Project Guide: Refinishing Hardwood Floors

A ramp may be used to move heavy sanders from your vehicle to the ground, or from your porch through your threshold as shown here.

Sharpen your scraper with a mill bastard file. Follow the manufacturer’s original bevel using a diagonal, slicing stroke.

Industrial vacs will do a better job, but save the rental fee and use your shop vac instead. Install a new filter and invest in a good brush attachment, if you don’t already have one.

Use a brush to cut in around the room perimeter.

Applying stain (as well as sealer and polyurethane) is done using many of the same techniques you’d use when painting. Always begin your stroke a foot or two away from the area you’ve just coated. Then brush (or push applicator) to meet the previously stained area. This will help ensure even coverage.

Lightly sand between coats of polyurethane with very fine, 320-grit paper. A sanding pole makes it easier on your knees, but hand-sanding allows you to spot embedded debris. Wipe surface clean with a tack cloth or a rag dampened with mineral spirits before proceeding with the next coat.

Even if you've got your heart set on hardwood flooring, it's worth considering the alternatives. Sometimes, materials that only look like wood can be just as good as—or even better than—the real thing. Explore your options now!