Hey were just uploaded some photos of a current job. We are resurfacing the floors and replacing some custom inlays that are damaged. If you have any questions post them here or contact us via our website
 |
| custom hardwood floor inlay |
Hey guys it been a while. I just wanted to let everyone know we are working on the business and been away from website/blog pages. We will be updating some coming up shortly. Check out our old blogs. They have good information.
I found this good article. For more information check out the articles on the blog. For great flooring prices call us or go to our website for more details.
Refinishing, Sanding, Staining and Polyurethane a Hardwood Oak Floor
By Josh Collins
Preparation: Remove the carpet
If you have carpet you are going to have to remove it! This part is easy, just tug on a corner and pull it off the tack board. Cut the carpet in long 3 or 4 food sections using a sharp box cutter. Simply, roll it up and haul it away.
You will be left with your pad. In my case the pad was just stapled down and not glued, so you pretty much do the same thing as the carpet and just roll it up and haul it away.
Once you get all the carpet and pad removed you have to get rid of the staples and tack board. Invest in a good molding removing pry bar. It will look similar to a normal pry bar on one end, but will have an odd shaped other end that is specially designed to pull finishing nails out of tight places. This tool will save you tons of time! As for the staples, pull em out with pliers, it is time consuming but pretty easy.
Preparation: Remove the trim
If you have trim that overlaps the hard wood you will have to remove that as well. This is pretty easy if you bought the molding pry bar. Simply pry it up and remove the finishing nails.
Once you are done with all of this you are left with your wood floor and you are ready for the real fun.
Choose a Sander:
Now it is time to rent a floor sander. There are several different kinds that you can rent from Home Depot. They are similar in cost but different in a few ways.
Sanding down the floor:
For this tutorial I am going to discuss using a square pad orbital sander since that is what I used. Start with a 30-40 grit sandpaper and slowly make a pass going with the floorboards. You should see the polyurethane and some of the stain come off pretty quickly. The pads don’t last all that long because they get polyurethane clumps on them so I went through about 2 pads every 10 by 10 area.
**Note** Vary your pattern. Don’t always start and stop on the same place on the floor. It can create a pattern that is noticeable.
Since this one is forgiving you can go over and over the same spots without really digging into the wood too much, so my recommendation would be to go over each spot a couple times back and forth and then move on to the next row. If you get done and you need to go back over it that isn’t a problem. Just remember that you are going to use a higher grit (finer) sand paper afterward that will take off some more wood. The most important part is making sure all the polyurethane is off the floor.
**Note** I had some problems because in some of my dents in the floor I wasn’t getting all the shine off the floor in every place. But as I went to the finer sandpaper it got almost all of this off.
Since the large floor sander cannot get all the way to the edge you are going to have to use a hand sander with similar grit paper on the edges. This is time consuming and I didn’t get mine 100% even, but since I was staining it was going to help cover up my imperfections.
After you are done making several passes of 30-40 grit paper, do the same thing with 60-80 grit paper. This should take less time since you are touching things up.
Finally, you put on your finest sandpaper (around 150 grit). You should only need to go over once or twice and these pads should last about twice as long. I only used two for a 400sq foot area.
Remember to do the edges with your hand sander after each step.
The result
You should be left with a dull floor without any shine and little, if any, stain. The next step is staining and applying polyurethane.
Staining hardwood floor
Before you stain the floor you need to make sure ALL the dust and particles are off the floor and the central air is turned off. First sweep the floor and vacuum what you can up. Then you can wet some cloth rags with mineral spirits and use that as a tack cloth.
Applying stain is easy. I used a stain applicator that attaches to a broom stick. Pretty much wipe it on in the direction of the wood. Do it in sections and then wait about 5 minutes and wipe the excesses stain off with lint free rags. Then move to the next section and repeat.
The process can be time consuming with all the waiting between sections. I did two sections on different sides of the house at a time to speed this up.
Drying time
Once the stain is done you have to wait for it to dry. I used a Cabot oil based stain and it took over 48 hours to dry because there wasn’t a lot of ventilation in the house and it was cold and rainy outside. Once the stain stops being tacky in most spots you are probably ready to put your finish on it. Sweep the floor and get up all dust.
Finishing the floor with Polyurethane
If you bought oil based stain then you are going to want oil based polyurethane. Apply it in much the same way you did the stain. I used a lamb wool applicator that connected to a broom stick. Make sure your rinse it out with mineral spirits beforehand or you will get a lot of lamb wool on the floor. Apply it in a light coating and make sure it covers all surfaces. I made two passes with the pad.
