For edges and corners, use a painting pad to apply a water-based finish; on open floor, use a synthetic-wool applicator.
These primarily solvent-borne finishes, including old-fashioned sealants like linseed oil, soak deeply into the wood pores. Whether youre looking for a heavy-duty weed eater or just something to get basic jobs done, weve reviewed some of the best weed eaters on the market.
Then dry with a clean cotton rag. However, expect the patch to be a different color and sheen than the surrounding area. If the stain remains, remove all the wax on and around the stain with floor-wax remover and clean the spot with No. To ensure a more even floor, keep the following tips in mind: Pro2Pro Tip: Skip 20- and 36-grit disks unless youre stripping paint off the floor.). The 5 Best Solar Generators (2022 Review). A gallon of oil-based poly costs around $25, enough for 400 square feet. In either case, follow the manufacturer's application instructions carefully. Neither device reaches into corners fully, so youll have to scrape these areas with a razor-sharp floor scraper. After the floor dries, apply more wax and buff to a high sheen. A waxed floor also gets a hazy look when wet.
Indicate that water has gotten beneath the finish and into the wood, a difficult problem to fix.
You can rent a drum sander, which does the main floor, and edger for around $55 a day. This will cost 90 cents to $1.50 per square foot, depending on how much screening needs to be done and whether the floor needs one or two coats of finish. The 60- to 120-grit disks used with this unit cost $6 to $10 each. If the stain remains, remove all the wax on and around the stain with floor-wax remover and clean with No.
You can sand and spot-apply polyurethane, though you risk an obvious patch. For more information on these finishes, go to nofma.org. But plunge pools fill the middle ground, give a splash of fun, and offer relaxation in smaller yards. Then apply a dollop of oil-based polyurethane.
As for durability, Lance Hemsarth, technical director for Minwax, a leading maker of polyurethane, maintains that oil-based polyurethane is still the standard for performance, especially for high-traffic areas.
However, because it dries quickly, you must work fast to maintain a "wet edge" during application or you'll end up with visible lap marks where wet polyurethane was applied over dried or partially dried finish.
It's tough enough to handle constant traffic and is resistant to almost everything. Then pick up remaining floor dust with a tack cloth, which is a 4-sq.-ft. treated cheesecloth ($2). The alternative is to screen and recoat the entire floor. Portsmouth, OH 45663888-472-3261, Leslie Bros. Lumber Co.Box 609Cowen, WV 26206304-226-3844, Memphis Hardwood Flooring Co.1551 N. Thomas St.Memphis, TN 38107901-526-7306, Missouri Hardwood Flooring15455 Conway Road, Ste 320Chesterfield, MO 63017636-519-0400, Minwax101 Prospect AveCleveland OH 44115Minwax800-523-9299, National Oak Flooring Manufacturers AssnBox 3009Memphis, TN 38173-0009NOFMA 901-526-5016, National Wood Flooring Assn1688 Westwoods Business ParkEllisville, MO 63021-4522, Stuart Flooring Corp655 Dobyns RoadStuart, VA 24171Stuart Flooring276-694-4547, Zickgraf Hardwood FlooringBox 1149Franklin, NC 28744Zickgraf Flooring 800-243-1277.
Screening removes the floor finish without cutting into the wood itself, so you should: Pro2Pro Tip: You cant screen a polyurethane floor that has been waxed.
Before attaching the screen, take the edge off it with 100-grit sandpaper loaded onto a palm sander. You may also want to think twice about doing this work yourself, particularly if it's a large open area where any unevenness in the floor will be evident in the finish.
Another advantage of waterborne polyurethane is how quickly it dries you can apply two coats in three hours and walk on the floor in your socks after seven hours. Start by rubbing the wax lightly with No. A solar generator gives you backup energy from the sun should your electricity fail.
Water stains, scratches, dullness and whole areas worn bare by household traffic are signs that its time to refinish the floor. Only screen a polyurethane finish, a non-penetrating plastic coating that sits on top of the floor. Screening is a process that takes off the top layer of polyurethane but doesnt remove any wood. If you're not sure, get advice other surface finishes like shellac, lacquer and varnish resemble polyurethane but require special treatment. Polyurethane is the most popular finish for floors. Oil-based polyurethane dries slowly, which means you can't walk on the finished area for 24 hours or more after coating. To get rid of heel marks and scuffs on a waxed floor, polish the mark with 000 (extra fine) steel wool and hardwood-floor cleaner. Screening is done with a 16-inch floor polisher, which works like a giant oscillating sander. Try a hardwood-floor cleaner or mineral spirits, but you'll probably have to sand the floor. Again, bag the sawdust and leave it outside, away from anything flammable. Each type has its strengths, and neither is a poor choice. 1 steel wool moistened with soap and water.
Then reapply the wax with a solvent-based wax. Let the floor dry thoroughly and rewax. See if the scratch has penetrated the finish by wetting it with your finger. Weather permitting, open the windows and place a fan in one to blow dust out. A professional will charge $1.50 to $3 per square foot, including finish application and cleanup. Buff the wax with a clean cotton rag. Scrape up chewing gum, crayon or candle wax after you freeze the material by placing ice in a double plastic bag on top of it. Try No. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the five best weed killers on Amazon to help you find the product thats right for you. Today, most floors are finished with polyurethane, a durable, moisture-resistant oil-based or waterborne plastic coating. If you are going to do the work yourself, watch a how-to video (try a rental store or the local library) before you start. Bringing a dull, worn-out hardwood floor finish back to life is easier than you think. Temporarily remove the quarter-round or base-shoe molding along the baseboard and countersink any flooring nails that stick up. The weight of the floor polisher and a synthetic-wool pad hold the screen in place.
