Thursday, April 20, 2006

Refinish Your Hardwood Floor Like a Pro


If you are hunting for data on hardwood floors then this is the ideal article for you. You will come to find some captivating specifics on here. Your views might exhibit a sizeable vicissitude.

Let's discern if you skim the complete piece of article it has chosen salient features for you to opt for. Here it proceeds.

Refinish Your Hardwood Floor Like a Pro

by: Dan Farrell

This article is written by a pro of refinishing hardwood floors since I have done too many to count. Maybe 300 would be a good guess.

My father was in the business full time (as well as aluminum windows and doors (which I'll write another article about that soon) and while I attended college, and for a short time after, I worked with him as well as on my own refinishing hardwood floors.

In fact, I just did my mother-in-law's last summer and my back still hurts!

Before you even think of starting this DIY project, you need to be fairly good shape. There is a lot of bending, kneeling and scraping :(

Ok, you still are here reading so I guess you are serious :o)

Here are the easy? steps to a beautiful, shiny hardwood floor:

Goodness gracious. Your keen drive to explore more would be satiated further. Your additional curiosity in this write-up would be an added advantage for you.

1. Determine what kind of finish you would like first. There are a couple choices, low gloss and high gloss. It's strictly taste as they both wear the same. I prefer a polyurethane paint but some like varnishes. I found urethane to be a durable finish and won't yellow over time. Look for 'non-yellowing' on the can.

2. Go to your local hardware store that carries floor sanders, edger sander, pain scrapers, sandpaper (medium) and the floor paint.

3. Prepare your floor by filling in any blemishes, depressions, cracks and nail holes.

4. Sweep and then vacuum floor. (at this point I would hang a plastic sheet over any door openings if the door has been removed (new construction etc).

5. Sand main floor being careful to keep sander going in same direction. Start with a coarse sandpaper and switch to finer for second sanding. The first sanding is to get to bare wood and the second for a finished look.

6. Sand the edges. The trick here is to use a fairly light touch and rotate the sander in semi-circle reducing sand marks.

7. Now the fun part. Take your scraper in scrape the corners and under heaters. Don't worry about under heaters too much as it won't be that noticeable.

Ah. Have you acquired the potential of this stuff? I'm positive you must have.

We have several write-ups on which you could read. At the close of this write-up you'll have an access to the pivotal contents.

8. Whew! The hard part is done. Now the fun part. Sweep and vacuum floor and if you see a swirl or sanding marks scrape the out.

9. Put the sealer down. Wait at least 2 hours, hand sand the whole floor, vacuum and apply the urethane. If you don't have air conditioning, put a fan on the floor to dry it quicker.

10. I usually waited at least 4-5 hours for it dry, most of the time overnight. I recommend at least 2 coats of urethane for a durable, hard finish.

You're done! Wow not so bad was it?

Oh yeah,

Fine. The endurance till this point means that you are very much meddlesome in hardwood floors and . Your unusual interest would get a treat in the sections that follow.

Email me for a chiropractor :o)

About The Author

Dan Farrell is the owner of http://www.closet-organizer-plan.com where you can get a free closet organizer plan and other home improvement ideas and articles.

The hindmost word of this material, would let you identify the value of it. It could be said that individuals who study till the conclusion really discover the specifics of the study.


Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Hardwood Flooring Basics to Beautify Your Home

With all of the many different types, styles and colors of flooring available today it can be a monumental task in choosing the right flooring for your home. Hardwood floors, laminate, vinyl, linoleum, bamboo, antique, prefinished, which one is right for you? Oak, maple, cherry and birch are popular types of hardwood flooring, but there are many others.

Cheap flooring or the wrong style or design of hard wood floor can clash with other home interior design features. But a well-chosen hardwood floor can accentuate and beautify almost any style or design of a home.

Carpeting has a few advantages over wood floors, the main one being softness when walked upon. But hardwood flooring can be accented with durable and beautiful rugs that have that same cushy feeling. So if it’s a soft comfy feel you’re after don’t think that hardwood flooring is not an option. It’s possible to combine the functionality of a carpet with the beauty, durability and shine of a hardwood floor.

Hard wood floors come in all different sizes and colors. And there are also many different types of wood grains that you have available to you. When deciding on the type of hardwood floor to install in your home you must first choose the color and type of wood. This is usually the most important consideration.

The color must be complimentary to the furniture, wall hangings, plants and other items that you intend to furnish your home with. But choosing a color of wood is not necessarily a straight forward and easy task. Different types of wood stain differently. Some wood flooring will stain darker than others, some lighter than others. So when choosing color you must consider the stain in combination with the type of wood floor you want. Do your homework and you will lessen the chance of installing a floor that has a different color and look than you expected.

Another major factor concerns functionality. A pine floor may look great, but pine is a soft wood that will dent very easily. This would certainly be a poor choice in a high-traffic area. When considering woods for flooring you want to install a floor that is long-lasting. Your flooring should last a lifetime and that means choosing a floor that will be durable, easy to keep clean and will continue to look new without a lot of labor on your part. If you are uncertain go with flooring that will be harder than you think is necessary. Hardness rankings according to the Janka scale can help you decide on which type of wood you need for the amount of traffic you expect to have.

The most popular styles of hardwood flooring are parquet, strip and plank. Parquet flooring is a series of wood flooring pieces that create a geometric design. Strip flooring is linear and is usually between 1 ½ inches to 3 ¼ inches in width. Strip flooring often gives the room the appearance of being larger than it actually is. Plank hardwood flooring is usually wider and is typically 3 to 6 inches in width. Wider planks may be used, but often have issues with moisture.

You must choose the style and size that you think looks most attractive. Take your time and view all styles, designs, sizes and colors of wood floors before making your selection. Once it’s installed it is not a cheap job to tear out and replace. It’s also a good idea to get different samples and lay them out in your home. Without actually seeing the floor next to your own furnishings and wall colors it’s near impossible to make a smart choice.

If you are interested in installing your own hardwood floor be sure you have enough knowledge and experience before attempting to do so. You must know what type of subflooring to install, whether it’s wood or concrete. You should learn about humidity and temperature and what affect they have on floors. To prevent warping it is important to keep your floors well-ventilated with regulated temperatures throughout the year. When the weather gets too cold it can cause the floor boards to separate. Before installing it yourself talk to some professionals in your area and find out what precautions you need to take that will help ensure a lifetime of satisfaction with your new wood flooring.

My Hardwood Flooring provides information about choosing, installing, cleaning and refinishing classic hard wood floors including engineered, plank, strip, exotic, antique, parquet, pre-finished, and cheap hard wood floors. My Hardwood Flooring is the sister site of My Hard Wood Flooring.
Article Source: House and Home

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