You'll know your floor has a polyurethane finish if it looks as though it's covered with a plastic film and you can't scrape up any gummy residue. Then pick up remaining floor dust with a tack cloth, which is a 4-sq.-ft. treated cheesecloth ($2). The 5 Best Laminate Floor Cleaners (2022 Review), Tile Setting 101: Best Practices from an Expert. Wax buildup can look cloudy, so remove it with wax remover or mineral spirits (the fumes are flammable, so extinguish all open flames such as a pilot light). These finishes are typically not compatible with a topcoat of polyurethane and have to be treated with the original finish or stripped completely. Seal the used cloths in a metal can and dispose. Buff to a high sheen. Screening is done with a 16-inch floor polisher, which works like a giant oscillating sander. Water-based polyurethane runs about $40 per gallon, enough to cover 600 square feet of floor space. Then apply a dollop of oil-based polyurethane. Scrape it up with an extremely sharp chisel or scraper. To ensure a more even floor, keep the following tips in mind: Pro2Pro Tip: Skip 20- and 36-grit disks unless youre stripping paint off the floor.). This will cost 90 cents to $1.50 per square foot, depending on how much screening needs to be done and whether the floor needs one or two coats of finish. Temporarily remove the quarter-round or base-shoe molding along the baseboard and countersink any flooring nails that stick up. Screening is a process that takes off the top layer of polyurethane but doesnt remove any wood. If you're not sure, get advice other surface finishes like shellac, lacquer and varnish resemble polyurethane but require special treatment. However, because it dries quickly, you must work fast to maintain a "wet edge" during application or you'll end up with visible lap marks where wet polyurethane was applied over dried or partially dried finish. 1 (medium grade) steel wool, being careful not to rub through the wax. As for durability, Lance Hemsarth, technical director for Minwax, a leading maker of polyurethane, maintains that oil-based polyurethane is still the standard for performance, especially for high-traffic areas. Copyright 2022 This Old House Ventures, LLC. You'll be screening most of the floor with the floor polisher and screens. Some floors require this level of work, but many others can be revitalized by screening. If you can scrape up a gummy, waxy residue, especially in corners, your floor has a wax finish. Try No. Let the floor dry thoroughly and rewax. Some stains are so deep you may have to replace the flooring. With an oil-based finish, use a china-bristle brush for edges and corners and a lamb's-wool applicator for open floor. In either case, follow the manufacturer's application instructions carefully. Try a hardwood-floor cleaner or mineral spirits, but you'll probably have to sand the floor. As you apply the finish, move the applicator with the grain of the wood from wall to wall, angling it slightly. Most hardwood floors are made of oak, but despite the durable nature of this wood, it only looks as good as the surface finish. Whether youre looking for a heavy-duty weed eater or just something to get basic jobs done, weve reviewed some of the best weed eaters on the market. Then reapply the wax with a solvent-based wax. Scrape up chewing gum, crayon or candle wax after you freeze the material by placing ice in a double plastic bag on top of it. With or without a fan in place, wear a respirator. If the stain remains, you'll have to sand off the polyurethane and perhaps sand the wood itself. Keep the sander moving; stalling it in one place will result in a noticeable swale. A professional will charge $1.50 to $3 per square foot, including finish application and cleanup. The products included in this article are available at various home improvement stores, local home centers, and online retailers like Amazon. To get rid of heel marks and scuffs on a waxed floor, polish the mark with 000 (extra fine) steel wool and hardwood-floor cleaner. Then reapply the wax with a solvent-based wax. Then dry with a clean cotton rag. Once you have completely finished, sweep down walls and vacuum dust from all surfaces. A burn mark that has gone through the finish must wait for a full-floor drum sanding, and it must be sanded out by hand. Screening removes the floor finish without cutting into the wood itself, so you should: Pro2Pro Tip: You cant screen a polyurethane floor that has been waxed. After the floor dries, apply more wax and buff to a high sheen. Start by rubbing the wax lightly with No. A waxed floor also gets a hazy look when wet. An effective herbicide can get rid of a variety of weeds that have invaded your lawn. If you cant find the time to do the work yourself or dont want to be around that much dust, hire a professional floor refinisher. If the old and new finish don't mix, you'll have to sand down to bare wood before refinishing. Get the latest This Old House news, trusted tips, tricks, and DIY Smarts projects from our expertsstraight to your inbox. Tour This Renovated 220-Year-Old Farmhouse, With a wraparound porch and oversize windows that frame the views, an updated rear addition embraces its pastoral settingand readies a well-loved, almost 220-year-old farmhouse for another century of family life. Oil-based polyurethane will turn a light amber color with age whereas water-based stays clear. However, expect the patch to be a different color and sheen than the surrounding area. Wading in the water in a backyard meant having a massive swimming pool or settling for a scant hot tub. Often are just on the wax surface. 