Get New Floors And Save A Bundle When You Do It Yourself

After years of use, your floor will need to be refinished and that can cost over $1000 for just one room! But if you want to put in a little time and elbow grease, you can refinish the floor yourself and have the beautiful look of warm wood in your home for a fraction of the cost.

Contrary to what you may have heard, the finish doesn't take weeks to dry. It's quite simple actually. You can get the supplies for sanding at your neighborhood home improvement store. You'll need a drum sander and a belt sander. They will be able to advise you on the sandpaper you need, how to use the machine and what kind of stain and finish you'll need to finish off the floor. Sanding creates fine particles of dust that will get everywhere and on everything so you may want to pick up some dust masks and drop cloths while you are at it.

The first thing you'll want to do when refinishing your floor yourself is to learn how to run the sander. The key to stripping a floor is learning how to get the sander working smoothly. The sanders are very easy to use. But they're a bit on the loud side. The key is to keep it moving at all times. The sander gets very hot and if you stop in one spot for any length of time, you run the risk of burning or denting your floor.

Running the sander is the fun part of refinishing, but you must be cautious as the machine is self propelled. You may feel like a Zamboni driver smoothing ice after you get the hang of it! When you start it up, hold on firmly and make sure you keep it in control at all times.

After the old finish is removed, you need to apply the stain and new finish. Think of this as the same as doing your nails ? first you remove the old finish, then basecoat, color and topcoat. Sometimes you don't want color on your nails so you skip that part. In your floor you might also skip that part (the stain) but you still want to use a finish to protect the floor.

When it comes to the finish you have 2 choices ? oil based or water based. Oil-based is available in a satin, semi-gloss or gloss finish. Satin works well on a hardwood floor because it will bring out the natural glow of the wood without too much of a shine as well as help hide any flaws. Oil-based also produces a warm amber look that gives you the traditional glow of wood floors. Water-based polyurethane dries clear and resists yellowing. Water-based also dries quicker.

Either way, make sure you let each coat dry thoroughly before applying the next. Follow the manufacturers instructions on the product for drying times. Give your floor at least 24-36 hours before moving furniture back on it. It will continue to harden in the first couple of weeks.

Refinishing your floor is simply a set of tasks which can be done easily if you take them one step of a time. Your flooring can get a whole new look for less when you refinish it yourself ? you'll save over 80 percent of the cost.

Lee Dobbins is a contributing writer for home improvement resources such as Refinishing-Hardwood-Floors.com. Visit our site and learn more about Refinishing Old Hardwood Floors.

---

Building or Decorating Your Home Requires House Plans

There are some things to consider when creating plans for... Read More

Home Remodeling Business

Need for home remodelingThe need for home remodeling is on... Read More

If You Want to Bring Your Bathroom Up to Date, Consider Fitting a Shower Stall

Modern shower stalls look sleek and stylish. If you have... Read More

Your Shower Door Can Have A Huge Impact On The Look And Feel Of Your Bathroom!

These days shower doors come in a wide variety of... Read More

Bring Out the Comforters for Back to School

If the weather is turning chilly it must time for... Read More

Expansion for Heat Absorption

In the refrigeration cycle, the refrigerant must undergo a change... Read More

Use Air Filters and Common Sense for Allergy Relief

Do you suffer from allergies or asthma? If you are... Read More

Your Home is Your Symphony

"Dr. Carl Sagan once wrote, "Somewhere, something incredible is waiting... Read More

A Beautiful Carpet Sets The Mood Of Any Room

The first discovered carpet dates back to 1480 BC in... Read More

Small Kitchen Remodeling Ideas

Any remodeling idea for a small kitchen must address the... Read More

How to Finance a New Extension?

Want to improve the look of your property? Want to... Read More

Replacement or Retrofit Style Frame? Which is Right for You?

Last week I told you how to measure for your... Read More

Family Fun ? Is Swimming In A Safe Pool

Family fun is one of the most important things you... Read More

Planning Permission Tips UK - Loft Conversions in UK Properties - Do They Add Value?

We get a great many requests to view the potential... Read More

Seven Interior Design Psychology Ideas for Dining Pleasure

A separate dining room adds glamour, elegance, and excitement to... Read More

Successful Motor Protection Formulae

As we have discussed before, all overload relays have one... Read More

Mahoganys Beauty and Durability Makes it Ideal for Deck Construction

A couple of years ago I had the chance to... Read More

How to Design a Lighting Plan

You are doing a remodel and know that you want... Read More

Laminate Flooring Is Attractive And Long Lasting

Laminate flooring is perfect for people who want to install... Read More

How To Select Scraped//Distressed Hardwood Flooring

Hand-scraped and Distressed hardwood floors are becoming a popular choice... Read More

Top Ten Air Purifier Questions

1. Do I really need an air purifier in my... Read More

Aluminium Window Frames

When double glazing first became a popular window choice in... Read More

Security in Todays World

There are many things in life that are worth protecting.... Read More

Colors: Their Connotations and Perceived Meanings

Throughout the ages, colors have been used to evoke certain... Read More

Luxurious Whirlpool Baths Aren?t Just for the Rich and Famous

A Jacuzzi has been popular since the 40's. We stopped... Read More

Replacing Steel Casement Windows

I have been getting quite a few emails from homeowners... Read More

Solar Energy Advantages Disadvantages

Many of us know that solar energy is a good... Read More

The Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Shopping for a Mattress

Buying a new mattress is a daunting task that few... Read More

Rodent Proofing Your Home

It's that time of year where rats and mice are... Read More

Bathroom Interior Design

Any advice or guide on the interior design of a... Read More

Vintage Labels on Marble Tiles

It's refreshing to note that gone are the days that... Read More

Complete Home Rehab In 10 Days

This report is about taking a house and restoring it... Read More

The Ultimate Comfort - Top 5 Reasons For Getting an Awning

Awnings are an economical and efficient way to shade a... Read More