Follow These Steps

Steps 1 - 7 of 7Print Project SheetEmail a Friend

• Step One

  

  Remove the shoe molding by prying it off while protecting the baseboard with a piece of scrap wood.

• Step Two

  

  Fix squeaks and shore up the floor. The best approach is to nail into a floor joist, not just the subfloor, with 8d finishing nails. Find protruding nails by sliding the blade of a putty knife across the floor. Set the nails and flll the holes with latex wood putty.

• Step Three

  

  Tape off the area with duct tape and plastic sheeting to prevent dust from spreading through the house.

• Step Four

  

  Rough sand the floor with a drum sander for seriously damaged floors or a vibrating sander for a simple refinishing job. Sweep and vacuum the floor.

• Step Five

  

  Fine sand the floor with a vibrating sander, if you choose. Usually, these sanders level minor unevenness left by drum sanders. If you use both tools, use the drum sander for the two coarse grits (36 and 60), then use the vibrating sander for the medium and fine grits (80 and 100). If you use only the vibrating sander, start with 60-grit, then sand with 80-grit, and use the 100-grit last.

• Step Six

  

  Finish and sand the edges with a random-orbit sander. They’re less aggressive and less likely to gouge the floor.

• Step Seven

  

  Apply a wood stain (optional). When the sanding is done, vacuum up all the dust and follow up with a tack cloth. Apply wood stain with a foam applicator pad. Work one manageable area at a time; 4 square feet, for example. Always stain in the direction of the wood grain. Wipe off any excess stain, and apply finish with a lamb’s wool applicator.