Applying Finish To Hardwood Floors

Brush up on the basics of 8 popular options before choosing yours.

Applying finish to hardwood floors. The amount of polyurethane you ll need will depend on the surface area you want to cover. Follow these steps when applying the finish. Liquids spilled on a polyurethane finish bead up and can be easily wiped away. If you apply each coat right away when the floor is ready you can have the floor ready for the client within a day.

Hardwood floor finishes have varying levels of ease durability even glossiness. Oil finishes provide a low sheen warm and natural look for wood floors. Renew the finish on your wood floor without the hassle of sanding. It also works on plastic laminate floors.

Installing hardwood floors with a few careful preparations elbow grease and a weekend you can have beautiful new floors. How to apply finish. Water based finishes usually have 30 to 35 percent solids so you need four coats to fully protect the hardwood. Apply the finish with a lamb s wool applicator in smooth even lines while avoiding drips.

The manufacturer s instructions trump everything else. Many finishes take 24 hours to dry. Here are some general rules of thumb that you should always follow when applying finish to hardwood floors. How to apply an oil finish to a wood floor.

Refinish hardwood floors with a recoating kit and the other items shown above. Instead use a simple chemical etching technique and apply a new topcoat of finish. Before you even think about applying a drop of finish to a hardwood floor you must read the manufacturer s instructions. Follow the grain of the wood when applying the polyurethane.

Although applying polyurethane to a hardwood floor can be a difficult and frustrating challenge if you re inexperienced with this product with a set of good instructions and the right tools and materials you should be able to successfully complete the process on your own. Laying a solid hardwood strip floor is easier and faster if you choose a prefinished product to avoid the extra work of sanding staining and finishing. Hardwood floor finish application. Use a brush or roller to apply a coat of polyurethane finish.

When each coat dries sand the floor lightly with 220 grit paper or 000 steel wool. Additionally volatile organic compounds those chemicals that do not release. The finish creates a layer of protection over the floor so you need to apply a sufficient number of coats. Polyurethane is durable and provides a glass smooth finish that will protect your floor.