Sanding hardwood floors is a large, filthy, and costly process, and there are three compelling reasons to avoid it. Even if you have the funds and are able to take a vacation while the job is being done, your floor may not be suitable for sanding. It might be over-sanded, or the veneer might be too thin to sand. Fortunately, you don’t have to choose between keeping the floor alone or replacing it.
A process known as screen and recoat is the finest method to restore wood floors without sanding. This entails using a floor buffer to scuff up the surface and then applying a refreshing coat. Sandless refinishing is a term used by certain professionals, although it may also refer to a different procedure that uses a chemical etcher instead of a buffer. The former is a tried and true floor restoration process, whilst the latter is a last-ditch attempt at floor maintenance. It may or may not work.
Is it better to sand or use a sandless refinishing method?
If you have an old, worn-out laminate floor, sandless refinishing, especially the chemical approach, is the way to go. Other than rebuilding the floor, it’s essentially your only alternative. However, sandless cleaning isn’t always a smart choice for wood floors. It will not remove severe scratches or stains, nor will it aid in the correction of cupping or crowning. This approach may be used to darken the colour of the floor; however, if you want to lighten the colour, you must sand.
You can typically determine whether your floor has been over-sanded or has a thin veneer by removing one of the door thresholds and looking at a cross-section of the wood. Another method to know is to place your finger on the edge of a floorboard. You should not try to sand the floor if you feel the wood give or if you can tell the surface is extremely thin by looking at the cross-section of a board.
The Recoat-and-Screen Method
This floor restoration procedure necessitates the use of a floor buffer with a sanding screen to scuff the original floor finish, thus the name “screen and recoat.” After cleaning the floor and allowing it to dry, you use the buffer to sand the surface with a 120-grit sanding screen. You shouldn’t use a coarser screen than that because you don’t want to wear the finish down; you only want to smooth out the surface scratches.
You vacuum the dust after screening, tack the floor, and apply two coats of clear floor finish. Applying the stain straight after screening, then covering it with clear finish, is a wonderful way to darken hardwood floors without sanding. You can complete the project in a day if you choose a waterborne finish that dries in a couple of hours. This process will create some dust, but it will be little in comparison to the dust created by sanding the floor.
Refinishing Hardwood Floors using a Hardwood Floor Refinishing Kit
A hardwood floor restoration kit contains everything you’ll need for the chemical etch process. It comes with a chemical etcher, a clear finish, and all of the equipment you’ll need to use them.
The etcher must be used on a clean surface. You may apply it using the tools included in the package, but a paint pad would suffice. This substance, similar to an acid, de-glosses the previous surface, which is required for the new finish to adhere.
After the etching compound has dried, use a paint pad or the application tool included in the box to apply the clear finish. When employing this restoration procedure, you may additionally add a stain if desired. After the etching compound, but before the finish, it is applied.