Author Topic: What I did this past weekend...Refinished my wood floors!  (Read 7694 times)

TrulyStashin

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What I did this past weekend...Refinished my wood floors!
« on: August 04, 2014, 05:31:20 PM »
For years, I've been needing to refinish my hardwood floors -- the dining room was particularly bad.  I was starting to think that I'd have to replace some of the planks if I didn't protect them soon. 

I started on Tuesday night, last week, moving furniture out after work every night.  On Friday, after work, I sanded the perimeter of the dining room floor. 

Here are some before pictures.

TrulyStashin

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Re: What I did this past weekend...Refinished my wood floors!
« Reply #1 on: August 04, 2014, 05:33:04 PM »
Some "during" pictures....

TrulyStashin

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Re: What I did this past weekend...Refinished my wood floors!
« Reply #2 on: August 04, 2014, 05:34:58 PM »
Down to bare wood.....and the first coat of poly going on.

TrulyStashin

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Re: What I did this past weekend...Refinished my wood floors!
« Reply #3 on: August 04, 2014, 05:42:05 PM »
Final product, three coats in the dining room, living room and hallway.  A light screening in the bedrooms with a fresh single coat on those floors.

I broke a few rules along the way.  I didn't take up the shoe molding and I didn't clean out all of the closets (wrapped stuff in plastic instead).  No harm done.

I rented a random orbital sander ($45) with the rectangular fiber pad and sandpaper.  The finish is Minwax for Floors in Clear Gloss -- 2 gallons worth, and I had plenty left over.

Total cost, just under $500 for 1,000 square feet of absolutely gorgeous floors.  I'm thrilled and so proud of my badassity.  I can't wait for strangers to see it and say "Wow, beautiful floors!"  And I can say, "Thanks!  I did it myself!"

Frankies Girl

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Re: What I did this past weekend...Refinished my wood floors!
« Reply #4 on: August 04, 2014, 06:31:29 PM »
WOW - that is badass! Very cool. :D

Weedy Acres

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Re: What I did this past weekend...Refinished my wood floors!
« Reply #5 on: August 04, 2014, 07:28:58 PM »
Nicely done!

MBot

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Re: What I did this past weekend...Refinished my wood floors!
« Reply #6 on: August 04, 2014, 08:18:36 PM »
Awesome! These look great!

I've been contemplating doing this for our own floors, but they're so gappy and deeply gouged/ scratched (from previous owners dogs)

TrulyStashin

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Re: What I did this past weekend...Refinished my wood floors!
« Reply #7 on: August 04, 2014, 08:55:24 PM »
Awesome! These look great!

I've been contemplating doing this for our own floors, but they're so gappy and deeply gouged/ scratched (from previous owners dogs)

What do you have to lose?  They're unlikely to look worse and at least they'll be protected from further damage.  Just a thought....

MBot

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Re: What I did this past weekend...Refinished my wood floors!
« Reply #8 on: August 04, 2014, 09:02:40 PM »
Awesome! These look great!

I've been contemplating doing this for our own floors, but they're so gappy and deeply gouged/ scratched (from previous owners dogs)

What do you have to lose?  They're unlikely to look worse and at least they'll be protected from further damage.  Just a thought....

True! Just the labor and inconveniencing our housemates, but those are minor. If I do, I'll share!

resy

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Re: What I did this past weekend...Refinished my wood floors!
« Reply #9 on: August 04, 2014, 11:10:26 PM »
Wow so cool! I was just speaking to someone last week that wanted to do it but couldn't because it was so expensive! A person that stays at home all day with no physical disabilities!

resy

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Re: What I did this past weekend...Refinished my wood floors!
« Reply #10 on: August 04, 2014, 11:15:24 PM »
I have a question, did you get any groves on the wood with the sanding? Or do you have experience sanding? I only ask because my husband and I are arguing about the doability of this haha i saw yeah! He says "nope no way ee would ruin our floors!" This is an argument on our future hypothetical house hahahahaha

FIreDrill

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Re: What I did this past weekend...Refinished my wood floors!
« Reply #11 on: August 05, 2014, 01:52:41 AM »
Very nice!

