Do you want to give a brand-new look to your rough hardwood floors that have gotten scratches, stains, and dings but find it expensive to get it done by professionals? Then no worries. In this article, we will provide DIY ideas on how to refinish hardwood floors to give the whole space a revitalized look.

Before you start to makeover your dull and old hardwood floor, gather tools and material required for the procedure.

Tools and Materials Required

⦁ Plastic Sheeting
⦁ Spackle Knife
⦁ Wood Filler
⦁ 30 to 40  Grit Paper
⦁ Denatured alcohol
⦁ Polyurethane
⦁ Staining Sponge
⦁ Orbital Sander

Steps to Refinish Hardwood Floors

⦁ Prep the Room

The first step before you start refinishing is to empty and clean the room. For that, remove all the furniture, carpets, and other objects from the floor. Wrap the plastic sheet to doors, vents, and windows to prevent them from getting any dust. Also, remove doors if it blocks the wood threshold. Go through the entire floor to see any nails or any other object. Slightly fix them with the hammer to keep them in the nails in place. Finally, clean the floor with the hardwood floor cleaner. 

⦁ Patch And Repair

Check the floor if there is any existing damage with wood filler and a putty knife. Depending upon the damage, if there are larger holes and cracks, use a trowel filler to fill and cover the ruptured areas. However, if there is less damage, cover the wood patch filler only on the affected areas. Wait till the floor gets completely dry.

⦁ Sand The Floor

To sand the floor, use an orbital sander as it is the best option for beginners or intermediate DIYers. Practice at home with an orbital sander on a smooth cement surface before you start sanding the floor.
Now it’s time to start the job. With grit paper between 30 and 40, move the orbital slowly and do not stop at one place; otherwise, it will leave permanent marks. Reach as close as you can to the edges of the room without bumping the baseboards. For edges, use the hand-held sander and the detail sender for the corners. Now repeat the process until you get a smooth surface with all the cracks and holes repaired.

⦁ Buff The Floor

Buffing the floor gives a nice finish look by removing any tiny sanding marks that are left. For this, you can either rent a floor buffer or use a pole sander. If you are looking for an affordable option, use a pole sander as it’s cheaper but time-consuming. Use a 120 grit sanding screen to buff the floor moving.

⦁ Prep For Sealer or Stain

Before you apply stain, make sure the floor is completely dry. There should not be any sand, hair, or debris affecting the overall finish. To prep the floor for the stain, you can use “water popping” by mixing one part of denatured alcohol with two parts of water. Spray the mixture on the floor till it reaches every part of the floor. Then, with a mop’s help, distribute the stain evenly on the floor. Let the floor completely dry for at least 30 minutes.

⦁ Apply Stain

Now that floor is dry; it’s time to get your hands on the stain. Apply the stain by using a lamb’s wool applicator or staining sponge. Dip the sponge in the stain and squeeze it to remove the extra liquid. Start it by applying it from the corner of the room. Apply the stain in the same direction as that of grain in 3-4 foot sections at a time. Be careful and give special attention where one section meets the other and focus there to blend it evenly.

⦁ Seal The Floor

Let the work finish by sealing the floor with the polyurethane sealer. It sits perfectly on the top of hardwood, giving complete protection from water, scratches, and stains. Using a smooth sponge roller apply the polyurethane in a small section with the grain of the wood. It will require multiple coats. Between each coat, you need to let it completely dry. Repeat the procedure until you get a beautiful and durable floor.

⦁ The Verdict

Renovating your space by getting away with the wear and tear of the old hardwood floor is no longer a difficult task to do. You can easily refinish your floor with some time and effort, bringing the beauty out of the new hardwood. All it requires are the right tools and steps to refinish and save up a lot of pennies.
We hope this article has helped you know how to refinish hardwood floors in complete detail. So what are you waiting for? Get your floor covered with hardwood now.