Complete step by step to Restoring Hardwood Floors.
- royalmastersfcs1
- Oct 2, 2024
- 6 min read
Restoring Hardwood Floors is a very intricate task but when entrusted to a hardwood floor professional you know your getting more then peace of mind your getting quality craftsmanship. Each Hardwood floor is different so each floor is always handled depending on that particular floor. In prepping for each hardwood floor restoration session it is a must to take inventory of stock and make sure each tool and supplies are all on hand ready to go. Here are a few items when it comes to Restoring Hardwood Floors we must have to ensure the job gets done to the highest degree possible.
Material and Supplies Checklist
a drum or belt floor sander
edger sander
small pry bar
needle-nosed pliers
painter’s tape
plastic sheeting
wood filler - trowel filler or wood patch
spackle knife
protective eye wear and respirator mask
36,40, 60, 80 and 120-grit sandpaper to fit each sander
sanding pole
100 and 120-grit sanding screen
shop vacuum
tack cloth
oil-based stain (optional)
stain applicator rags (optional)
T bar applicator, smooth foam roller, or lambs wool applicator
polyurethane ( water base )
rags
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Once all tools are gathered and materials are checked it is on to the prepping part.
Prepping the areas for sanding and containment
It is best to remove all furniture, window treatments and rugs. We personally do not move furniture but we do work with a local moving company that we can recommend if needed. We cover all vents and electrical boxes with painter's tape to prevent dust from getting into ducts and electrical work. If we are only refinishing one area, we use plastic sheeting to seal doors and any openings. Depending on how close the client would like to get to the walls we either tape off baseboards or we can gently remove all base molding.
Pro Tip: Always us a pencil to number the baseboards and molding pieces as you remove them so you can replace them back correctly and in order.
Patchwork or Repairs
Next we thoroughly scan the areas to remove any nails or staples that might be on the hardwood floor. Nail down any boards that are loose,
check the floor for possible larger holes, rotten planks, cracks and repair accordingly. If the hardwood floor is in need of filler we apply. We always let the filler dry completely to ensure a proper curing process and that the filler bonds correctly. Wipe down the floor with a damp rag or cloth to remove all debris and dust. Again we allow for the floor to dry fully before sanding process begins.
This step For this step, we use a drum sander to remove the old layers of built up polyurethane, soil, and cut down to reveal its natural hardwood state. Working with a drum sander can be challenging it can be hard to control and using it incorrectly can damage your floors.
Wearing our protective mask we
start sanding with the 36-grit sandpaper to cut down to reveal the natural pores of the hardwood. This is a very coarse paper that will do the heavy-duty work of removing scratches, dings and the old finish, but will leave a natural bare but semi rough surface. Moving with the grain of the wood, work in 3- to 4-foot sections. We constantly keep moving across the floor at a slow, steady pace; stopping can create permanent marks in your floors called chatter marks which we never want. Overlap rows by one board. Each piece of sandpaper is typically good for about 20 square feet depending on the state of the floor. Additionally, our professionals constantly empty the dust bag on the sander regularly to ensure control and containment of any dust.
Because the drum sander is large and heavy which is perfect for the main areas of the floors but to reach the edges we use a different sander to get as close to the edges as possible. Using the same grit sandpaper on the edge sander to sand right up to the wall.
We repeat the process using 60, 80 and then the 100-grit paper on both the drum sander and the edge sander. Each round of sanding will reveal a smoother surface with all repaired holes or cracks flush with the floor surface. Vacuuming and wiping dust from the floor between each step is very important and helps keep the whole Hardwood Floor Restoration Session clean throughout the process. Using the fine-grit paper will result in that professional-quality finish you want.
This step we buff the floor with a industrial floor buffer which will remove tiny sanding marks and give a completely smooth to the touch finish. Using a 100 or 120-grit sanding screen, we buff the floor along each board along each grain ensuring we touch each part of the entire floor.
Prep Hardwood Floor for Stain or Sealer
At this point, we want to be sure the floor and room are completely clean and dry. We know that any sand, hair or small debris can affect the finish application. We vacuum and wipe down walls to prevent dust from falling to the floor while the finish is drying. Our team then uses a commercial vacuum with a brush head to clean the floor thoroughly and followed with a tack cloth to remove any remaining particles that might be on the bare hardwood floor.
Apply Stain to Hardwood Floors
The bare hardwood floor is now ready for either stain or sealer. At this stage you either have picked a color of your choice for stain or we will provide a few samples of oil based stain for you to choose from.
Before staining we make sure the area is properly ventilated and our hardwood floor specialist is wearing a proper respiratory mask. Stain and other finishing products emit harmful vapors so we strictly enforce noone is in the home while we are performing this step. Working from the farthest corner of the room backing out toward the door so we don't step on the fresh stain that has just been applied. Applying stain in the same direction as the grain in 3- to 4-foot sections at a time. Our professionals never allow stain to pool on the floor ever. We wipe away all excess stain from the floor before moving on to the next area. Paying extra attention to where each section meets the next expertly feathering to blend these lines together.
After the stain is dry or if you are not applying stain, we finish by sealing the hardwood floors. The benefits of sealing your hardwood floors is it protects the floor from water damage, dings, scratches also adds luster and shine to bring out the nataural beauty of your hardwood floors.
Professionally and like a skilled artist we apply 2k water base polyurethane sealer which is probably the most popular among the industry today. Because polyurethane sits on top of the hardwood (it doesn’t soak in), it offers excellent protection from water and scratches and it requires minimal upkeep. It comes in a variety of finishes from matte, glossy to high gloss.
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Once again using the vacuum and tack cloth, we make certain the floor is completely of any hair, dust, and debris before moving on to the last and final step. We are able to choose what method is best to apply the polyurethane because our professionals are skilled to use any method wether it be a roller, a lambswool or with the t bar. Polyurethane requires multiple coats to achieve its maximum value. Between each coat, we let the product dry completely (most manufacturer’s instructions for drying time is mostly similar) and buff the floor between each coat. More coats typically equal more protection. Our professionals work from the far corner of the room toward the door, so you don’t "trap" yourself in the room. It is always recommended to the client to allow the sealer to dry for a full 24 hours before walking on the floor and at least 72 hours before replacing rugs, heavy objects or furniture. Allowing for plenty of drying time will assure beautiful and durable floors.
Now that we completed the full Hardwood Floor Restoration and its time to keep them looking new we always give insight to the owners on how to upkeep there floors by sweeping and mopping regularly, using furniture pads to not scratch the newly restored hardwood floors, and also exercising caution with hard-soled shoes. With a bit of care, your Hardwood Floors should last (and remain beautiful) for a lifetime.
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