Before you put down any finish on a wax-only floor, the wax has to be removed. Remove everything from the room you canespecially items that collect dust, such as furniture, carpets and paintings. The 5 Best Laminate Floor Cleaners (2022 Review), Tile Setting 101: Best Practices from an Expert. Refinishing Wood Floors: Screening, Sanding, and Finishes.
If you cant find the time to do the work yourself or dont want to be around that much dust, hire a professional floor refinisher.
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Try trisodium phosphate (TSP).
1 steel wool, being careful not to rub through the wax.
If you can scrape up a gummy, waxy residue, especially in corners, your floor has a wax finish. This relatively inexpensive technique gives you the option of doing the work yourself with little risk and saves you the cleanup and hassle associated with floor sanding. Bag the sawdust and leave it outside, away from anything flammable (sawdust can spontaneously combust). Some floors require this level of work, but many others can be revitalized by screening. The products included in this article are available at various home improvement stores, local home centers, and online retailers like Amazon. Once you have completely finished, sweep down walls and vacuum dust from all surfaces. Before applying any finish, vacuum twice and use a tack rag on the entire floor. Then use the vacuum and tack rag again with care before adding another coat of finish. Don't sand the final coat just appreciate how it reflects the light and know that you have a finish that will last for years. You'll know your floor has a polyurethane finish if it looks as though it's covered with a plastic film and you can't scrape up any gummy residue. The products included in this article are available at various home improvement stores, local home centers, and online retailers like Amazon.
Then reapply the wax with a solvent-based wax. To be thorough, use four screening grits, from rough to smooth (60-, 80-, 100- and 120-grit). On a polyurethane floor, wipe the stain with mineral spirits. There are three general types of floor finish: polyurethane, penetrating oils and sealers, and waxes. Seal the used cloths in a metal can and dispose. Only screen when the finish is worn, scratched or dull but the wood beneath is not stained or damaged. First, try a hardwood-floor cleaner (about $4) and buff with a clean cotton rag. Some stains are so deep you may have to replace the flooring. Oil-based polyurethane will turn a light amber color with age whereas water-based stays clear. Wipe the floor dry and rewax.
Most hardwood floors are made of oak, but despite the durable nature of this wood, it only looks as good as the surface finish. If the old and new finish don't mix, you'll have to sand down to bare wood before refinishing. These finishes are typically not compatible with a topcoat of polyurethane and have to be treated with the original finish or stripped completely. For a truly smooth finish, sand lightly between coats with a pole sander using 100-grit sandpaper. If you want to preserve the creamy-white look of maple, for instance, use waterborne polyurethane. All rights reserved.
It's important to know which you have because not all finishes are compatible.
There are two types of polyurethane finish: oil-based (solvent borne) and water-based (waterborne). It also emits noxious fumes. Sand floors down to bare wood if there's a wax finish on top of the polyurethane, if the finish has worn through or if the floor has been stained or damaged. With an oil-based finish, use a china-bristle brush for edges and corners and a lamb's-wool applicator for open floor. With or without a fan in place, wear a respirator. Then let the floor dry and apply more wax. 1 steel wool and mineral spirits. Rub the wax lightly with No. Wax buildup can look cloudy, so remove it with wax remover or mineral spirits (the fumes are flammable, so extinguish all open flames such as a pilot light). The disks for the drum sander typically cost $3 each; for the edger the disks run $2 each. You can spot-sand down to bare wood with 100-grit sandpaper, and spot-recoat with polyurethane matched to the gloss of the existing finish (use an oil-based polyurethane to patch an existing oil-based finish, and a water-based poly to patch an existing water-based finish). A burn mark that has gone through the finish must wait for a full-floor drum sanding, and it must be sanded out by hand. Wading in the water in a backyard meant having a massive swimming pool or settling for a scant hot tub. Don't drop the sanding drum down on the floor too quickly after picking it up to make a turn, or you'll gouge the floor. Tour This Renovated 220-Year-Old Farmhouse, With a wraparound porch and oversize windows that frame the views, an updated rear addition embraces its pastoral settingand readies a well-loved, almost 220-year-old farmhouse for another century of family life. Using the drum sander and working with the grain of the wood, make at least two passes in each direction with 60-, 80- and 100-grit sanding disks. Seal off all doorways with plastic sheeting and masking tape, seal off duct registers with plastic and tape around all cabinet doors. Buff to a high sheen. An effective herbicide can get rid of a variety of weeds that have invaded your lawn.
Use the same preparations for screening, though you might want to create a double airlock (plastic on both sides of a door) to keep the dust confined it really flies with a drum sander. A drum sander can dig into the floor very quickly and leave unsightly gouges when operated by an inexperienced person. The products included in this article are available at various home improvement stores, local home centers, and online retailers like Amazon. If the wood darkens along the scratch, it has penetrated completely and you must apply more polyurethane.
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Any burn that has gone through to the wood needs to be sanded out by hand when the floor gets drum sanded. This knocks down any high spots on the disk that can dig too deeply into the finish when the polisher first starts up.
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