An example of a recommended, water based polyurethan varnish floor restoration and finishing process is given below.
Floor Preparation
Clean floors of dust and debris where necessary and inspect for loose or broken planks / boards / parquet blocks. If there are damaged boards that need to be fixed or replaced, this is where floor restoration begins.
Pine floor boards are most vulnerable to being misplaced, due to their long lifespan when properly laid. All nails has to be refit and new one driven before floor sanding commences. Loose solid wood flooring can be fitted with screws, always keeping in mind that pipes and electricity cables may reside below.
Mark any places that may need to be filled up or covered after nail driving and/or replacement has finished.
Sanding the Floors
The first flow of sanding is dedicated to removing the current sealing and leveling the floor. This is usually done with 24 grit sanding paper, although certain types of timber may require 16 grit, especially if the floor has not been properly maintained.
After the floor have been sanded to bare wood, its time for the gaps to be filled up where necessary. The process might require another floor sanding before the perfect, solid base necessary to carry on and finish has been finally attained.
Staining the Floors in Prefered Wood Dyes
Staining can be applied only when the floors have been finished to perfection by using higher grade sanding paper. Staining is a crafty, but rewarding work, since this contributes quite a lot to the overall quality and appearance of the floor that´s being restored. The most important rules of proper staining is, first, to remember it dries pretty quickly, work can only be finished as it should if you process planned sections of the surface and second, the dye should be applied in the direction of the wood grains only.
Finishing the Floors
After all required routines regarding bare wood handling have been successfully carried out, the team may go ahead and apply sealant to ensure proper floor preservation. The first coat of varnish should be followed by another round of fine sanding to make sure smooth floor surface has been achieved and wood grains scattered during the application of wet varnish have been entirely removed.
Now all that´s left is to apply another 2 coats of varnish and enjoy your good work. |
