What are the steps to refinishing wooden floors?
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if you don't have too deep of scratches on them you might could rent a buffer and maroon buffing pad and use 240 grit sticky back sandpaper on the buffing pad, but if they are very old i'm sure someone might have used some kind of wax or polish on them and if so, all you can do it completely refinish them.because you won't be able to get the wax out of the cracks and the finish will just seperate when it touches wax or polish. you'll need to rent a professioal sander and it'll take about four different grades of sand paper to do the job.if you're not to handy with the tools you might be better off hiring it done. You can easly destory your floors with the sanders if you are not sure how to use them.
If they're badly scarred, you'd have to rent a prof. floor sander.If not, then you can use a power sander by hand or just use sandpaper to touch up certain areas. Make sure to sweep and damp mop before spreading a coat of sealer/ varathane down. Let dry for at least 24 hrs.
Sand / stain/ lots of poly---Neil /Munro products
Once you have everything moved out of the room, you need to sand down the floors. You can rent professional sanding equipment at Home Depot or Lowes, you need two types, the large belt sander for the main floor area and a small circular sander for the corners and near the wall. If you are simply adding a couple coats of polyurehtane for shine you might be able to get away with a hand sander but I would definately recommend renting the professional ones.
Once it is sanded you need to sweep, then vacuum, then lightly wet mop to remove all debris and dust or else they will effect the finish of the top coat. Let the floor dry from the mopping.
The last step is to apply polyurethane, usually 2- 3 coats (4 for a really glossy finish) Make sure you buy a lambswool pad cover for application, then you apply the first thin coat. Wait two hours (or until the floor is not tacky) and then apply the second coat. repeat as desired. Make sure the coats are not too thick, or you will get air bubbles that will stay in the polyurethane finish.
If you have to wait longer than the two to three hour drying time in between coats you will have to lightly sand the floor again and resweep, vaccum, and mop so I would suggest allowing yourself enough time to all the coats in one day.
Then give it 24-48 hours before you move any furniture back on and a week before any high pressure loads (such as high heels).
Depending on their age and condition it varies.
If these are old floors you must be very careful. You can only sand very lightly because the old floors were attached to the sub-floors with a zillion little nails and if you sand with a big floor sander you will ruin the floors and see all the little nail heads poke up.
So more info is necessary to give you a good answer.
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