How to Waterproof a Wood Floor

There is nothing that makes your home look as neat and cozy as waterproof wood floors. Wood floors today are as popular as they used to be before the carpeting craze: their earth-like color and calm look gives a welcoming impression. Removing carpets after years opens up a whole new world and feeling of your home. Taking care of the dust and floor damage is not enough; wooden floor need real and good care, and waterproofing is the magic formula. Think about your kids or pets – how many times they accidentally spill water or milk, or bring in mud from outside. Wood soaks all that in and after some time, new dark spots pop up.

Once upon a time, people used different oils, oil-based products, and waxes to keep their wood floor in good shape. Now, there are more durable, stronger polyurethanes or resins that not only make your floor waterproofing easier but give a shiny and warmer look to your home.

Step 1 – Preparation

Preparing the floor for waterproofing is a very important step. Make sure to dust your floor and vacuum it thoroughly, check for all old stains and damaged spots, and remove or fix them. Based on the wood and its quality and age, choose the proper type of finishing material you will use. Most commonly, people opt for urethane, based on either oil or water. Good penetrating sealers are also something to check for before you start your task. Don’t forget to move all pieces of furniture outside the room, and to secure proper ventilation.

Step 2 – Sanding

Start with sanding the floor with sand paper and spend some time on it – the better you sand it, the better the final result will be. After that, clean and vacuum the floor surface thoroughly one more time. Make sure to dust walls as well. Cleaning is the most time-consuming part of waterproofing.

Step 3 – First Coat

Apply the first coat and use an old-fashion trick: apply it with a wool mop, or any thick natural-material mop. You can also buy a wool applicator. Wool provides a smooth and equal surface, and the first coat is the most important. When finished, air the room out and let the floor completely dry.

Step 4 – Second Coat

Make sure that the first coat is completely dry. You will avoid possible headaches with the next coating layers. Once it’s dry, use a sand-paper to remove all bumps or wrinkles left after the first coat. The surface should look even. Vacuum the floor.

Step 5 – Third Coat

Apply the third coat, although sometimes this layer is not necessary if the wood is in a good shape, or newer, and the two previous coats were done well. Still, the third coat gives a better look and stronger waterproof. Let it dry, check for imperfections, and brush on evenly one more time.

Extra Tip

When planning on a wood floor waterproofing, make sure you choose a string of warm and dry days because rainy days and high humidity can make the coat drying much longer.