Hardwood floor refinishing is crucial to maintaining the value and shine of your wood flooring in Toronto. Refinishing hardwood floors is a bit tedious and time-consuming but if you really look into it, you'll realize it's not as complicated as you had expected it to be. With the proper supplies and tools, you can make your floor look great again!

Practically all do-it-yourself jobs turn into a success with the proper preparation. Check your toolbox if you have the following materials: sander, safety glasses, dust mask or respirator, ear plugs, sand paper, masking tape, drop cloths or plastic sheeting, stain and plenty of rags or tack cloths. If you lack some of these tools, you can borrow from a friend or neighbor.

After having laid out your equipment, determine the thickness of your wood flooring. The sander should be at least 3/4 inch thick otherwise your floor would end up damaged and scraped. Older wood flooring is normally fairly thick, but some newly engineered wood floor materials can be thinner.

Before you get down to work, remove everything in the room such as furniture, clothing, wall ornaments, and other stuff. Cover your things with a massive plastic or a trash bag and secure it with a masking tape. You should also tape heating and cooling vents and electrical outlets to prevent dust buildup.

Provide ventilation while sanding or staining. You'd better open the window and turn on the fan to remove dust and provide ventilation. Pay careful attention to the floor and check if there are any nails and carpet staples tucked on the floor or wall surface. It is also important to vacuum the floor before sanding to remove dirt and debris.

So you've got a good sander, but how shall you use it? By applying the right pressure and level of sanding, the floor will instantly retain its beauty. The drum sander is the best tool to use which you can purchase in hardware stores. Drum sanders level off the floor for a smooth finish but never be disgruntled by its noise and heaviness.

If you haven't used this tool before, practice on a sheet of wood or plywood until you get the hang of it. Then apply it on your floor and keep it moving. Gradually lower it and then move it back and forth, or from side to side, never let it sit still or it will scrape your floor.

When done with sanding, staining comes next. Make sure you've purchased long-lasting stains and read the instructions before using it. Apply more than one coat and sand the floor between coats. Once you have completely coated the floor, wait for it to dry. For best results, rent a buffer so you can give your floor an ultimate glossy finish.

The final step is the reattachment of any molding or trim, which you removed earlier, and applying onto it a polyurethane finish. Wait for a day or two especially before moving the furniture and rugs back into the room.