Wood Floor Revitalization

Our Place : Episode OPL-423 -- More Projects »
PHOTO
Bruce Johnson from Minwax teaches the basics of wood floor repair.

Materials:
furniture refinisher
rubber gloves
heavy duty scouring pad
safety glasses
cloth
wood stain
polyurethane sealant
wipe-on polyurethane sealant

The first step for revitalizing old wood floors is to remove the finish. Avoid using a power sander because it's easy to damage floors by going too deep into the wood. Remove the finish chemically using a furniture refinisher. Here's how to tackle floor refinishing.

PHOTO

Figure A
Steps:

  1. Pour on the refinisher and scrub with a heavy duty scouring pad or a cloth (figure A).
PHOTO

Figure B
  • To repair gouges in the floor, overfill the holes with wood filler (figure B). Be sure to overfill as filler shrinks when it dries.
    • PHOTO

    Figure C
  • Use a piece of sandpaper on a sanding block or a palm sander to scuff away excess filler so the surface is smooth (figure C).
    • PHOTO

    Figure D
  • Apply a light stain with a cloth, working in a circular motion to keep the application even. Let the stain dry at least overnight (figure D).

  • Brush on a liberal coat of polyurethane sealant to protect the wood, applying with the grain of the wood. Let this first coat dry overnight (more time if the weather is cold and wet). Apply three coats to finish the job.

    Note: For wood floors that are worn but not damaged, apply a wipe-on polyurethane sealant. Apply sealant to the entire floor using a cloth and a circular motion. Don’t try to treat just one spot— it will be noticeably more glossy.

    • Resources
    Minwax Paste
    The Thompson Minwax Company
    Website: www.minwax.com
    Also in this Episode
    Our Place : Episode OPL-423
    •Wood Floor Revitalization
    •Gourd Art
    •Faux Metal Gourds
    •Flag Window Treatments