Refinishing your Hardwood Floors: 6 Things to Know
Applying a new layer to your hardwood floor is a tough ask as it requires multiple steps to be carried out, including preparation of the floor, staining with different chemicals, sanding (using Emery paper) and coating (applying polyurethane). However, before going through the entire process, you would require necessary precautions and safety gear to keep yourself away from any harm.
- Use safety equipment
As refinishing produces high amounts of dust and fumes, it is imperative to possess some essential safety gear, like gloves and non-slippery shoes. Use your masks (disposable or filter-oriented) and earplugs when applying sealers or polyurethane coatings along with vinyl gloves and goggles with splash guards. Also make sure to apply plastic coverings to avoid the spread of dust throughout the place.
Handling chemicals with the proper equipment helps the user in several ways. One of the advantages is the long lifespan that they offer. You can feel safe from any injury, related to chemicals and slippage during work. However, the gear needs to be maintained properly with proper cleaning agents.
- Clear off the corners well
Before starting to work, you need to clean the floor thoroughly, without leaving any speck of dust. After this process, you can use a scraper and putty knife to remove any debris present on the edges. You can also use a palm sander near baseboard moldings. The equipment mentioned above allow you to reach the recesses (board edges and butt joints) without removing a lot of material with the sander. You can also use an iron brush to keep it cleared.
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- Clean up dust and hair
After finalizing the sanding process, remove all dust by vacuuming and wiping the sanded areas with a tack cloth. If you still find any unwanted material present, like a stray hair in dried polyurethane and you still have at least one coat to go, lightly sand the area with a fine 320 abrasive paper. Then carefully remove the hair with a pin and fingernail and resand the area, while taking care not to breach the stain area.
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- Apply wood stain smoothly
Applying wood stain is an arduous task and needs to be handled carefully. You need to use an applicator to a small area to check if it’s working well. Then start off with a bigger area and complete the task; rub off all excess with a rag. One thing to consider are the lap marks which can be covered with precise application of the fluid. Oil based coatings work well as compared to water-based.
- Be careful when lifting equipment and working on the floor
You need to take care and avoid unnecessary risks to keep away injuries while transporting different equipment, such as sanders from stores to your house or within the structure itself. For this purpose, you can use a helper or ramps (if available) for movement with machines. You also need to have a proper posture, especially when bent over for sanding, cleaning or applying varnish.
- Have an exit strategy
You need to start your application along the wall opposite the door you normally exit through. This helps in covering the area in a smooth manner. After commencing work, you need to coat in parallel lines towards the wall. Return back in the same direction till you reach the door and apply some extra urethane to use its self-leveling property for a proper finish.
Conclusion
Hardwood floors are known to last for a lifetime as they are sturdy and tough against high pressures. They have an estimated useful value of around 100 years and require refurnishing after 20-25 years. Refinishing is a crucial process in hardwood flooring and needs to be finalized with care and precaution, using safety equipment and other elements.
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We are experts in flooring and refinishing processes and have worked in several areas, attaining positive customer feedback and reviews. Our office is located in Anaheim, CA and we are always available on a call or message.