How to restore hardwood floors without sanding: a step-by-step guide |
Wood flooring is hardwearing, stunning, and useful – a design trifecta that means wooden flooring strategies (from herringbone and parquet to basically laid planks) are a model common in all way of properties, whether or not that’s an city loft or a rural farmhouse.
But what if the shine is coming off your floorboards, and the floor is starting to present some put on and tear? Sanding may possibly appear the obvious remedy when you are seeking to refinish hardwood flooring to preserve them in superior condition. Sanding gets rid of the prime surface of the wood to expose the fresh new timber beneath, but this is a critical – and severely messy – position, that most possible is just not needed. Alternatively, recoating the wooden could restore the finish, splendor, and longevity of your flooring, with a fraction of the effort and disruption.
‘Recoating is a fantastic way to restore the glimpse of your hardwood with no a complete sand down. It is the process of adding a new topcoat of complete to an existing wooden flooring finish,’ clarifies Brett Miller, vice president, Technical Benchmarks, Instruction, and Certification at the Countrywide Wooden Flooring Association (opens in new tab).
‘One of the positive aspects of true wooden flooring is that nearly all wooden floors, irrespective of whether pre-finished or internet site finished, strong or engineered, can be recoated. The trick is making sure the new finish will adhere to the existing end. The sheen of the floor can be improved through a recoat, but the coloration will remain the identical.’
How to restore wood flooring: the experienced perspective
(Picture credit: Woodworks by Ted Todd)
Normally talking, wood flooring can be restored with no sanding by recoating, employing both mechanical or chemical strategies. These can be utilised throughout wooden flooring thoughts for a residing area, wooden floors for a bed room, kitchen area flooring and splash-safe and sound wooden rest room flooring.
‘Mechanical adhesion is a recoat procedure that includes physically buffing, or frivolously abrading a wooden ground. This is also referred to as a “Monitor and Recoat”,’ describes Brett Miller, vice president at the Countrywide Wooden Flooring Affiliation. ‘This method includes evenly abrading the area complete, leaving powering micro-scratches in the current complete which allow for the new coat of complete to bond to the old coat.
‘Chemical adhesion is a recoat course of action that consists of working with an adhesion promoter, or a bonding agent, that sticks to the current finish and enables a new topcoat to stick to it – kind of like working with double-sided tape.’
Brett Miller is Vice President, Specialized Expectations, Education, and Certification, at The Nationwide Wooden Flooring Affiliation, an worldwide not-for-profit trade association symbolizing all segments of the hardwood flooring business.
What to take into consideration ahead of restoring a hardwood flooring without the need of sanding
(Impression credit score: The Reclaimed Flooring Enterprise)
There are a number of issues to contemplate when recoating any wooden ground, in particular if don’t prepare to sand back again the boards to clear away harm and stains.
‘If the flooring has seen dents, have on designs or long lasting cupping, recoating may not be a feasible solution, and a whole sand down might be your only option to restore the end,’ explains flooring qualified Brett Miller.
‘Dents, gouges, and scratches may perhaps be recoated, but will continue to continue to be in the flooring surface area and may perhaps turn into a lot more apparent soon after the new coating has been used.’
How to prepare your flooring to get the best end
(Picture credit score: Genevieve Lutkin)
In get to restore a hardwood ground without the need of sanding, and attain a expert-seem finish in the method, the wood need to be totally cleanse and smooth ahead of any new coating is utilized. Wax, grease, and residue from cleaning goods can all affect how perfectly any refreshing polish or lacquer adheres to the surface of the wood.
‘Floors that have had the erroneous upkeep merchandise utilized to them may well not be candidates for a recoat,’ states Brett Miller. ‘At the National Wooden Flooring Affiliation, we advise working with a wood ground cleaner proposed by the floor producer. For case in point, Bruce (opens in new tab) creates hardwood flooring and has a line of floorcare products (opens in new tab) that could be useful in this look for.