1 steel wool and mineral spirits. Weather permitting, open the windows and place a fan in one to blow dust out. Any burn that has gone through to the wood needs to be sanded out by hand when the floor gets drum sanded. Then let the floor dry and apply more wax. Some floors have wax as the only finish, or the wax is applied over polyurethane or a penetrating sealer. Before attaching the screen, take the edge off it with 100-grit sandpaper loaded onto a palm sander. A drum sander can dig into the floor very quickly and leave unsightly gouges when operated by an inexperienced person. You can spot-sand down to bare wood with 100-grit sandpaper, and spot-recoat with polyurethane matched to the gloss of the existing finish (use an oil-based polyurethane to patch an existing oil-based finish, and a water-based poly to patch an existing water-based finish). Remove everything from the room you canespecially items that collect dust, such as furniture, carpets and paintings. Screens are clog-resistant sanding disks. Bag the sawdust and leave it outside, away from anything flammable (sawdust can spontaneously combust). If you want to do it yourself, renting one costs around $25 per day. You can sand and spot-apply polyurethane, though you risk an obvious patch. Again, bag the sawdust and leave it outside, away from anything flammable. Before applying any finish, vacuum twice and use a tack rag on the entire floor. By submitting your email, you agree to our. Try trisodium phosphate (TSP). See if the scratch has penetrated the finish by wetting it with your finger. Only screen when the finish is worn, scratched or dull but the wood beneath is not stained or damaged. Today, most floors are finished with polyurethane, a durable, moisture-resistant oil-based or waterborne plastic coating. If you want to preserve the creamy-white look of maple, for instance, use waterborne polyurethane. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the five best weed killers on Amazon to help you find the product thats right for you. The alternative is to screen and recoat the entire floor. The products included in this article are available at various home improvement stores, local home centers, and online retailers like Amazon. Consider screening the entire floor or a discrete section. The disks for the drum sander typically cost $3 each; for the edger the disks run $2 each. Then use the vacuum and tack rag again with care before adding another coat of finish. Use the same preparations for screening, though you might want to create a double airlock (plastic on both sides of a door) to keep the dust confined it really flies with a drum sander. Polyurethane is the most popular finish for floors. The 60- to 120-grit disks used with this unit cost $6 to $10 each. (For a red-oak floor or a stained floor, use either type of finish.). For more information on these finishes, go to nofma.org. A gallon of oil-based poly costs around $25, enough for 400 square feet. If the wood darkens along the scratch, it has penetrated completely and you must apply more polyurethane. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the five best solar generators on Amazon to help you find the product thats right for you and your home. A solar generator gives you backup energy from the sun should your electricity fail. Using the drum sander and working with the grain of the wood, make at least two passes in each direction with 60-, 80- and 100-grit sanding disks. If the stain remains, remove all the wax on and around the stain with floor-wax remover and clean with No. There are three general types of floor finish: polyurethane, penetrating oils and sealers, and waxes. Rub the wax lightly with No. It also emits noxious fumes. Neither device reaches into corners fully, so youll have to scrape these areas with a razor-sharp floor scraper. And you can't go back and work waterborne polyurethane, even when it's wet, or you'll leave marks in the finish. Don't drop the sanding drum down on the floor too quickly after picking it up to make a turn, or you'll gouge the floor. Before you put down any finish on a wax-only floor, the wax has to be removed. But plunge pools fill the middle ground, give a splash of fun, and offer relaxation in smaller yards. Only