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.

---

Why You Should Get A Patio Awning

In these days of climate change, the UK summer is... Read More

What is Design Psychology and How Will it Help Me?

In this article, we'll be taking a look at the... Read More

How to Buy a Home with Good Feng Shui

Buying a home is usually a stressful experience. So much... Read More

Consumer Guides: Finding A Quality Contractor and Power Washing Tips

Power washing is the application of high pressure water spray.... Read More

Log Homes for Beginners - 10 Steps to Success

For those who may be thinking of building a new... Read More

Building a Backyard Play Structure

A child's dream backyard includes a play structure complete with... Read More

Poster, Print or Painting - Where Are You Going To Put It?

If you are redesigning or decorating a room, or house,... Read More

An Interview with Design Psychology Expert Jeanette Fisher

Interview with Jeanette Fisher by Gary Anderson, of ... Read More

Interior Design For New Homes

When decorating or making decorating decisions for new homes, it... Read More

Help With Buying A New Ceiling Fan

When you are choosing a new ceiling fan there are... Read More

Have You Considered Fluorescent Lighting for Your Home?

Many of us know that fluorescent lighting is common in... Read More

Brighten Up Your Shelves With Picture Frames

Would you like to add a personal touch to your... Read More

Choosing Blinds For Damp Atmospheres

There are some important things to consider when choosing blinds... Read More

A Carefully Planned Outdoor Kitchen is Worth the Investment

Do you have any idea how popular outdoor kitchens are... Read More

Home Improvement for The Ladies!

Your Own Homes Improvement Outline(One for the Ladies)Let me begin... Read More

FAQs About Using Stone In Your Home

1. Q. IS NATURAL STONE A GOOD CHOICE FOR HOME... Read More

The Benefits of Radiant Heat, Comparison

What are the Benefits of Radiant Heating and how do... Read More

Securing Your Castle

In the world of today, we no longer employ the... Read More

The Different Roofing Materials Used for Flatroofs, Their Advantages and Disadvantages

The roof has had many different innovations in regards to... Read More

Would You Steel Your Household Appliances

Would you steel your appliances? That is a question many... Read More

Repairing a Hole in a Sheetrocked Wall

It is quite simple to repair a hole in a... Read More

Fire Hazard Alert - Is Your Dryer Ready to Ignite

In recent years there has been many stories about dryers... Read More

Mexico: Who Farted?

Do you have embarrassing gas problems? Do you find this... Read More

Planning Your Replacement Windows Installation

Windows are the eyes of a home. From inside, you... Read More

Save Time & Money Doing Your Own Basic Electric Wiring

Hiring a professional electrician can be very expensive and is... Read More

Laminate Flooring Advantages

DurabilityBecause it's designed with a tough and durable wear layer,... Read More

Do-it-Yourself Roofing, Is It Advisable? Some Tips and Guidelines

Many do-it-yourselfers pride themselves in their handiwork, you can just... Read More

How To Buy A Conservatory In The UK

The first question is, what is a conservatory?There is no... Read More

Door Hardware - the Focal Point of the Home

The door is the focal point of the home which... Read More

What Are The Benefits of Radiant Heating: How Do They Compare With Other Heating Applications

Some of the benefits of radiant heatComfort: Let your bare... Read More

Mommy, Mommy, Theres a Caterpillar on my Bed

Chenille has been used for bedspreads since Catherine Evans revived... Read More

Easy To Follow Tips For Keeping Energy Costs Down

When it comes to cooling our homes and businesses, the... Read More

Used But Not Used Up

Some DIY Maintence will put Used tools back in Main... Read More