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Orbital Sander Polisher
Wood Floors
Installing wood floors can be a great DIY project or service you purchase for home improvement. The easiest wood floors to install are engineered to snap and fit together. Most home owners looking for a DIY project should choose engineered wood floors because they are less expensive, easier to install and do not require finishing. If you are interested in a traditional wood floor we recommend hiring a professional company for installation because there are more possible problems that you will encounter. An engineered wood floor comes in smaller pieces that snap and glue together. You can purchase this type of flooring in a number of different styles and the cost of installation is much more affordable. Most home owners today are not interested in traditional flooring because of the high cost, difficult installation and problems they will face during replacement. Your local hardware store carries a number of engineered floor styles that you can choose from and is a great place to start when choosing a style that fits your ideal home design.
Refinishing a wood floor will help to remove scratches and polish a dull surface. Refinishing uses sanding equipment to remove wood and even the scratches. A wood floor can only be sanded a certain number of times as you are removing layers of wood. The process requires skill and in the hands of an untrained enthusiast, refinishing may actually cause further damage to the wood floor. Small cracks can be filled with putty and sanded over. Sanding is the most important part and you will need to rent or purchase a drum sander or orbital sanded, as well as a palm sander. Sand in the direction of the wood grain making sure not to create grooves by allowing the equipment to sit in one spot for to long. Sequentially increase the sand paper from a heavy to lighter grain. Sanding will create dust and you may want to remove furniture from the room or protect it with a plastic sheet. Expect to use a shop-vac to pick up all the dust created in between sanding. Before applying the coating or stain you need to ensure that no dust is left on the wood. Use a vacuum and mop to clean the wood completely as it will directly affect the final look of your floor. Apply the stain with long even strokes with a rag or brush. Depending on the stain you are looking for you may need additional coats. Finally once the stain is dry you can apply the polyurethane finish. Stir, but do not shake the mixture as air bubbles could form. Use a brush or paint roller to apply the coat evenly, allow this coat to dry and add a second. Drying time can take 2-3 hours and you should keep windows open for ventilation. If you are interested in local wood floor refinishing and installation services visit our website, Chicago Wood Floors.
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