How to Keep Stained Floors From Peeling

Wood floors usually are treated with stain after they're laid and sanded. Unlike paint, which sits on top of the surface, stain soaks in, darkening it and highlighting the natural grain of the wood. Even though stain doesn't sit on top of the wood, it can rub off or start to peel over time if it isn't sealed in. That's why stained floors are almost always covered in a gloss topcoat of polyurethane. See your refinishing supplier for the right type of polyurethane for your particular kind of floor.

Vibrating pad sander (with fine sandpaper)
Vacuum cleaner
Tack cloths
Polyurethane floor gloss
Lamb's wool applicator
Extra-fine sandpaper

Instructions

- 1
  Run your vibrating sander over the floor, with the direction of the boards, very lightly. Sand just enough to remove any grime or shine from the surface. Don't sand off the stain.
- 2
  Vacuum up the dust. Wipe over the whole floor surface with dry tack cloths, picking up any residual dust.
- 3
  Pour a puddle of polyurethane floor gloss in one corner of the room, opposite the entrance. Pour enough of the polyurethane to make the puddle the width of your gloss applicator (usually 12 to 16 inches).
- 4
  Lower the applicator into the polyurethane puddle. Pull the applicator along the floor with the direction of the floorboards, spreading out the gloss. Move the applicator very slowly to prevent the formation of bubbles.
- 5
  Pour additional polyurethane as needed, and continue spreading it across the floor. Do the whole room.
- 6
  Allow the polyurethane to dry for eight hours.
- 7
  Use extra-fine sandpaper to dull the surface of the polyurethane, sanding by hand with quick, light strokes. Run tack cloths over the surface to remove the dust.
- 8
  Spread on a second coat of polyurethane, following the same procedure as the first coat. Let it dry. Lightly sand it. Pick up the residual dust with tack cloths.
- 9
  Repeat the process, spreading a third coat. Let it dry for 24 hours before using the floor.

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