Step by Step Floor refinishing

It certainly isn't easy making an old wood floor look good again. Lots of work goes into the final product but, in the end, it's one of the most satisfying things to accomplish! Here's a step by step tutorial on how this is achieved:

1) the old finish must be sanded off the surface. This is usually accomplished by using 40-60 grit sandpaper. The initial sanding accomplishes two things: cutting off the old finish and making the floor flat.

2) After the old finish is removed, the next step is trowel fill the entire surface with a wood filler. Some hardwood floor companies only spot fill gaps on the floor. I find that it is better to trowel the whole surface for two reasons: you don't miss any gaps and, once the filler dries, you can spot problem areas on the floor, such as heavy sanding marks left by the 40-60 grit sanding process.

3) Once the filler dries, you can move on to the next step, which is fine sanding. Usually, you can move from 60 grit rough sand to a 100 grit fine sand. If you start with 40 grit, it's best to do you fine sanding to 80 grit. The purpose of the fine sanding process is, again, twofold: to remove the filler and take out the heavy sanding marks left from the initial rough sanding.

4) And now, the floor is ready for it's last fine tuning before the finish is applied: buffing. With a keen eye, you can spot what was missed in the fine sanding process and blend where the two different sanding machines converge. What I mean by that is: the drum/belt sander is used in conjunction with an edger (small sander used to reach places the drum/belt sander couldn't). The lines that are created can be eliminated with the buffing process. With a 100 grit screen and lots of patience, this part can make the difference between a 'good' floor and an 'awesome' one. Take your time!!

5) Last, but not least, you're ready to coat! First, vacuum the floor very thoroughly!! Remember, any dust left will be embedded in the finish. Using a paint roller or a water based flooring applicator, 'snowplow' the finish with the grain of the wood. Hope this has been helpful! Please contact me if you have any questions!!