Hardwood Floor Refinishing - For The Faint of Heart
Are your beautiful hardwood floors not so beautiful anymore? Maybe they just need a refinishing job. It can be a daunting task, but here are some ideas to make it a little easier. If your hardwood floors are in dire need of
refinishing, get a few estimates from professionals.
You may be surprised at the figures. You'll want to
sit down when they tell you it will cost you $1200 to
have your living room redone. You could carpet over it
for less, but doesn't carpeting over beautiful hardwood
floors seem, well, wrong? Contrary to what you may have heard, the finish doesn't
take days and days to dry. It's quite simple actually.
Go to your favorite local home improvement store,
Lowe's, Menard's, Home Depot or other. Rent a sander.
You'll need a drum sander, a belt sander or both. They
will explain to you how to use the machine and tell you
what kind of sand paper to purchase. They will also
tell you what kind of stain and finish to get. Make
sure you also pick up some dust masks because you will
have saw dust everywhere. The sanders are very easy to use. They're a bit on the
loud side. The key is to keep it moving at all times.
Do not stop or you will get a divot in your wood.
Think of it like a clothes iron. You need to keep it
moving or you will burn your clothes. Same deal with
the sander. It creates a lot of heat and you will
burn or dent your floors if you hesitate in one place
too long. You will feel like a Zamboni driver smoothing out your
surface. Word of caution, you do need to maintain
control of the machine at all times. It is self
propelled, like a lawn mower or a basset hound on a
leash. When you power it up, hold on to the machine
tightly. Don't be afraid of it and after a few passes,
you'll start to even have fun. First you need to remove the old finish, basecoat,
color, and top coat. You may opt to forgo the color
(stain) and just use the nature color of the wood. You
will still need to apply a finish to it. There are basically two types of floor finishes: one is
oil-based and the other is water-based polyurethane.
Oil-based is available in a satin, semi-gloss or gloss
finish. Satin works well on floors because it hides
small flaws and lets the natural beauty of the wood
show without a bright shine. Oil-based also produces a
warm amber look that gives you the traditional glow of
wood floors. Water-based polyurethane dries clear and
resists yellowing. Water-based also dries quicker. Make sure you let each coat thoroughly dry before
applying the next; same as you would nail polish. Give
your floor at least 24-36 hours before moving furniture
back on it. It will continue to harden in the first
couple of weeks. Don't be overwhelmed. Instead of looking at
refinishing your hardwood floors as a humungous job,
look at it as giving your room a manicure, one step at
a time. You'll also save yourself as much as $1,000
by doing it yourself. Luz Madera loves to work with wood. She is the
webmaster of http://www.funwoodworks.com which is the
premier woodwork and woodworking site on the internet.
Please visit http://www.funwoodworks.com for some
excellent woodworking resources.
Related News
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Interior Design For Children
Interior design for children is one of the most fun, delightful aspects of the business if you ask me. It is so fun because children are limitless as far as their creativity and imaginations are concerned. Whenever planning interior design for children, be sure to involve the children in the planning and-if you feel very brave, the implementation of your designs.
Reviewing and Evaluating Laminate Floors
Since the introduction of laminate flooring into the US in 1982, the sector has experienced growth of up to 20% per annum at the expense of other floor types, making laminate the fastest growing floor type in the country. The appeal lies not only in its aesthetic value of its representation of real hardwood, but also due to its incredible durability and ease of maintenance.
What To Look For In USPS Mailboxes
High quality residential and commercial mailboxes are
available in styles that meet the new standards set by the
Unites States Postal Service. Postal certified mailboxes
are becoming a necessary addition to your home or business.
You will find quality and affordability when you shop for
USPS approved mailboxes. Durable, rugged mailboxes that
assure the safety of your mail and carry the stamp of
approval from the USPS are you best choice when shopping
for a new mailbox. You can find decorative, personalized,
and locking mailboxes for your home or business that meet
the standards set by the USPS.
A Checklist for Bathroom Remodeling Plans
Careful planning is the key to a successful bathroom-remodeling project. Before you begin any work in the bathroom, create a budget, a floor plan, a list of supplies, a timetable, and important legal considerations. Let's break it down by subject.
Scented Candles ? Take Me AWAY!
Remember the old Calgon commercial-"Take me away Calgon!" There's only one thing that can take you away faster than a Calgon bath, and that's a scented candle. Whether you want a breath of fresh spring air, or you want to transport yourself to a South Sea paradise minus the hassle of airport security, crowded, delayed flights and lost baggage, grab a scented candle, and travel wherever your imagination leads. Smell is a powerful sense, and you can use it to alter your mood within seconds with the flicker of a candle. In fact, why not keep a supply of scented candles in the bathroom when you don't have time to luxuriate in the bathtub. Envelope yourself in fragrance while you shower, dry and blow-dry.
Replacement or Retrofit Style Frame? Which is Right for You?
Last week I told you how to measure for your vinyl replacement windows when replacing aluminum windows. Now that you're ready to order your new vinyl replacement windows, we need to talk about the different frame style options available. In most of the country your choices are limited to either new construction or replacement frames. New construction frames come with a nailing fin to attach the frame to the studs during the construction of the new home. The replacement frame is basically the new construction frame minus the nailing fin.
