Refinishing Hardwood Floors

With the passing of time your hardwood floors begin to take on more character and grow even more beautiful. Regularly cleaning and maintaining your floor will ensure that it lasts for generations. But after years of dutiful service how do you know if your floor has crossed the line from well-worn to worn-out? Should you refinish your floor?

Refinishing your hardwood floor should only be done when necessary. Some engineered hardwood floors can only be refinished a couple of times due to their thin layer of veneer. Owens Plankfloor and Owens Select floors feature a 3/16” wear layer that is comparable to ¾” solid hardwood floor.

Of course, preventing damage to your floor is the best way to ensure its longevity and beauty. View care and maintenance tips here.

Often times the appearance of surface scratches and fading may be greatly improved by a deep cleaning and a coat of finish. Keeping up your finish is important. Wood that is stripped bare may appear weathered. Dirt can also fill the pores of bare wood, leaving it with dark veins. Spot repairs can be made to unsightly dings and gouges.

If scratches are deep, if dirt and grime have taken up permanent residence, if the flooring has lost some of its rich warmth- it may be time to refinish your hardwood floor.

Refinishing is best done by a professional, but many DIY-ers have completed the process successfully. You can rent a sander from many hardware stores or equipment rental shops. Here are the basic steps involved with refinishing.

• Before you begin you’ll need to remove furniture and lower trim/molding.
• Cover doors, windows, and fixtures to keep out dust.
• Turn off the furnace or central air to keep dust from circulating.
• Look over the floor closely. Pound in any nails that are sticking up.
• Thoroughly sweep the floor before you sand.
• Wear a dust mask while you work.
• Start with the heaviest grit of sandpaper, 36. Attach to your drum or orbital sander.
• Work with the wood grain in long, straight, even stokes.
• Keep the machine in motion while it is turned on. (Drum sanders can very quickly put a groove in your floor.)
• Repeat the process several times with finer and finer grit sandpaper (60, 80, and 100). Sweep the floor whenever you change grit.
• To complete the job use an edging machine or hand sander on any areas that were missed.
• Inspect your floor with a bright light.

Before you stain or finish your floor you will need to clean the area. Sweep, vac, and use a tack rag to remove all dust. Stain and finish according to package directions. Don’t forget to open the windows when working these products. Watch for an upcoming post on staining and finishing your floor.


With proper care and maintenance your hardwood floors will be warm and inviting for many years.