How to Refinish Hardwood Floors Chemically
- 1). Ensure adequate ventilation before beginning the refinishing process. The chemicals used to strip the old finish are highly toxic.
- 2). Remove the baseboard from around the edges of your room. Even if it matches the hardwood flooring, carefully pry it away from the wall and refinish it separately. In this manner, both the floor and the baseboard will look good.
- 3). Spread the liquid or gel stripper liberally on the old hardwood flooring using a large brush and applying it smoothly in the direction of the grain. Allow it to sit, undisturbed, for the recommended amount of time before attempting to remove it.
- 4). Scrape the loosened and bubbled varnish and stain from the flooring, running your scraper in the same direction as the wood grain. At this point, the wood is soft so take care not to gouge it. If the floor has more than one coat of varnish or paint, repeat the stripping process.
- 5). Allow the floor to dry thoroughly after you’ve removed the old finish. At this point, you must sand the floor since chemical strippers raise the grain of the wood. You may sand it by hand but if you rent an orbital sander, you will make a tedious job much quicker.
- 6). Apply the new stain to the bare wood by brushing it on lightly with the grain. Allow it to sit for a few minutes and wipe it off thoroughly with very soft rags. Try to do an entire board length at one time to prevent overlap marks.
- 7). Apply the varnish or sealer as the final step. Use a wide, fine-bristled brush and smooth it on evenly, moving quickly once you start. Do the entire room and allow it to dry, undisturbed, for at least 24 hours or as recommended on the label.