Once you get your first coat down the kind I used said you can apply another within 12 hours without sanding. I read nightmare stories about this online. So I would do it the normal way and wait 12-24 hours until it is dry and then sand it down. You can sand it by attaching a find (250-300 grit) piece of sandpaper to a foam mop head and go over the floor lightly. You are just trying to scuff it up so the next layer will bond to the previous layer.
Clean up the dust, I used a micro-fiber fabric and swept it up. Then use your mineral spirit tack cloth to get up fine dust.
Apply your next layer and wait!
Curing time
After your second coat you should be done, all you have to do is wait for the floor to cure. This time varies but the general rule of thumb is that after 2 days you can have light foot traffic on the floor and after 4 or 5 days you can put your furniture back on it. Do not put rugs on it until after a week or more.
Final Notes
After all of this your floor should be done. It doesn’t cost all that much compared to a new floor. I spent about $300 in rental fees, stain and other things I needed to do a 400 square foot area.
Josh Collins is a multimedia designer in the Kansas City area. He has designed user interfaces and websites ranging from small business sites to large social network websites. His recent sites include:
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Josh_Collins
http://EzineArticles.com/?Refinishing,-Sanding,-Staining-and-Polyurethane-a-Hardwood-Oak-Floor&id=2322004
I found this good article. For more information check out the articles on the blog. For great flooring prices call us or go to our website for more details.
html>
<head><title>Floor Sanding - Transforming an Old Wood Floor</title></head>
<body bgcolor=”#FFFFFF” leftmargin=”0″ topmargin=”0″ marginwidth=”0″ marginheight=”0″>
<p>Floor Sanding - Transforming an Old Wood Floor<br>By <a href=”http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jenny_Austin”>Jenny Austin</a></p>
<p>One of the most satisfying DIY jobs within the home is lovingly sanding down an old wooden floor and transforming it into a beautiful new surface. It is not recommended to carry out floor sanding under your own steam on a parquet floor as these require specialist sanding machines and should not be attempted by the complete novice.</p>
<p>Time should be taken to ensure that the correct equipment is hired; your local floor sander hire center should be able to offer advice. Remember that pine floors no matter how flat they seem will invariably dip in the middle of each board. If the wrong equipment is used you will most likely end up with an uneven result after all your efforts.</p>
<p>To carry out the task of sanding a wooden floor you will require a large sander for the main area, a specialized edge sander for any edges as well as any stairs. The sanders are extremely powerful and they need to be to achieve the right results. When using the sander, keep it moving to get a nice even finish and remember not to leave the sander in the same place for too long, even one extra second and the sander will eat the floor. It is always better to sand with the direction of the grain rather than going against it. When approaching the end of the room it is important not to panic, simply turn the sander around and head in the opposite direction, you can stop at any time and you must not let the sander run away with you.</p>
<p>There might be gaps between the floorboards that you would rather not see; if this is the case it is possible to fill the gaps. This can be a time consuming project and it should be remembered that when the floor is stained or varnished the filled gaps will appear a different color than the floorboards.</p>
<p>Once the main area of the floor has been taken down to new wood, there will be some marks remaining due to undulations in the wood but these can easily be removed with the use of the edge sander. Then use the edge sander to sand the areas of the floor close to the skirting board, with this done it is time to change the grade of the paper and repeat the process. The point of changing the grade of paper used is to remove the scratches caused by removing the top layers of wood. The local sander hire center should be able to advice you on which grade of paper to use for each stage. It may be necessary to carry out the process several times; changing the grade of the paper used each time, to achieve the smooth finish desired.</p>
<p>When completely satisfied Hoover the floor and repeat after several hours to guarantee that you have removed all the dust. It is well worth hiring an up to date sanding machine purely on the grounds of how much dust is created by using old sanders. Then wipe the floor surface with white spirit on a rag and allow it to evaporate for several hours. Cleaning the floor in this fashion will degrease it and prepare the surface for staining or varnishing.</p>
<p>Jenny Austin is an expert in <a target=”_new” href=”http://www.claremontupholstery.co.uk/”>Pub Furniture</a>, for further information on how to choose your <a target=”_new” href=”http://www.dhfp.com/”>Floor Sanding</a> service.</p>
<p>Article Source: <a href=”http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jenny_Austin” target=”_new”>http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jenny_Austin</a><br><a href=”http://ezinearticles.com/?Floor-Sanding—Transforming-an-Old-Wood-Floor&id=2008158″ target=”_new”>http://EzineArticles.com/?Floor-Sanding—Transforming-an-Old-Wood-Floor&id=2008158</a></p>
</body>
</html>
I found this good article. For more information check out the articles on the blog. For great flooring prices call us or go to our website for more details.html>
Important Facts About Re-Finishing Hardwood Flooring
By Michael Louis
Nothing can compare to the beauty and warmth of hardwood flooring that has just been re-finished. But most homeowners are unaware of the complex process or the amount of time that is required to achieve this breathtaking look. If you’re willing to make the sacrifices and do the necessary research, re-finishing your hardwood floors will give the interior of your home a serious makeover.
