'll have to sand and refinish.
2006-08-30 03:52:17 · answer #6 · answered by Judith O 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
before you take drastic measure i would get some wood polish and see if that works if not you might want to sand and re stain
2006-09-06 18:09:51 · answer #7 · answered by pighunter1999 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on how old the finish is, you may have to sand it and restain.
2006-08-30 08:18:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Linseed Oil.. ask Shell Buzzy for the details on how to!
2006-09-04 05:19:51 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sand it, then use polish as a finish.
2006-08-30 03:05:16 · answer #10 · answered by strawberrysky182 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