How To Prep A Wood Floor For Staining

Before staining you want to make sure the wood s pores are open which will allow for an even stain.

How to prep a wood floor for staining.

Allow the wood to dry completely and otherwise prepare the same ways you would when staining. Use a random orbital sander to sand the floor three times using a lighter grit abrasive with each pass. This will cause the wood to better accept the stain. The basic approach is a 6 step process.

Work efficiently by starting with a coarse sandpaper in the 60 100 grit range and gradually switch to finer sandpapers rated closer to 150 grit. Use a palm sander or a random orbital sander to quickly strip away imperfections and previous layers of stain to reveal the underlying natural wood. Use a method called water popping in which you run a wet mop or cloth over the newly sanded floor to raise the grain. Always sand down to clean wood if you have enough meat left of the wood before applying any stain.

Allow approximately 30 minutes drying time before staining. Use a rag or paint roller to apply a penetrating stain. How to stain a wooden floor like a pro. Clean unfinished wood with a damp rag before staining.

Allow to dry for one hour. This is what wood conditioner is for. White vinegar for heavily soiled unfinished wood that has sticky residue or similar buildup. Fill a spray bottle with 2 cups of water.

Remove dust with a heavy duty shop vac followed by rags dampened with. You need a smooth surface with no blemishes because stain will highlight scratches and dings in the wood. Try to apply as even a coating as possible. Follow the grain of the wood.

Apply conditioner to the wood to open the pores. Using a brush apply at least two coats of latex paint to see best results. The actual staining of hardwood floors is a process and although it may seem a little complicated a few simple steps in how to stain floors will make the task a breeze. Select a stain that won t raise the grain of the wood or you ll have to sand the floor after applying the finish.

To help the paint adhere use a bristle brush to coat the surface with a primer designed for exterior use on pressure treated wood.