Hardwood Floor "Reconditioning" - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

twan5 · 02-09-2004, 12:30 PM

After not getting the results that I would have liked after doing a search on wood floors in the "How-to" section, I would like to see if anyone might have some more information on "reconditioning" old wood floors...

I think that my floors are in good enough condition that I might be able to avoid sanding/refinishing them. I have read in other sources that there are ways to "recondition" a floor to bring out some of the luster thats been eliminated over years of negligence...

Can anyone fill me in on other types of hardwood floor reconditioning techniques that do not involve renting a sander and starting from scratch?

FYI - The floors that I have are probably douglas fir installed in 1918 (judging from the age of the house) and have a reddish/brown finish.

Thanks!

Bossnass · 02-09-2004, 03:34 PM

I recommend you head over to WOOD online. They have plenty of helpful wood gurus that can tell you more then you'll even need to know.

jbrooks544 · 02-18-2004, 07:16 PM

bobvila.com go to forums or "ask a question" and go to the old "fix-it for'em". search first then ask if you can't find.

I have always used "liquid gold" when I rented apts. with wood floor. It is pretty slippery for a week but the floor looks nice and scratches disappear. You might rent a floor buffer and use a light grit screen, just to take off the very top of the finish and surface scratches - not through to the wood. Then you could put a couple new coats on.

hotdogg · 02-20-2004, 05:47 PM

I have steel wooled a hard wood floor that had a lot of wear on them. The finish was basically worn off in the "traffic" areas. there is still some mess with steel wool and sawdust, but no where near what a full sanding would have done. After giving the floor a very good cleaning using steel wool and alcohol, I vacuumed and then refinished with two coats of clear coat and it blended extremely well...I have also refinished a small section of oak flooring the same way and it blended perfectly with the rest of the floor.

piglet · 02-23-2004, 12:53 AM

There is a product called "Preen", it is for cleaning and conditioning hardwoodfloors, you can get it at smaller hardware stores but probably not at lowes or hdepot . I used it and then buffed the floors with one of those $25 electric car buffers you get at walmart.
I like you had neglected floors but I didn't want to refinish them, it worked well for me.

02-09-2004, 12:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
twan5 Crazy	Hardwood Floor "Reconditioning" After not getting the results that I would have liked after doing a search on wood floors in the "How-to" section, I would like to see if anyone might have some more information on "reconditioning" old wood floors... I think that my floors are in good enough condition that I might be able to avoid sanding/refinishing them. I have read in other sources that there are ways to "recondition" a floor to bring out some of the luster thats been eliminated over years of negligence... Can anyone fill me in on other types of hardwood floor reconditioning techniques that do not involve renting a sander and starting from scratch? FYI - The floors that I have are probably douglas fir installed in 1918 (judging from the age of the house) and have a reddish/brown finish. Thanks!

02-09-2004, 03:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
Bossnass Détente Location: AWOL in Edmonton	I recommend you head over to WOOD online. They have plenty of helpful wood gurus that can tell you more then you'll even need to know.

02-18-2004, 07:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
jbrooks544 Addict	bobvila.com go to forums or "ask a question" and go to the old "fix-it for'em". search first then ask if you can't find. I have always used "liquid gold" when I rented apts. with wood floor. It is pretty slippery for a week but the floor looks nice and scratches disappear. You might rent a floor buffer and use a light grit screen, just to take off the very top of the finish and surface scratches - not through to the wood. Then you could put a couple new coats on.

02-20-2004, 05:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
hotdogg Crazy Location: NYC Metro Area	I have steel wooled a hard wood floor that had a lot of wear on them. The finish was basically worn off in the "traffic" areas. there is still some mess with steel wool and sawdust, but no where near what a full sanding would have done. After giving the floor a very good cleaning using steel wool and alcohol, I vacuumed and then refinished with two coats of clear coat and it blended extremely well...I have also refinished a small section of oak flooring the same way and it blended perfectly with the rest of the floor.

02-23-2004, 12:53 AM	#5 (permalink)
piglet Insane Location: right over here	There is a product called "Preen", it is for cleaning and conditioning hardwoodfloors, you can get it at smaller hardware stores but probably not at lowes or hdepot . I used it and then buffed the floors with one of those $25 electric car buffers you get at walmart. I like you had neglected floors but I didn't want to refinish them, it worked well for me.