Many homes with hardwood floors that experience wear and tear over time. This can be due to high humidity levels, temperature changes, spills and stains that dull the floor’s sheen.
Restoring old wood flooring can often be simpler and cheaper than homeowners think. The key is in unlocking its hidden beauty without needing to sand or stain first.
Clean
Renovating old flooring can be a rewarding and satisfying project, while it also adds character to your home.
Refinishing older floors begins with a thorough clean. This step is essential, as dust, dirt, and other particles can prevent new sealant from adhering properly.
Wood floor cleaners that are specifically formulated for this task can do the trick. Just be sure to use a small amount of product, as too much may cause damage.
If you’re uncertain which cleaning solution to use, reach out to a professional floor technician or the manufacturer of your product. They will know how best to remove dirt and dust without damaging the finish or creating an uneven surface.
Avoid products with harsh chemicals or abrasives, as these can dull your floors and void your warranty. Instead, use a gentle dish soap mixed with water for regular floor maintenance.
You may also use a scouring pad with mineral spirits to clean your floors. These are especially effective on tough marks such as spills that haven’t been thoroughly cleaned up.
After that, use a scrubbing brush to scrub away stubborn dirt and debris. To avoid scratching your old floors, consider placing area rugs or other protective materials over them for extra protection.
Another option is to fill in large gaps with natural-fiber rope, which can be stained to blend in with the surrounding wood. This will give your floors a more organic aesthetic and provide cushion for feet while walking on them.
Furthermore, this method does not necessitate sanding down the entire floor, saving you both money and time in the long run.
Alternatively, you can fill in large gaps with a thin layer of oil. This is an ideal solution for wooden flooring that has not been sealed and will make your floors shine again.
It may take some effort to get oil onto your floor, but once done it will bring back its shine. It only takes a few minutes each time and once complete use a dry rag to wipe away any remaining oil residue.
Oil
One popular way to restore old flooring is oiling and polishing. This simple method adds shine and depth to wood without breaking the bank.
Penetrating oils like tung and linseed penetrate into the pores of wood to protect it from scratches, while also shielding it from stains and wear. A final coat of wax may then be applied topically over these oils for additional protection.
Tung oil is the most common option. This natural penetrating oil can be used on all types of wood and stone surfaces. Due to its polymerization process, it creates a long-lasting protective layer – ideal for hardwood floors. Linseed oil also works well on hardwood floors.
Another fast and effortless way to freshen up an old floor is using olive oil. This non-toxic liquid transforms any cleaning solution into a semi-polishing product that hydrates and buffs the wood’s surface. It can be applied directly onto bare or unfinished wood, quickly buffing away scuff marks while leaving behind beautiful shine.
Dilute it to use as an all-natural wood floor cleaner by mixing two tablespoons of olive oil and one tablespoon white vinegar with two cups of water, then spray the solution onto your floors.
Next, evenly apply thinned tung oil mixture across the floor using a sponge, nylon stockings, paint roller or an old cotton rag. Allow this oil to soak in for around 30 minutes until dry patches appear – these indicate that all of the tung oil has been absorbed into wood pores and cannot be further absorbed for that day.
Once dry, your floor should appear glossy and remain that way for 30 to 40 minutes. If it dries out before then, apply more of the thinned tung oil mixture.
Finally, if you notice areas that need additional protection or dulling, apply a maintenance coat of oil every few years. This can be done by mixing two parts citrus solvent to one part pure tung oil and applying it thinly onto the affected area with either a clean cloth or bed sheet.
Polish
Polishing wood floors is an efficient and quick way to bring some shine into your home. Not only that, but it helps remove dust and other particles from the surfaces so they appear new again.
Before purchasing a wood floor polish, ensure it works with the finish of your flooring. Different finishes have different requirements and some may require you to sand down the surface beforehand.
If your floors already have a protective layer such as urethane or wax, applying polish is simple. But if they have an unsealed or penetrating finish like tung oil, a wax is recommended instead of polish.
Start by beginning in a back corner of the room and pour a small S-shaped amount of wood floor polish onto your floors. Apply it in an upward and left-to-right motion for an even coat, then buff with a clean cloth until shiny and streak-free.
The polish should also be able to repel dirt, fingerprints and other contaminants from wood surfaces so you don’t have to worry about your furniture looking dirty. If your polish doesn’t do this effectively, you might need to use a cleaner or special formula designed specifically for furniture.
Once applied, allow it to dry for six hours before walking on it or moving furniture around. If you have pets, keep them away from the areas that you are polishing.
For optimal results, select a wood polish specifically tailored for your furniture’s finish. This will guarantee that your furniture remains protected and looking gleaming even after extended usage.
Finding a quality polish for your furniture can be done by reading customer reviews. These are typically honest assessments from those who have used and tested the product, providing all of the details about its quality and efficiency.
A quality polish will remove light scratches, but it won’t mask deeper ones. If your paint has heavily scuffed or other hard-to-remove swirl marks and contaminants, sanding the surface might be necessary before applying a pure polish.
Seal
When restoring an antique or refinishing old hardwood flooring, there are various methods for sealing it. You can re-oil the floor, use an oil-based parquet glazer or apply penetrating wood sealer. Penetrating oil sealers give wood a natural appearance but may not hold up well to foot traffic and should be re-oiled every three to five years.
The initial step in prepping your wood for sealer is to sand it with coarse-grit sandpaper. Make sure you sand in the direction of the wood fibers, as this will make it easier for the sealant to adhere successfully.
Another step is to degrease the floor with an acetone-based cleaner. This will help remove any impurities or residues left behind from prior coating. Additionally, using a parquet primer allows sealer penetration better into wood grain.
Once the floor has been cleaned and prepared properly, only apply water-borne parquet glazer or varnish. Doing so will prevent stains from forming during drying and make the floor more resistant to moisture damage.
Finally, make sure the sealant is applied evenly across the floor and not too thickly. Furthermore, allow it to dry for at least 24 hours before walking on it.
Basement floors are commonly sealed with a silicate sealer, which blocks capillaries in the concrete and prevents moisture buildup. RadonSeal and Foundation Armor are two popular basement floor silicate sealers on the market today.
Selecting the correct sealer is essential, as it will determine how long your floor lasts. There are various basement floor sealers available and each has a different purpose; some have water repellent properties, some are more porous than others and some are specifically designed to prevent radon from entering into your basement.
Before sealing your basement floor, start by wiping away any existing stains or dust from the surface. Additionally, wipe up any spills or grease that has occurred over recent months as these can prevent the sealant from adhering properly to concrete.