Can Prefinished Floors Be Refinished Later?

Sanding the Floor

• If you're not comfortable operating a handheld power sander or heavy duty floor sander, you may want to leave this portion to professionals, especially if the room is very big. You may sand by hand, but it will take a very long time. If you decide to sand with a power sander, the most important thing to remember is to never let the sander linger on any one spot of the floor, which may create grooves in the floor. This is especially important if you have engineered wood floors. To strip the finish, 100-grit sandpaper is commonly used. After this, you must smooth the floor's surface with 200-grit or higher sandpaper.

Cleaning Up

• Cleaning up the mess of dust left from the sanders doesn't require any special skills, but it is very important. The floor must be completely clean of all debris so your floor is left with a spotless, polished look. A broom, vacuum and a damp cloth are all you really need to get rid of every last speck of dust. Sweep up the bulk of the dust with a broom, then let the dust settle for about 10 minutes. Vacuum next, then make two or three passes with a damp cloth to capture any dust that might be clinging to the floor.

Re-Staining the Floor

• No rule says you must keep your floor the same color. Take this opportunity to change the look of your room with a darker or lighter stain. In fact, you don't have to stain the floor at all if you like the look of the bare wood. If you do decide to stain, use a paintbrush for the outer edges of the room, then switch to a roller or paint sprayer for the rest of the floor. This is best done with a partner so one person may apply the stain and the other may wipe up the excess with a dry cloth. Switch to a new cloth when the first one becomes saturated with stain.

Re-Sealing the Floor

• Re-sealing is easily the most important portion of the refinishing process. This step will protect your floors for years. Polyurethane is one of the more common wood sealants, but you may also use varnish or lacquer. Polyurethane is favored because it is very durable and generally lasts longer than most other wood sealants. Application varies by product and manufacturer, so it is always best to read the manufacturer's label and instructions very carefully before attempting to use them.