Stain Floors
Wood floors are among the most beautiful of floors if maintained properly. Most are made of oak, a strong hardwood, but only look as nice as the finish itself. Maintaining the finish on your floor can be a time consuming task, but it is well worth it in terms of beauty. The actual staining of hardwood floors is a process, and, although it may seem a little complicated, a few simple steps in How to Stain Floors will make the task a breeze.
Steps
- Repair obvious defects such as nail holes, cracks or gouges in the floor using a wood putty or filler.
- Sand floor in direction of grain of the wood. Use a floor sanding machine and edge sander or sand by hand. If sanding by hand, use 3 different grits of sandpaper, 30, 60 and 80. Vacuum floor between each sanding and when finished.
- Clean floor with mineral spirits and a soft cotton cloth to pick up any remaining dust or dirt.
- Apply base coat of wood conditioner around perimeter of room using a 4 inch (10.16 centimeters) paintbrush.
- Use a synthetic applicator to spread conditioner across the middle of the floor; allow to dry two hours.
- Test stain on small area of floor.
- Apply stain, according to label directions, with a brush or rag, working the stain into the wood. Your final stroke should always be in the same direction as the wood's grain.
- Let stain penetrate according to the label's directions; remove excess with a rag, ensuring again that you wipe in the direction of the grain. If you want a darker color, apply second coat in same manner. Allow to dry until stain is no longer tacky.
- Apply top coat of water-based polyurethane with a clean paintbrush and floor finish applicator. This helps to protect and preserve the wood. Allow to dry two hours; apply second coat.
Tips
- Prior to applying the clear finish, stir well, but do not shake. Shaking could cause bubbles in the finish. Apply in thin coats, moving in the direction of the wood's grain.
- Make sure there are no bubbles when you apply sealers as they will remain.
- When trying out your test area, use either an inconspicuous area of the floor or a sample piece of the wood if available. Use the same method and material you will use to do the actual staining. This will allow you to adjust the color or even change it before you finish the entire project.
- Always work toward the door to prevent painting yourself in a corner.
- Several factors can impact the length of time required for either stain or clear finish to dry. It may often take longer than indicated on label because of such factors as humid weather, cold temperatures or poor ventilation.
- Soft, cotton cloths work best for cleaning and staining.
- There are various options for the types of stains available, including oil-based stains, both traditional and gel, and water-based stains.
Things You'll Need
- Wood putty or filler if refinishing an older floor
- Soft cotton rags or cloths
- Paintbrushes and floor finish applicator. Paintbrush bristles should be flexible. Use natural bristles only on oil-based stains.
- Mineral spirits and vacuum cleaner
- Sandpaper or floor sanding machine
- Plastic protective gloves and old clothes
