How to restore hardwood floors without sanding: a step-by-step guide |
Wood flooring is hardwearing, lovely, and practical – a design and style trifecta that means wooden flooring tips (from herringbone and parquet to only laid planks) are a design and style normal in all fashion of properties, regardless of whether that is an urban loft or a rural farmhouse.
But what if the shine is coming off your floorboards, and the surface is starting to show some have on and tear? Sanding may perhaps seem the obvious answer when you’re looking to refinish hardwood floors to hold them in great ailment. Sanding eliminates the major surface area of the wood to expose the fresh new timber beneath, but this is a really serious – and very seriously messy – occupation, that most probably is not essential. As a substitute, recoating the wooden could restore the finish, magnificence, and longevity of your flooring, with a portion of the energy and disruption.
‘Recoating is a wonderful way to restore the seem of your hardwood without a full sand down. It is the system of including a new topcoat of complete to an existing wooden ground end,’ clarifies Brett Miller, vice president, Technological Standards, Education, and Certification at the National Wooden Flooring Association (opens in new tab).
‘One of the positive aspects of true wood flooring is that nearly all wood flooring, whether pre-completed or web-site finished, strong or engineered, can be recoated. The trick is making certain the new finish will adhere to the current complete. The sheen of the ground can be modified by a recoat, but the color will continue to be the same.’
How to restore wooden floors: the specialist perspective
(Graphic credit rating: Woodworks by Ted Todd)
Typically speaking, wood flooring can be restored with out sanding by recoating, working with both mechanical or chemical approaches. These can be applied throughout wooden flooring suggestions for a living home, wood flooring for a bed room, kitchen flooring and splash-harmless wood lavatory flooring.
‘Mechanical adhesion is a recoat process that involves bodily buffing, or flippantly abrading a wood floor. This is also referred to as a “Display and Recoat”,’ points out Brett Miller, vice president at the Countrywide Wooden Flooring Affiliation. ‘This method will involve evenly abrading the surface area complete, leaving guiding micro-scratches in the existing end which make it possible for the new coat of complete to bond to the outdated coat.
‘Chemical adhesion is a recoat approach that entails employing an adhesion promoter, or a bonding agent, that sticks to the current finish and makes it possible for a new topcoat to adhere to it – form of like utilizing double-sided tape.’
Brett Miller is Vice President, Complex Expectations, Coaching, and Certification, at The National Wood Flooring Affiliation, an international not-for-financial gain trade association representing all segments of the hardwood flooring business.
What to take into account right before restoring a hardwood flooring devoid of sanding
(Impression credit rating: The Reclaimed Flooring Company)
There are a several issues to think about when recoating any wood flooring, in particular if really don’t prepare to sand back the boards to get rid of damage and stains.
‘If the floor has seen dents, dress in patterns or everlasting cupping, recoating could not be a practical solution, and a comprehensive sand down may well be your only solution to restore the finish,’ describes flooring skilled Brett Miller.
‘Dents, gouges, and scratches could be recoated, but will nevertheless continue to be in the flooring surface area and may perhaps develop into much more clear following the new coating has been applied.’
How to get ready your flooring to get the most effective finish
(Graphic credit: Genevieve Lutkin)
In buy to restore a hardwood flooring without sanding, and reach a expert-seem complete in the procedure, the wooden will have to be absolutely clear and easy before any new coating is used. Wax, grease, and residue from cleansing merchandise can all influence how nicely any clean polish or lacquer adheres to the surface area of the wood.
‘Floors that have had the completely wrong maintenance items utilized to them might not be candidates for a recoat,’ states Brett Miller. ‘At the Nationwide Wood Flooring Affiliation, we counsel using a wood flooring cleaner suggested by the ground producer. For illustration, Bruce (opens in new tab) provides hardwood flooring and has a line of floorcare products (opens in new tab) that could be practical in this look for.
