Wood Floor Free Installation Use The Word Bert Language
Wood Floor Free Installation Use The Word Bert Using

Welcome back to our Ask the Home Flooring Pros feature where we answer your most frequently asked questions. This week we look at how to apply polyurethane and specifically the best way to apply it to a wood floor, rather than any other kind of woodworking project. How to install microsoft office 2013 for free windows.

Install windows 7 vista free. We show you all the tools you need and how much they cost, then we take you through the steps of applying water-based and oil-based polyurethane to your hardwood floor, both how to cut into the edges of your flooring and cover the larger central areas efficiently. Before you embark on applying polyurethane yourself it’s worth asking yourself how much you are saving doing the work yourself vs the time saved hiring a professional. If in doubt take a minute to get advice and free estimates from local contractors.

Tools, Supplies & Costs for Applying Polyurethane

Here’s what you’ll need, with prices:

Install the subfloor. Lay down 3 ⁄ 4 in (1.9 cm) tongue-and-groove plywood panels over the joists, then use wood glue or panel adhesive and galvanized flooring nails to secure each panel around its edges. Work in small sections until the entire floor is covered. The flooring mistakes above may be the most common, but fortunately, they are also easy to avoid. Use the following tips to make sure your wood flooring is installed properly. Let Wood Floors Acclimate to the Environment: Allow the wood floors to sit in your home for several days to acclimate before beginning the installation process. Feb 10, 2021 To clean engineered hardwood floors, sweep them daily with a broom or dust mop so you can pick up any dirt that's been tracked in. If you prefer, you can vacuum your floors on the 'hard wood' setting. To mop your floors, use a slightly damp dry mop or yarn mop with the flooring manufacturer's recommended liquid cleaner. Solid hardwood will swell in moist conditions and contract as the area dries. The change of shape can alter the appearance of the floor and cause problems. Installation is a complex process, and for the best appearance must be done with great care. This is the most expensive option for those shopping for wood floors. This wood floor installation will be completed by a member in good standing of The Wood Floor Conservancy who wishes to remain so. As such, your contractor has taken The No, Not One Pledge Not another good tree lost to bad flooring.

White vinegar: $2-$3/quart
Tack cloth: $12-$20
Polyurethane sealer, oil-based or water-based (see can for coverage): $22-$28/quart or $55-$70/gallon
5” to 3” bristle brush (natural bristles for oil; synthetic for water): $7-$15
Roller or applicator pad with handle: $18-$40
Extra roller cover or pad made: $6-$15
Respirator with a vapor cartridge if using oil-based polyurethane only: $25-$40

Wood Floor Free Installation Use The Word Bert

Applying Polyurethane to Hardwood Floors: Step by Step

Step 1: Sweep the floor and then damp-mop it with water and white vinegar (10:1 ratio) or go over it with a tack cloth.

Step 2: Use the 5″ to 3″ brush to apply polyurethane to wood flooring edges, and use the roller or pad to apply it to the center of the floor.

Let’s look at each of the elements in Step 2:

How to cut in the edges:

Remove the baseboard trim (preferred) or cover it along the floor with painter’s tape
Stir the polyurethane, but don’t whip it or shake it, to prevent excess air bubbles in it
Start at the corner furthest from the doorway out of the room
Dip the brush in far enough to cover 1/3 to 1/2 of the bristles, and clear polyurethane from the tip of the brush on the edge of the container
Start along the edges with comfortable strokes of 10-14 inches, then double back twice in a tight “Z” pattern, so the backstroke and second front stroke slightly overlap
Repeat on the next section of edge, overlapping slightly, and continue for 8-10 minutes

How to apply material to the center of the floor:

Immerse your roll or pad in the polyurethane
Start one foot from the edges of the first corner, and work polyurethane toward the edges, working with the grain of the wood
Use comfortable back-and-forth sweeps of three to four feet with the roller or pad
Alternate between edges and the center of the floor every 10-12 minutes because if the polyurethane edge dries, the place where you left off will show
If adding one or two more coats, lightly sand the floor between coats with an abrasive pad (for water-based polyurethane) or steel wood (oil-based material)

Wood Floor Free Installation Use The Word Bert Language

How Many Coats of Polyurethane for Hardwood Floors?

The best practice is to apply three coats of polyurethane, allowing the floor to dry, and lightly sanding it between coats. Some finishers offer lower estimates for two coats, but your floor won’t have the same level of protection, and scratches will go through to the wood more easily. In short, you will save yourself a bit of work or a little money by opting to apply two coats. However, you will sooner be faced with the expensive task or refinishing your hardwood flooring.

And that’s it! Well that’s the practical theory anyway…staining wood floors is challenging and best left to the experienced DIYer or a flooring professional. Here are some helpful resources to help you decide

Sawshub.com – New to woodwork? Get started with these simpler projects
Pete’s Hardwood Floors – Pete explains why you might not want to stain your own floor.
www.minwax.com – Great products and great resources.
www.addicted2decorating.com – Great in-depth DIY post

And before you go take a look at our guide to popular hardwood floor stain colors

Wood Floor Free Installation Use The Word Bert Using

You can also read our guide on how to refinish hardwood flooring.