Refinishing filthy wood floors myself... Am I crazy??

16 years ago

Just purchased a 1954 ranch home that has hardwood floors all throughout, but they are filthy. Hiring out the refinishing isn't an option because it's just not in the budget, but I have got to get these floors clean before moving my kids in.

I was thinking of renting a sander and doing it myself. It doesn't have to be perfect, but I also don't want to horribly damage the floors either so that when the budget does allow a professional to do the job, it can be done right. Can I sand with a fine sandpaper (what grit?) to take the worst of the offensive stuff off and then seal it really good?

Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. A single mother's shear determination and lack of budget is at work here. I know it's messy and loud, but beyond that, can I do this??

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Comments (4)

erinmn
16 years ago
Miss Bittersweet, may I suggest you look at a U-Sand for your project? I rented one from my local rental joint and it's probably impossible to ruin your floor with one. They'll take longer than a big old belt sander (and still do weigh 125 lbs, so keep in mind you might need help getting it in and out!) but it was well worth it for this chick and did a great job. It's four random orbital sanders on the bottom of the machine, so not able to gauge. If you're just dealing with dirt, likely you'll use a fine grit, but my local rental place gave me good suggestions for my project. I had to remove the residue from someone's fabulous parquet-wood-look vinyl over the original oak. Best of luck, and you really can do this!

Here is a link that might be useful: U-sand's website
bittersweetdreams
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks a million for the suggestion. It's nice to know that with this kind of machine I can't ruin the floor. That's been my biggest concern, but simple damp mopping is not going to help these floors. I'll just end up with mud... Oh man it's going to be difficult waiting till the closing!!! I can't wait to get my hands on this place!!
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Bona is a BEAST to work with. You need to know SOOOO much about it just to get it on the wood let alone making it look "good". Bona is tricky. Right after that it is tricky. Some say it is duplicitous (see tricky) and just for good measure it is HORRIBLE to try to figure out on your own. And that's on raw wood. You should SEE what has to be done to get it to "stick" to an oil finish (oi vey). You do NOT want to see the muck-up that WILL OCCUR if you give it a go. Right now you have a fully functioning finish. Take some photos and send them to the refinisher. Let him/her know that you are willing to "try to live with it" for a little bit of time (be clear about the time) and if you can't handle it you will ask that s/he comes back to apply the spot application. Give the refinisher the benefit of the doubt and see if they will respond once you send the photos and offer to "live with it for a while". Be nice but firm that if you can't live with it you will expect a correction. It's the decent thing to
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erinmn
16 years ago
My pleasure! It's nice to be able to help somebody with a real-life experience when I'm usually the one with hat in hand. A couple more hints: the U-Sand website has a "find a rental place near you" bit, but I discovered by accident that my local rental shop carried them and wasn't listed. Might be worth it to call in case that's the status for you as well. The sanding discs attach by velcro and I got the set up for $50 (24 hrs) plus $1.25 per sanding disc (so it's $5 per change of all four). I had just a wee kitchen to do, but it needed more work than it sounds you'll be doing. Total was probably around $80.

May I also suggest you then finish with Waterlox? Do a search on this site for people's suggestion, but it's what I used and it's easy to apply, particularly if you get to do it before you have to live there. It's fumy (but not that bad) and best to let it sit for a day between coats. But it's as easy to apply as mopping, seriously. And repairable, unlike poly finishes. So you'll never have to sand again! Might come in handy with your darling tots. No kids here, but a nice mid-sized doggy who dribbles his water and prances around when the leash comes out 2x a day. Hasn't scratched yet, but I would just re-apply a bit there if he did. (and will put an overturned laundry basket on that spot so it can dry but not be stepped on. Just thought of that...)

You'll do grand! And please let me know if I can help at all. No expert, but have just done it myself this summer.

Here is a link that might be useful: Waterlox website
ccoombs1
16 years ago
erinmn, thanks for that link about the sander. I am going to finish my own floors and was already planning to use waterlox....but it is nice to know there is a sander that won't ruin my floors!!

Refinishing filthy wood floors myself... Am I crazy??

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erinmn

bittersweetdreams
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Refinishing filthy wood floors myself... Am I crazy??

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erinmn

bittersweetdreamsOriginal Author

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bittersweetdreams
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