‘Cleaning products and solutions that might be problematic frequently consist of descriptive terms this kind of as “refreshes, restores, rejuvenates, polishes, renews, renovates, shines…” These terms are indicative of incorporating a little something international to the surface area of the floor, which implies these items might interfere with a new topcoat adhering.’
How to restore a hardwood ground with out sanding: move by stage
With a tiny preparation and know-how, it is possible to restore the hardwood floors in your dwelling devoid of sanding down the area. We questioned carpenter Matt Hagens, founder of Obsessed Woodworking (opens in new tab) to share his abilities with phase-by-move directions.
‘As a wooden specialist, I have experienced the possibility to do the job on several hardwood ground restoration projects in excess of the decades,’ he says. ‘One task that stands out in my mind is a home that experienced been sitting vacant for various years. The flooring have been boring and scratched, with stains and discoloration in various parts. The householders were anxious that they would will need to sand the flooring, which would be pricey and time-consuming. Nonetheless, I was ready to show them that there are a number of successful strategies to restore hardwood flooring with no sanding.’
Matt performs on home furnishings projects, as effectively as massive-scale renovation projects utilizing carpentry and woodworking.
1. Clean the surface of your hardwood floors
Just one of the to start with methods in restoring hardwood flooring without the need of sanding is to carefully clean the area.
‘This can be carried out by employing a mild detergent and water, or a specialised hardwood ground cleaner,’ indicates carpenter Matt Hagens.
‘It is essential to eliminate any filth, dust, or grime that may possibly have accrued on the surface area. This will aid to brighten the coloration of the wood and make it less complicated to see the current scratches and stains.’
2. Fill any scratches on the flooring floor
Subsequent, it is vital to handle any scratches or stains on the surface area.
‘For gentle scratches, a easy coat of wax can be applied to fill in the damage,’ states Matt Hagens. ‘For deeper scratches, a wooden filler can be used to fill in the region and then sanded down till it is flush with the encompassing wood.’
3. Polish and end the flooring
The moment the surface is cleaned and fixed, it is time to polish and end the floors.
‘This can be carried out by applying a hardwood ground polish or a specialised buffing device,’ points out Matt. ‘The vital is to use a light contact and to function in small sections at a time. This will enable to distribute the polish evenly and prevent any buildup of excess product.
‘Restoring hardwood floors without the need of sanding is an powerful and cost-effective way to bring new existence to your floors. By pursuing the suitable strategies and ideas, you can realize a beautiful, skilled-seeking end that will very last for years to occur.’
What mistakes could possibly I make when restoring a hardwood flooring without the need of sanding?
One particular prevalent blunder that is manufactured when restoring hardwood floors devoid of sanding is to use too a great deal polish or finish.
‘This can final result in a cloudy or hazy look that is challenging to clear away,’ describes carpenter Matt Hagens. ‘To steer clear of this, it is vital to use the advisable total of polish or finish and to function in smaller sections.
An additional mistake that is frequently designed is to neglect the value of vacuuming and sweeping the floors prior to restoring. This can final result in modest particles of grime and dust being embedded in the end, which can direct to discoloration and unevenness in the complete.’
How can I clean up and sustain a hardwood ground?
‘Routine servicing should really be all you want with wooden floors – everyday sweeping, vacuuming on the bare ground location about as soon as per 7 days and making use of a moist mop with the proper cleansing solution regular monthly,’ advises Brett Miller from the National Wood Flooring Association.
But when it comes to how to clean up hardwood flooring, the style of end on the floor can dictate which variety of mop is proper to use.
‘The mop should be a bit moistened and nicely-wrung out, guaranteeing the sum of humidity left on the ground area is nominal,’ Brett states. ‘When applying spray mops, use only higher-high quality spray mops that offer greater control above the volume of resolution that is utilized, and that arrives with tremendous-absorbent, disposable, or washable pads that take away the cleaning remedy and soil from the floor’s floor.
‘Never use a steam mop on a wooden floor. The steam can travel further and quicker amongst the cracks and into the cells of the wood. Recurring use can permanently destruction the wooden and the floor’s complete.’