Anyone ever redone wood floors?

[cboogsrun]

Just bought an investment property...all carpet with dark unfinished wood floors beneath. I will definitely keep some carpet but want to refinish the wood floors in certain areas. Anyone ever done it? When I say refinish I mean sand it down, seal it, finish it or whatever step I don't even know about. I have the money to hire but I want to learn how to do all of this shit on my own so I can save money and do it in all my other properties.

if you use a belt sander, make sure not to use to rough of paper. Use a higher grade so you can fix any mess ups easier. will take a little longer, but it beats trying to sand out a quarter inch rut. good luck and get a mask when you stain and open all windows. get a good mask too not those pussy white ones.

 

[TheProject]

I've done it several times, and it's not really all that hard. The platform sanders make it pretty hard to screw up so long as you don't stand still with it. Here's what I would suggest:

If the finish is still there, or there's wax, use a chemical stripper first, and let it get good and dry before you sand.

Follow the directions in the brochure, and proceed through all the grades of sandpaper.

Accept the fact that it's not a new floor, and there will be defects. This is called "character".

If you're pulling up carpet, make sure all the tacks are out or you will ruin your sandpaper.

Try not to topnail too much. You'll have to set the nails, fill them, and try to get it all to match, finish-wise.

Use the water-based finish. The fumes are monstrous otherwise.

Dust well before you finish, but it's damn near impossible to have the floor completely particle free, especially if you have animals or plaster walls.

While you're sanding, open a window and put a box fan in there backwards to help suck out the dust.

All that said, I'm not a pro, so someone might know more than I. I just know what worked for me.

 

[cboogsrun]

i've seen someone use a 20" x 20" house fan and use a hvac filter to filter the air. I'm sure this would work well with projects idea of using a fan.

 

[stilleto]

I've done it several times, and it's not really all that hard. The platform sanders make it pretty hard to screw up so long as you don't stand still with it. Here's what I would suggest:

If the finish is still there, or there's wax, use a chemical stripper first, and let it get good and dry before you sand.

Follow the directions in the brochure, and proceed through all the grades of sandpaper.

Accept the fact that it's not a new floor, and there will be defects. This is called "character".

If you're pulling up carpet, make sure all the tacks are out or you will ruin your sandpaper.

Try not to topnail too much. You'll have to set the nails, fill them, and try to get it all to match, finish-wise.

Use the water-based finish. The fumes are monstrous otherwise.

Dust well before you finish, but it's damn near impossible to have the floor completely particle free, especially if you have animals or plaster walls.

While you're sanding, open a window and put a box fan in there backwards to help suck out the dust.

All that said, I'm not a pro, so someone might know more than I. I just know what worked for me.

yes, i've redone wood floors and the project is right on all accounts. dusting is putting it mildly- get some tack cloths and really go over that floor, as well as using the attachement on your vaccuum cleaner on it.

 

[gonelifting]

i've seen someone use a 20" x 20" house fan and use a hvac filter to filter the air. I'm sure this would work well with projects idea of using a fan.

First, don't they have "dust free" sanders?.... and to the post above... Why would you want to filter the air you're removing from the room through a window to the outside? That filter idea works when you have the fan bringing air INTO the house through a window to keep the air filtered. Don't mean to pick it apart, but that's why it would be done.



and definately keep all hvac systems OFF during this whole process or you'll severely degrade the system.

 

[stilleto]

btw, i'm putting UP a wood ceiling. its a PITA, but looks OH so good.

 

[gonelifting]

I took down a metal ceiling when rehabbing my house. It was those copper looking things. Hideous to me but people like it.

 

[stilleto]

I took down a metal ceiling when rehabbing my house. It was those copper looking things. Hideous to me but people like it.

those are only nice if they fit the time period/artchitecture of the house. Put that on a 1950s cape and it look aweful.

the wood ceiling i'm putting up is vaulted. it feels insanely high when you're up on a ladder.

 

[gonelifting]

those are only nice if they fit the time period/artchitecture of the house. Put that on a 1950s cape and it look aweful.

the wood ceiling i'm putting up is vaulted. it feels insanely high when you're up on a ladder.

I hope you insulated well. Don't be calling me again this winter to "warm you up".

 

[stilleto]

I hope you insulated well. Don't be calling me again this winter to "warm you up".

i think you're safe.