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[R146]Refinishing Old Hardwood Floors

by Vincent, Vin

Most problems can be prevented with proper maintenance, but when problems do occur, renewal and repair usually is possible. For renewing and repairing stains and scratches on any wood floor, always begin at the outer edge of the stain or scratch and work toward the middle.

To renew or repair a wood floor, you first will need to determine which kind of finish is on your floor. If the stain or scratch has penetrated the surface and is in the wood, you are dealing with a wax-finished floor.

Chewing Gum, Crayon, Candle Wax
Apply a plastic bag filled with ice until the deposit is brittle enough to crumble off. Crayon or candle wax can be removed by placing an ink blotter on the area and applying a hot pressing iron to the top of the blotter. Solvent-based wax also can be applied around the area to loosen the deposit.

Cigarette Burns
If the burn is not very deep, rub the area with fine sandpaper or steel wool. Moisten the steel wool with wax for better results. If the burn is deep, scrape the area with a penknife to remove charred fibers. Rub the area with fine sandpaper. Stain, wax and hand buff.

Dark Spots, Dog Spots, Ink Stains
Rub spot with #000 steel wool. Wax the affected area. If this fails, lightly sand the area with fine sandpaper, and clean it using #00 steel wool and mineral spirits or a wood floor cleaner. Allow the floor to dry. Stain, wax and hand buff. If the spot remains, apply a household bleach or vinegar and allow it to soak for an hour. Rinse with a damp cloth, wipe dry and smooth with fine sandpaper. Stain, wax and hand buff.

Dried Milk, Food Stains
Gently rub the stain with a damp cloth. Rub the area dry and wax.

Mold
Rub with a wood cleaner.

Oil, Grease Stains
First rub the area with kitchen soap having high lye content, or saturate cotton with hydrogen peroxide and place over the stain. Then saturate a second layer of cotton with ammonia and place over the first layer. Repeat until stain is removed. Let the area dry and then hand buff.

Water Stains, White Spots
Rub spot with #000 steel wool. Wax the affected area. If this fails, lightly sand the area with fine sandpaper, and clean it using #00 steel wool and mineral spirits or a wood floor cleaner. Allow the floor to dry. Stain, wax and hand buff.

Wax Build Up
Strip the old wax away with odorless mineral spirits or a wood floor product made for stripping wax. Use cloths and fine steel wool to remove all residue. After the floor is dry, wax and buff.

Scratches
Rub in a small amount of wax with fine steel wool and hand buff to a shine.

Glued down strip flooring is considered to be the best flooring investment you can make for the price. It is also surprisingly easy to install. It basically consists of a top layer of the actual hard wood and multiple 'under layers' of soft wood. This is done so that the layers of wood are less likely to contract and expand along with humidity as well as the resistance of warping or swelling over the life of your floors. While this type of flooring has been popular in Europe for several decades it has only recently gained popularity among Americans.

Floating flooring is the second type of engineered hardwood flooring. This is a very easy lock together type of system of installation. The flooring comes in strips that are made of a hardwood top layer and a less expensive wood backing. Depending on the particular product you are getting the hardwood layer will be anywhere between .5 mm and 2.5 mm thick. This type of flooring is referred to as a veneer because it is generally too thin to either sand or stain. The thicker hardwood layers can be sanded and finished at least one time.

The installation of these floors is relatively simple as the pieces come in strips and fit together like puzzle pieces that lock into place. All you really need to do is lock the pieces into place and lay them on top of your sub flooring. The special design of these boards works to create a type of surface tension. This allows them to be walked on and hold a tremendous amount of weight. This type of flooring is also very easy to keep clean.

You should consider a few things before installing either flooring type. First of all, both types of flooring can be purchased as multi-strips or wide plank boards. The primary difference being that a multi-strip board is a combination of hardwood with a softwood back and a wide plank board is one solid piece of hardwood. The wide plank pieces also offer a more rustic look by tending to have beveled edges rather than the smooth square edges of the multi-strip boards, which tend to create smooth seems.

When choosing the flooring system you wish to install, make sure that you are aware of and understand the specific procedure for the particular boards you chose. Berryloc and Uniclic offer two of the strongest types of interlocking flooring systems. If price is a consideration, avoid sanding and staining like the plague and choose floors made from the less expensive and attractive thinner hardwood top layers. Mahogany, Wenge, Bamboo, and Zebrano make excellent choices for this type of flooring.

Article Source : Get You Home Gov

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Both Vincent & Rob Buenaventura are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Vincent has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Improvement, Sales and Negotiation and Cars. Author Vincent Platania represents the Fuller Brush Company.Fuller Brush has been in business since 1906, and offers safe, environmentally friendly products for keeping your home and your body clean. Visit. Vincent's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.

Rob Buenaventura has sinced written about articles on various topics from Install Flooring, Gift Ideas and Health. . Rob Buenaventura's top article generates over 12100 views. to your Favourites.