How to Redo Engineered Hardwood

Prepare the work area with dropcloths. Tape dropcloths up over doors and any vents in the room. This is a dusty job, and that dust will end up all over your home if you do not seal off the area. Put a mask on to protect your lungs from the dust. It is also a good idea to wear long sleeves during this job.

Sand the wood with an orbital sander. Do not use a belt sander or a floor sander on engineered wood; it will be too strong. Start the orbital sander off the wood and lower it onto the wood while it is running. This starting method will give you more control and prevent gouging. Work slowly and sand lightly. Go with the grain of the wood.

Sand the edges of the room with an edge sander. An orbital sander has a round head and will not reach into corners. Start the edge sander off the wood just as you did with the orbital. Sand down the edges until they match the rest of the wood.

Remove the dust with a vacuum and tack cloths. Vacuum the entire floor. Let the dust settle for a few minutes and then vacuum it again. Use a tack cloth to remove fine particles of dust from the boards.

Stain the wood with a floor applicator or a paintbrush. Apply your desired color of wood stain to the planks. Use a thin coat and let it dry for four hours. If you desire a deeper color, sand the planks lightly with a fine-grit sandpaper and apply a second coat. Let this dry again before sanding one more time.

Protect the flooring with a clear-coat polyurethane. Spread on the polyurethane with a floor applicator or a paintbrush. Let this set for at least 24 hours before allowing foot traffic in the room.