How to Refinish Hardwood Floors
Learn how to refinish hardwood floors with our detailed step-by-step guide. Follow our easy instructions to get it done right.
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0 of 6 steps completedStep-by-Step Instructions
1 Step 1: Clear Room and Prepare
Step 1: Clear Room and Prepare
Remove all furniture, cover doorways with plastic, close HVAC vents.
Plastic Sheeting
Heavy-duty plastic for covering doorways (roll)
2 Step 2: Sand with Drum Sander
Step 2: Sand with Drum Sander
Rent drum sander, start with 36-grit, progress to 60-grit, then 80-grit.
Drum Sander Rental
Floor sander for removing old finish (per day)
Sanding Belts Set
Assorted grits for drum sander (36, 60, 80)
3 Step 3: Edge Sand and Hand Sand
Step 3: Edge Sand and Hand Sand
Use edge sander for perimeter, hand-sand corners and tight areas.
Edge Sander Rental
Edger for sanding floor edges (per day)
4 Step 4: Vacuum and Tack Thoroughly
Step 4: Vacuum and Tack Thoroughly
Vacuum all dust, wipe with tack cloth to remove every particle before staining.
Tack Cloth
Sticky cloths for removing sanding dust (pack)
5 Step 5: Apply Stain if Desired
Step 5: Apply Stain if Desired
Apply wood stain with applicator pad, wipe excess, let dry completely.
Hardwood Floor Stain
Oil-based stain for hardwood floors (1 gallon)
Stain Applicator Pad
Pad for applying floor stain evenly
6 Step 6: Apply Polyurethane Finish
Step 6: Apply Polyurethane Finish
Apply 3 coats water or oil-based poly, sand lightly between coats with 220-grit.
Floor Polyurethane
Oil-based finish for hardwood floors (1 gallon)
Lamb's Wool Applicator
Tool for applying polyurethane smoothly