Hardwood floors and wood furniture add a touch of luxury to any home. You may be removing carpeting in your home and discover a hardwood floor, or may simply want to restore a floor that’s damaged. You may also come across antique furniture that has been damaged but you really want in your home. Hardwood restoration can be a simple renovation as long as you follow some simple steps.

Getting Your Floor Ready for Restoration

Old carpeting or tile must be removed first. If there are any nails protruding from the floor, make sure to completely nail them down. Make sure the floor is as clean as possible. If there are old remnants of carpeting stuck to the floor, they can be removed with a putty knife. Make sure to remove any stripping around the edges of the floor. It’s important that you get rid of as much dust and dirt as possible.

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Remove the Finish

Sand down the floor to get rid of the old finish. There are chemical strippers you can use, but they’re very messy and have a strong odor. The process is much simpler if you rent a sanding machine to get rid of the old finish. It should be sanded down with sandpaper to remove the excess. The disk in the machine should be changed frequently during the sanding process.

Applying the New Finish

If there are any holes or marks in the floor, they can be filled in or covered with a wood-type putty. Make sure it dries before applying the finish to the floor. It’s a good idea to vacuum the floor before you you apply the finish. This removes any excess dirt or debris from the floor.

Before you begin, allow for adequate ventilation by opening windows. Wear a mask to keep from inhaling the fumes. Pour the finish into a bucket or watering can. Pour a small amount on the floor and use an applicator pad or small paint roller to evenly smooth the finish over the floor. When the floor is completely dry, if the color isn’t as deep as you’d like, apply another coat and let dry.

Restoring Wood Furniture

When you’re refinishing wood furniture, it’s best to work outside if you can. You’ll have to use chemical stripper to get all the old finish off the piece, especially if there are grooves or carved areas in the wood.

Making Your Preparations

Take the same precautions that you would when refinishing your floors. Wear a mask, goggles, and protective gloves. Pour only as much of the wood stripper as you need into an aluminum pan. If you don’t use it all right away, it’s going to evaporate.

The Application

Apply the wood stripper evenly to the entire piece with a paintbrush and wait a minimum of 15 minutes before you begin to scrape off the old finish. Make sure to remove all traces of the old finish so you can see the wood beneath.

The Next Step

Let the furniture dry thoroughly for several hours or overnight before rubbing the furniture down with fine steel wool. Never use the coarse variety. Always rub in the direction of the wood grain, not against it.

Applying the New Finish

When you’re applying a new finish to your wood furniture, you have several options, and what you choose depends on your preference, how durable it is, and how it’s applied. True oils go on as liquid, penetrate the wood and harden to strengthen the wood. Varnish blends will be harder than true oils and provide the wood with a lot of protection after a few coats. Make sure to allow sufficient time between coats. Lacquers are recommended as a good finish because they dry quickly and wear well.