Hardwood flooring, whether it’s pre-finished or not, can be re-finished to whatever color the homeowner desires. There are different stains that work best with the different types of species used in hardwood floors with the most common being oak, maple, cherry, walnut and mahogany. The duration of the finishing process depends on the type of hardwood you’re working with. Extremely hard woods such as mahogany take longer to refinish than a softer wood such as maple.
When it comes to the cost of re-finishing hardwood flooring there are several factors to consider that will affect the final price. These factors include the condition of the existing floor, type of wood flooring, and whether the homeowner desires a natural or stained finish. All or one of these factors can cause fluctuations in the price from $2 a square foot up to $5 square foot.
It’s important to also consider the ramifications of re-finishing wood flooring in your home. First and foremost, the fumes from the stain and polyurethane coatings are highly toxic and should not be breathed in. Therefore it’s imperative that the home be completely empty, including any pets, as the floor finishes curing. As you can imagine, the sanding of the existing flooring can be quite messy. Most contractors will go through extensive efforts to plastic off the area they are working on in addition to the dust collection bags found on their sanding equipment. But even the most thorough contractor can’t prevent dust particles from migrating to other areas of the home.
The first step in the process is to remove the old finish down to the natural wood by using a heavy-grit sandpaper. After this step, the contractor would go over the floor with a fine-grit sandpaper to smooth out any imperfections in the floor. At this point, the floor is given an extensive vacuuming to remove all excess dust that’s on the floor.
If a colored finish is desired than the stain is applied before the coats of polyurethane are applied. It’s important to note that an extra day of drying time will be required for the stain.
After the stain has dried, the first coat of polyurethane is installed and left to cure for 2 days. Next, the fresh coat of polyurethane is given a light sanding before the second coat of polyurethane is applied. The sanding between coats allows the layers of polyurethane to bond with each other. After the second coat has cured for another full day, the last coat of polyurethane is applied and left to cure for another day.
The total process takes anywhere from 3 to 5 days depending on the number of polyurethane coats and whether you choose to stain the floor. It is important for the home to be empty not only for the occupant’s safety but to protect the finish on the floor as well. Walking on the floor before the finish has had a chance to cure will result in visible damage. The only way to correct this damage would be to re-sand the floor and re-apply another coat of polyurethane.
Given the equipment and experience required to successfully complete a re-finishing project, it is not recommended the average homeowner attempt one. Over sanding can leave visible scuff and scratch marks on the natural wood flooring that cannot be removed. Inexperience in applying the polyurethane evenly can result in bubbles forming during the curing process. They can only be rectified by sanding down the polyurethane and applying a new coat.
A new hardwood floor can really enhance any room it’s installed in. Re-finishing hardwood flooring in your home can completely transform your existing floors from old and scratched looking antiques to bright and vibrant new floors.
Vinylplankflooring is your one stop information resource for floor ideas At vinylplankflooring we know and understand the issues with different types of floors. These articles are written on experience. Let our knowledge help you in making the right floor decisions.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Louis
http://EzineArticles.com/?Important-Facts-About-Re-Finishing-Hardwood-Flooring&id=2584409
I found this good article. For more information check out the articles on the blog. For great flooring prices call us or go to our website for more details.Sanding Hardwood Floors - Not As Difficult As it Seems
By Chris Smitts
Whenever you are renovating a house or investment property, it’s not uncommon to rip up carpets to replace them and decide to refinish hardwood floors that you discovered underneath instead. After all, refinishing hardwood floors is a great way to add value and beauty to a house in a way that carpet just cannot provide.