TrulyStashin

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Re: What I did this past weekend...Refinished my wood floors!
« Reply #12 on: August 05, 2014, 07:04:32 AM »
I have a question, did you get any groves on the wood with the sanding? Or do you have experience sanding? I only ask because my husband and I are arguing about the doability of this haha i saw yeah! He says "nope no way ee would ruin our floors!" This is an argument on our future hypothetical house hahahahaha

I have no experience whatsoever. 

With a random orbital sander like this http://www.bobvila.com/articles/diy-floor-sander/#.U-DVYLHvabA it is a piece of cake.  The sander floats over the floor, with a 1/2" fiber mat in between the metal plate and the sandpaper.   It's harder than vacuuming, because the machine is heavier, but the concept is the same.   You don't have to go with the wood grain, which is really handy for some of the spaces (like near my front door) where the space is small and the wood grain runs perpendicular.   No worries about sanding grooves into the floor or otherwise damaging it.

FWIW, I'm a 45 year old woman.  I'm strong and healthy, but I don't have the upper body strength of most men.  I didn't need it.

You can do this.

Edited to add:   In 2008, pre-MMM days, I paid $1,000 to have my floors screened and recoated.   The result I produced this past weekend is much nicer than what I paid for in 2008, in part because I took the floor down to bare wood before the new finish was spread.   Had I paid someone to do this job, it would have cost around $2,000. 

It was physically very taxing, I won't kid you on that.    After work on Friday, I sanded the dining room floor perimeter and quit for the night around 11:45.  I got up on Saturday at 5:45 AM and worked all day.   At 8:30 PM, when I finally stopped for the evening, I was sitting in my car at Home Depot willing myself to move so I could pick up an extra lambswool pad.    I sat there, telling myself "You have to get out of the car now.  You can do this.  A hot shower is waiting for you."   Sunday was better, but still a lot of work.   I'd compare it to painting the entire interior of your house, including ceilings.  I'm really glad I did it, but damn, it was hard.  I'm grateful to be healthy and strong -- capable of DIY such a job -- and grateful to MMM and this forum for giving me the confidence to tackle it.
« Last Edit: August 05, 2014, 07:17:24 AM by TrulyStashin »

greaper007

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Re: What I did this past weekend...Refinished my wood floors!
« Reply #13 on: August 05, 2014, 10:24:56 AM »
Looks great and you didn't even have to deal with the potential damage of using a drum sander.   

Good Job

Sister C

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Re: What I did this past weekend...Refinished my wood floors!
« Reply #14 on: August 08, 2014, 04:43:47 PM »
Looks great! My wife refinished our guest bedroom floor this week. She used a rented orbital sander as well (it's pretty tough to mess up the job with an orbital sander, unlike a belt sander). We used monocoat natural oil finish, which I highly recommend. It's easy to apply, no VOC and you can spot sand and reapply the finish if needed down the road.  I've attached before and after pictures so you can see the finish if you're interested. (And... in the refinished pic you can see the Ikea chair/footstool we scored for free from a neighbor today).

Sister C

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Re: What I did this past weekend...Refinished my wood floors!
« Reply #15 on: August 08, 2014, 04:45:23 PM »
Here's the before pic

Gimesalot

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Re: What I did this past weekend...Refinished my wood floors!
« Reply #16 on: August 15, 2014, 05:33:37 PM »
I am so glad I found this.  My contractor quoted me $2 to $3 a square foot!

Spork

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Re: What I did this past weekend...Refinished my wood floors!
« Reply #17 on: August 15, 2014, 05:49:44 PM »
Looks great! My wife refinished our guest bedroom floor this week. She used a rented orbital sander as well (it's pretty tough to mess up the job with an orbital sander, unlike a belt sander). We used monocoat natural oil finish, which I highly recommend. It's easy to apply, no VOC and you can spot sand and reapply the finish if needed down the road.  I've attached before and after pictures so you can see the finish if you're interested. (And... in the refinished pic you can see the Ikea chair/footstool we scored for free from a neighbor today).

Good to know.  Monocoat is what I've been considering -- for exactly the reasons you stated.