Clear Wax Candles vs. Gel Candles
In the last five years a new type of clear candle has emerged - freestanding resin-based (aka clear wax) candles. Using a base of mineral oil, the candle uses a patented resin as the stabilizer, creating a candle that outshines both traditional paraffin and gel candles. It requires no container like gel candles, burns longer than paraffin and holds more fragrance than both. The flame burns down through the inside of the candle as light radiates through the candle's side wall. These resin-based candles can be made in any traditional paraffin shape, with no bubbles. This lends them more decorative appeal than gel candles and more durability than paraffin candles.
Planning Permission Tips UK - Rights of Light to Adjoining Neighbours Windows - What You Should Know
Rights of light - What a minefield this topic is when developing or extending a property. This is potentially one of the most subjective Planning issues their is. Most Planning Departments will have guidance but I guarantee it will be specific in parts & definitely woolly or non specific in other areas leaving the subject wide open to interpretation.
Chimney Cap Checklist: Four Quick Ways to Evaluate Your Existing Chimney Cap
While you are cleaning leaves out of your home's gutters, dealing with Christmas lights, or adjusting a satellite dish, don't forget to check on your chimney caps while you're on the roof. Chimney caps are those mesh-sided enclosures (usually made of stainless steel, copper, or galvanized steel) atop your chimney to prevent water, animals, bird droppings, and leaves from entering your home. A once-a-year assessment of your chimney caps' condition can be well worth your time for protecting your house. Here are four things you can easily check on your chimney caps:
The Art of Power Washing Siding
Some of the most common mistakes to avoid made by homeowners and contractors are:
Avoid Problems Painting Aluminum and Vinyl Siding
Anyone with older aluminum siding is well aware of the paint chalking problem. Just rub your hand along the old siding and the chalky old paint will be all over your palm. Trying to get paint to stick to this could be a real problem. This is due to oxidation of the paint. Siding manufacturers originally referred to this problem as a "benefit". They called it, "self cleaning", as the paint literally washed off the house.
Dining Rooms: Designing for Your Emotional Well-Being
I read an interior design book last night. Since I can't recommend it to you, I won't reveal the name. What I saw was a group of photographs asking the reader to choose her favorite dining room. After studying the rooms carefully, I decided that not one room presented good design for eating and conversing!
Understanding Air Purifiers
Purchasing an air purifier can be confusing, and you do get an awful lot of
information thrown at you when you visit the different manufacturing websites,
don't you? How can you tell what's what, and why do we need air filters anyway?
And how do air purifiers work? Is the air really that bad? Haven't we been
breathing the same air for thousands of years?
Window Shutters On A Budget
While there is great value in installing custom-made interior wood window shutters, sometimes they are still too expensive for certain applications. Some alternatives ? including poly or vinyl shutters ? are less expensive but also much less attractive. For a high-quality solution at a lower cost, look for a company that sells individual solid wood shutter panels that can be installed in any configuration.
Avoiding Leaks When Installing Vinyl Retrofit Windows
These days a lot of homeowners are replacing their old windows with vinyl windows using the retrofit style of window frame. This is particularly true in the west, and specifically, in California. The number one arguement that I have heard against using the retrofit method, is that it is susceptible to water leaks. Well, that's true if you don't do it properly. But, if you do a complete tearout of your old window down to the studs, you're going to have water leak issues there as well if you don't install the new window properly. So I think that arguement is, well, all wet. So, let me tell you the best way to install your retrofit windows that will ensure that water cannot get in.
Types of Table Saws
A table saw is one of the most popular pieces of machinery used for woodworking. It consists of a circular saw powered by an electric motor that is mounted onto a table. In order to cut, material is pushed through the saw on the top of the table. It is used mostly for large wood projects such as fences, tables, book shelves, etc. When selecting a table saw it is important to know the different types and the pros and cons of each. The following are the four basic types of table saws and what they have to offer.
Selling Houses: Payback of Window Treatments
If you're planning to show your home mainly during daylight hours, think about your selling season, market conditions, and the benefits of window treatments. Window treatment tips from innovative Design Psychology can help you sell your home for more money.
Is a Hot Tub for You? Top 5 Questions You Need to Answer
As a way of relaxing, more and more people are adding a hot tub
to their home. Not only are hot tubs relaxing but they also
offer tremendous benefit for people of all ages. Today, the
number of sales for hot tubs has skyrocketed. Made from
redwood, cedar, and teak, hot tubs are attractive and designed
to accommodate two to twelve people. In addition, you can
choose from a stand-alone unit or one that can be moved from
home to home. The following are five of the top reasons why you
might consider a hot tub!
Remodel Your Kitchen or Bathroom For The Best ROI!
Trying to decide which home improvement project to tackle next? To start you must decide if you are remodeling to improve an area of your home that is in need of some TLC or if you are remodeling to maximize your Return On Investment (ROI). If a specific area in your home needs TLC then your decision is straight forward. However, if all areas of your home are in decent shape and you are looking to maximize your investment in your home then your decision is a little easier.
Building Permits and Inspections
Probably the most intimidating part of building your own house is the permit process. Not only do the the requirements vary from township to township, but at times the decisions made seem so subjective that we find ourselves seething in frustration. However, permits and inspections are a necessary step, and they are in place predominately for your protection. Ask any earthquake victim in Iran. Because I am concerned here with new construction, I won't go into the permits required for renovation; that's another story.
|
