Is your wood floor in need of refinishing? If water is spilled onto the floor, does it seep into it? Does your wood floor look old and pale?  If so, it is in need of refinishing to make it look new again. Refinishing a floor is not that difficult of a task with a little know how and patience.

Refinishing a wood floor requires a few things such as a drum sander to get the old finish off and other equipment for the actual finishing process. Drum sanders can be rented, as well as bought, in home improvement stores and they can be rented on a daily or weekly basis. When renting a drum sander, make sure that you also consider grit paper with it as well. There are different types of grit paper for different floor types. When choosing grit paper, keep in mind that the lower the grit number is on the paper, the coarser it is. Grit papers that have a lower number is the best choice for floors that are more damaged. Once you have the equipment for the job, you can start your project.

When sanding the old finish off, be sure that you sand diagonally on both ways then along the grain. Once you are done with this step, repeat the sanding process with a finer sheet of grit paper (one with a higher number).

Once your wood floor has been thoroughly sanded, the next step to take is to vacuum it to get rid off the dust that is left from sanding. If you find that there are gaps in the floor from the sanding process, just fill the gaps with a paste that consists of the sand dust that is left over mixed with varnish. Once the gaps are filled, leave the filled gaps to dry for a few hours before proceeding to the next step.

After drying for a few hours, repeat the sanding process again with much finer grit paper than the previous sanding procedure. With this step, be sure that you sand along the grain of the floor and to vacuum and sweep off the remaining sawdust. Once all the dust is gone, proceed to the next step; which is applying a coat of varnish.

When applying the coat of varnish, it is advised that you use a clean roller. You can clean you roller by using a stiff brush to remove any loose dirt and/or hairs that might get into the finish. When applying the urethane coating, be sure that you apply it across the floor grain by strips. One the whole array of strips has been completed, make sure to go back to the starting strip and check to see if there are no roller marks or build up of varnish. after the first coat is applied and checked, let it dry.

Once the first coat is dry, sand the whole floor using and orbital sander. Be sure that you vacuum and sweep the remaining dust after you sand. After sanding, you are ready to apply the second coat of varnish. When applying the second coat of varnish, be sure to apply it using the same procedure as the first coat. To avoid uneven marks on your floor, make sure that the sun is not shining through the window on any part of the floor. After applying the second coat of varnish, leave the floor to dry thoroughly

With the right equipment and a little patience, refinishing your wood floor is a very easy project to do. Even though renting the equipment can be pricey, replacing the whole floor is even more expensive. A nicely finished wood floor is a thing of beauty and is a healthy alternative to carpets. Because they are difficult to clean, carpets have been known to cause allergies. Dust, molds animal stains and pests can be easily cleaned up with a wood floor and therefore help you have a healthy home environment.