screen a polyurethane finish, a non-penetrating plastic coating that sits on top of the floor. But it can be worked when wet, which means you can go back and correct mistakes a crucial advantage for the beginner. Oil-based polyurethane dries slowly, which means you can't walk on the finished area for 24 hours or more after coating. Refinishing Wood Floors: Screening, Sanding, and Finishes. Seal off all doorways with plastic sheeting and masking tape, seal off duct registers with plastic and tape around all cabinet doors. Water stains, scratches, dullness and whole areas worn bare by household traffic are signs that its time to refinish the floor. These primarily solvent-borne finishes, including old-fashioned sealants like linseed oil, soak deeply into the wood pores. It's important to know which you have because not all finishes are compatible. 1 steel wool and mineral spirits. If the stain remains, remove all the wax on and around the stain with floor-wax remover and clean the spot with No. This relatively inexpensive technique gives you the option of doing the work yourself with little risk and saves you the cleanup and hassle associated with floor sanding. First, try a hardwood-floor cleaner (about $4) and buff with a clean cotton rag. It's tough enough to handle constant traffic and is resistant to almost everything. All rights reserved. Use 00 (very fine) steel wool and cotton rags to pick up the old wax. On a polyurethane floor, wipe the stain with mineral spirits. Don't sand the final coat just appreciate how it reflects the light and know that you have a finish that will last for years. Another advantage of waterborne polyurethane is how quickly it dries you can apply two coats in three hours and walk on the floor in your socks after seven hours. This knocks down any high spots on the disk that can dig too deeply into the finish when the polisher first starts up. 1 steel wool, being careful not to rub through the wax. You can rent a drum sander, which does the main floor, and edger for around $55 a day. To be thorough, use four screening grits, from rough to smooth (60-, 80-, 100- and 120-grit). Portsmouth, OH 45663888-472-3261, Leslie Bros. Lumber Co.Box 609Cowen, WV 26206304-226-3844, Memphis Hardwood Flooring Co.1551 N. Thomas St.Memphis, TN 38107901-526-7306, Missouri Hardwood Flooring15455 Conway Road, Ste 320Chesterfield, MO 63017636-519-0400, Minwax101 Prospect AveCleveland OH 44115Minwax800-523-9299, National Oak Flooring Manufacturers AssnBox 3009Memphis, TN 38173-0009NOFMA 901-526-5016, National Wood Flooring Assn1688 Westwoods Business ParkEllisville, MO 63021-4522, Stuart Flooring Corp655 Dobyns RoadStuart, VA 24171Stuart Flooring276-694-4547, Zickgraf Hardwood FlooringBox 1149Franklin, NC 28744Zickgraf Flooring 800-243-1277. For corners and edges, use a palm sander or sanding pad fitted with sandpaper. It wont take off on you like a drum sander and doesnt require a lot of strength. The weight of the floor polisher and a synthetic-wool pad hold the screen in place. Bringing a dull, worn-out hardwood floor finish back to life is easier than you think. Buff the wax with a clean cotton rag. The 5 Best Solar Generators (2022 Review). 1 steel wool moistened with soap and water. For edges and corners, use a painting pad to apply a water-based finish; on open floor, use a synthetic-wool applicator. In the past that meant sanding down to bare wooda dust-producing, time-consuming process thats risky if you dont have experience or expensive if you hire a pro. Each type has its strengths, and neither is a poor choice. Many of these floors are then waxed. If you are going to do the work yourself, watch a how-to video (try a rental store or the local library) before you start. There are two types of polyurethane finish: oil-based (solvent borne) and water-based (waterborne). For a truly smooth finish, sand lightly between coats with a pole sander using 100-grit sandpaper. Sand floors down to bare wood if there's a wax finish on top of the polyurethane, if the finish has worn through or if the floor has been stained or damaged. The products included in this article are available at various home improvement stores, local home centers, and online retailers like Amazon. Armstrong World IndustriesBox 3001LancasterPA 17604Armstrong 800-233-3823, Armstrong-Bruce-Hartco-Robbins Floors16803 Dallas PkwyDallas, TX 75248Armstrong-Bruce Floors800-722-4647, US Plank Flooring9597 State Rte 125W. Move at a steady, even pace to take off a uniform amount. Wipe the floor dry and rewax. Pet strains are tough to remove from a hardwood floor, especially if the stain is old. Indicate that water has gotten beneath the finish and into the wood, a difficult problem to fix. You may also want to think twice about doing this work yourself, particularly if it's a large open area where any unevenness in the floor will be evident in the finish.
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