Question about refinishing old, dirty wood floors?

Question

I am building an art studio in an old industrial building. It has great wood floors, but the dirt and grime on it is 75 years old, making the surface almost black. Is there a solution, chemical, or cleaning agent I can use to get this grime and grit off before I actually sand the floors? Or should I just go straight for the sander? Any other tips most appreciated. Thanks!

Answer 1

One is about as bad as the other. Stripping and sanding. They are both messy. No matter what you decide, sanding has to be the final step. But, the sanding would be easier with all the grime off. And the fumes from the stripping will just about kill you, and I mean literally, if you don't wear a GOOD mask. So if I were you, I think I'd go for the sanding. You will still need to wear a mask. Use a heavy grit first. The kind that looks like it has little stones on it. (They go by number, but I won't suggest a number because I don't know what kind of sander you are using and they may be out of a number I say and then you may just get confused. So I'll just describe what you need.) That will be the one that gets the grime off. Then after you use that, you will need to use a fine sandpaper. The gritty one used first will leave little marks all over the place. You won't be able to see them untill the stain goes on. Then they will stick out like a sore thumb. So that is why you use the fine paper after. That gets rid of all those little marks. Then stain the color you want. I would then varnish the floors. The more coats of varnish you can apply, the more durable your floor will be. And it will shine like no other floor you have ever seen in your life. And here is the best part, all you will need to clean the floor is plain water! I live by amish and that is what they do to their floors and they have the shineyest floors I have ever seen! And I work at a cabinet factory so that's why I know about the sanding and stripping. You have a big job ahead of you....but just think of the beautiful floors your gonna have. Good luck.

Answer 2

I dunno...

I'm a little concerned about what you are saying.

You mentioned that this is to be an art studio. Could it be that maybe a dirty, greasy, and grimey 75 year old wood floor may give the studio a more eclectic look? Sort'a, maybe, kind'a...?

Remember, it won't matter how old the wood is, once you sand it down, it's going to look like a brand new wood floor. Is that really what you want? You'll sand all the character out of that floor!

I think a better approach would be to chemically treat the wood, and leave all the nicks, marks, and scarring in it. I am thinking something along the lines of deck cleaner, or deck stripper.

I can understand that you want to clean it up and get rid of the dirt and grime. But the discoloration, scuff marks, nicks, and other "abuse" that occured over time, are things you may want to enhance, and not get rid of.

At minimum, I would talk to someone at the local hardware store, or talk to someone at a flooring store. More logically, talk to someone who restores furniture, or a finishing carpenter. These people would understand old and neglected wood floors, and would know exactly what to do.

Answer 3

You can buy wood cleaners and conditioners at the place you'll buy your stain or finish. I would scrub that ancient grime down but don't worry if you don't get it all off, then I would simply seal it with a low gloss urethane. Leave that old weathered look alone, after all it took 75 years took look like that! Cheers

Answer 4

I would sand it, then preserve that 75 year old floor with polyurethane. so what, if all doesn't all come off that's 75 years of history.....

Answer 5

Why would you clean a window before replacing it??? Strip it first, then if there are still embedded stains, resort to wood dying agents...

Answer 6

I'd try just goiing to sanding or plane them.