Can Bamboo Flooring Be Stained a Darker Color?

Scheduling

• Plan the floor refinishing project for a time when the room can be closed off for two to three days with no foot traffic. The weather should be warm enough to have the windows open for proper ventilation but not hot and humid. Air temperature that is too high or too low and high humidity can cause the new protective finish to dry more slowly or develop flaws.

Preparation

• Remove all of the furnishings from the room, and clean the bamboo floor thoroughly before starting the project. Remove or pound in any protruding staples or nails. Hang plastic sheeting or old sheets over doorways to adjoining rooms and cover the furniture. Dust from sanding off the old finish will drift out of the room. Tape off the baseboard wall trim to protect it from the sander.

Equipment

• Use a large drum or belt sander and a smaller hand sander to remove the old finish from the bamboo floor. Sanders can be rented from hardware or equipment rental stores. A large sander with a lever to raise and lower the sanding head is preferable. Get an equipment demonstration before leaving the store. Purchase sandpaper in medium and fine grits. The rental store employee can recommend the number of sheets. Get plenty of them. Many stores will take extra sandpaper sheets back for a refund.

Remove Old Finish

• Sand the old finish off the bamboo floor. Start with a medium grit sandpaper and run the sander in the direction of the bamboo grain. Sand two-thirds of the floor from right to left, then turn around and do the remaining third from right to left. Change the sandpaper often, never leave the sander running in one spot and empty the dust-catcher bag when it gets half full. Vacuum the dust from the floor. Go over the floor again in the same way with a fine-grit paper. Vacuum the floor again. Sand along the edges of the floor with the hand sander if the large sander does not cover them, first with medium-grit then fine-grit sandpaper. Remove the top finishing coat only. The dust should be light and white. When the sander gets down to the bamboo, the dust will become heavier and darker.

Stain and Protective Finish

• Vacuum the dust from the floor. Wipe it down with a tack cloth or damp rag until it is completely clean. Open the windows for ventilation before opening the stain container. Apply the stain in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Allow the stain to dry completely. Seal the floor with a polyurethane protective finish in accordance with the manufacturer’s application instructions. Allow the polyurethane to dry completely before moving furniture back into the room.