‘Cleaning merchandise that may perhaps be problematic usually consist of descriptive phrases this sort of as “refreshes, restores, rejuvenates, polishes, renews, renovates, shines…” These terms are indicative of including one thing foreign to the surface area of the floor, which means these solutions may possibly interfere with a new topcoat adhering.’
How to restore a hardwood ground without the need of sanding: step by stage
With a little planning and know-how, it is achievable to restore the hardwood floors in your household without the need of sanding down the surface area. We asked carpenter Matt Hagens, founder of Obsessed Woodworking (opens in new tab) to share his abilities with step-by-phase recommendations.
‘As a wood qualified, I have had the chance to work on many hardwood ground restoration assignments above the yrs,’ he suggests. ‘One challenge that stands out in my thoughts is a home that had been sitting vacant for a number of decades. The floors were being boring and scratched, with stains and discoloration in several parts. The householders were being concerned that they would have to have to sand the flooring, which would be costly and time-consuming. However, I was capable to exhibit them that there are many powerful means to restore hardwood floors without the need of sanding.’
Matt performs on furnishings assignments, as effectively as substantial-scale renovation tasks applying carpentry and woodworking.
1. Cleanse the surface of your hardwood floors
One particular of the very first ways in restoring hardwood floors with out sanding is to comprehensively clear the surface area.
‘This can be performed by using a delicate detergent and water, or a specialised hardwood floor cleaner,’ implies carpenter Matt Hagens.
‘It is crucial to get rid of any dust, dust, or grime that may well have gathered on the surface area. This will support to brighten the colour of the wooden and make it a lot easier to see the existing scratches and stains.’
2. Fill any scratches on the ground surface
Next, it is essential to deal with any scratches or stains on the surface.
‘For mild scratches, a simple coat of wax can be utilized to fill in the problems,’ states Matt Hagens. ‘For deeper scratches, a wood filler can be utilized to fill in the region and then sanded down until eventually it is flush with the encompassing wooden.’
3. Polish and finish the floor
After the surface is cleaned and repaired, it is time to polish and complete the floors.
‘This can be performed by applying a hardwood flooring polish or a specialized buffing equipment,’ describes Matt. ‘The vital is to use a gentle contact and to operate in modest sections at a time. This will aid to distribute the polish evenly and stop any buildup of excessive product.
‘Restoring hardwood floors without sanding is an effective and charge-productive way to provide new lifetime to your floors. By adhering to the appropriate procedures and tips, you can realize a wonderful, expert-hunting end that will past for many years to arrive.’
What issues could I make when restoring a hardwood floor devoid of sanding?
One widespread oversight that is manufactured when restoring hardwood flooring without sanding is to use way too considerably polish or complete.
‘This can end result in a cloudy or hazy visual appeal that is challenging to take away,’ clarifies carpenter Matt Hagens. ‘To stay clear of this, it is vital to use the proposed total of polish or finish and to perform in smaller sections.
Another slip-up that is frequently produced is to neglect the great importance of vacuuming and sweeping the flooring in advance of restoring. This can result in compact particles of dirt and dust currently being embedded in the end, which can direct to discoloration and unevenness in the complete.’
How can I clean up and keep a hardwood ground?
‘Routine routine maintenance ought to be all you will need with wooden flooring – everyday sweeping, vacuuming on the bare ground placing about after for every week and applying a damp mop with the correct cleansing products month-to-month,’ advises Brett Miller from the National Wood Flooring Association.
But when it will come to how to clean up hardwood flooring, the style of complete on the ground can dictate which sort of mop is suitable to use.
‘The mop should really be a bit moistened and perfectly-wrung out, ensuring the amount of money of moisture remaining on the flooring floor is small,’ Brett states. ‘When applying spray mops, use only high-good quality spray mops that give greater command above the volume of answer that is used, and that comes with tremendous-absorbent, disposable, or washable pads that take away the cleansing resolution and soil from the floor’s surface area.
‘Never use a steam mop on a wooden flooring. The steam can vacation further and quicker between the cracks and into the cells of the wooden. Recurring use can completely harm the wooden and the floor’s complete.’
