Most 1800’s homes and many homes there after have old hardwood floors. The widths and lengths of the planks often varied. Some hardwood floors were created of thinner pieces which were installed over the plank floors of the home. Other hardwood floors are the floor planks themselves.
The first thing you need to do is to remove all of the furniture from the room. It is best to have the room completely empty when refinishing the floor. That way there isn’t anything to work around and you can get to all of the floor as the entire surface must be done.
The next thing you’ll want to do is to open up the windows and insert some fans blowing out. You are going to be sanding the floor and dust will be created. This dust will be sucked outside by the fans.
Be sure to put on a face mask when sanding. Prepare an electric handheld sander with rough grit sand paper. Sand the entire surface of the floor to remove all of the old paint, stain or varnish. Once the old finish has been completely removed switch fine grit sandpaper and go over the entire surface of the hardwood floor again. The fine grit reduces the chances of the wood splintering and gives the floor a smooth surface for the new finish to adhere to.
Once the floor has been sanding with the fine grit use a shop vac to suck up all of the dust created from sanding. Using a shop vac is better than using a broom and dust pan because particles can be left behind from sweeping which will create bumps in the new finish.
Once the floor has been cleaned it’s time to apply the new stain. Use a cloth mop to apply the new stain, rubbing it on in a circular motion. Use a soft dry cloth or a clean mop head to remove all excess stain. Do not allow the stain to sit on the wood as dark spots will occur.
If after the first application of stain you decide you would like to have the color look darker and richer you can apply another coat. If you are satisfied with the color and look then you can proceed to apply the polyurethane or floor sealer.
Whether you are using poly or floor sealer it can be applied using a large foam paint brush. Start at the furthest end of the room from the door way. Work your way back towards the doorway so you do not have to step where you have applied. Allow the first coat 12 hours to dry before applying a second coat. Allow the second coat 24 hours to dry.
After 24 hours you can walk on the floor and you can put the furniture back into the room. The floor is usable, and washable. You new finish will enhance the look of the room and will last for years.