Once the floor is clean and prepped it will be time to start sanding hardwood floors and get all of the old finishes off. If you have a lot of free time, and a whole lot of ambition, you can sand hardwood floors by hand. However, this will be very laborious and time consuming, so it’s not often done.
What most people do is to visit a tool rental shop or a hardware store and rent a sander. There are two types that are used in sanding hardwood floors, known as the disk sander and the drum sander. While some people prefer the speed and ease-of-use of a disc sander, it can often leave circular marks behind if it isn’t used properly.
Therefore, most people will elect to use a drum sander, which goes back and forth with the grain of the wood, making sanding much more uniform and leaving less room for errors.
In the process of sanding hardwood floors, there will be certain areas that you will need to sand using a power sander or a sanding block by hand. These include areas like the edges of the floor, around the vents and any other areas that the sander cannot reach.
Generally, this will not take a lot of work because the sander should do most of everything for you. However, you should add extra time that factors in any hand sanding that you will have to do.
Sanding hardwood floors can generally be gone in about 2 to 3 passes. Of course if you have an older floor with a lot of built-up finishes, stains, or paint, you may need to make more than that to smooth it out completely. It all depends on your floor, but you should always sand slowly so that you don’t sand too much because once the layers are gone, you can’t put them back.
If you’re not sure that sanding hardwood floors is in your skill set and you don’t want to risk messing it up, you can find many professional services that will stand in refinish her floors for you. It’s up to you, so do whatever works best for your situation.
To learn more about Sanding Hardwood Floors just Click Here.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Smitts
http://EzineArticles.com/?Sanding-Hardwood-Floors—Not-As-Difficult-As-it-Seems&id=2549121
I found this good article. For more information check out the articles on the blog. For great flooring prices call us or go to our website for more details.
Hardwood Flooring - Refinishing Or Replacing
By Eugene R. Makeev
Wood has long since been a prime material in home construction that continues to be popular for that unsurpassed appeal and durability that affords just any home a welcoming feel. Hardwood flooring is among these house features that give that timeless beauty and one common dilemma faced in time by New York homeowners is whether to replace or reface. Whether in Long Island, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Manhattan, or Queens; it would be favorable to meticulously compare the pros and cons of refinishing or replacing hardwood flooring.
As time goes by, your hardwood flooring would start to look worn and this will mark a decision to make. To help you out in deciding, here are the key elements to look into when comparing refinishing versus replacing:
Cost
Obviously, as replacement of hardwood flooring will require another set of materials plus contractor labor for installation this project would cost more in terms of time and money. Refinishing on the other hand would just need the works of a qualified contractor, or tools and expertise on your part if you decide to go head on with the hardwood refinishing project. This makes refinishing a more economical solution than replacing.
Durability
With hardwood flooring, durability is never a question as the material has proven to last lifetimes. However, the key to ensure durability whether when refinishing or replacing lies in the craftsmanship of your hired contractor. So if you want to enjoy the beauty and warmth that this type of flooring offers for good long years, let a qualified contractor handle the project if you are not one and does not have what it takes to finish the job properly.
As a Solution
When homeowners decide on refinishing or replacing their hardwood flooring, it is not just because of the traffic wear and scratches. Other concerns such as wanting a darker color can bring in a whole new set of issues. But even this can be solved by refinishing as the project may include tinting of your preferred color.
Refinishing can be economical but it may not always be the perfect solution for your hardwood flooring needs. Here are several instances when replacement is a required:
* wanting a lighter color, different grain, or pattern;
* facing water damages caused by flooding or other incidents. Severe water damages may be indicated by bulging, warping or buckling of the wood flooring.
But as replacement of your entire floor can be very expensive and can pose a huge job, carefully consider whether to refinish or replace. Even with damages, there are still ways to salvage the floor and refinish but still get to the root of the problem such as stains and molds. Some structural damages may not always mean that the replacement of the entire hardwood flooring is necessary.
Hardwood flooring is among the most durable and longest lasting floor options. Before deciding which project to undertake, it pays to consult with experts on which project would best serve as the solution to your current floor problem.
Eugene Makeev uses his skills and expertise to help home owners in Brooklyn, Long Island, Queens, Manhattan, and Staten Island avoid pitfalls by matching their flooring contractors NYC needs with prescreened hardwood contractors Brooklyn.
Avail of our free flooring estimator.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eugene_R._Makeev
http://EzineArticles.com/?Hardwood-Flooring—Refinishing-Or-Replacing&id=2497958
Powered by WordPress