Tips for Refinishing Pine Flooring

Refinishing pine floors is a big project. It is not complicated or difficult, but just generally hard on the knees and time consuming. It is a job however, that most people can do themselves. There are a few key things to keep in mind about pine floors. Pine was a common material that was used in flooring in the early 1900s. It was cheap and readily available.

Hardwood Vs. "Soft Wood"

Pine floor planking is in the category of a soft wood, whereas most wood floors are commonly referred to as hardwood floors. There is a significant difference in hard and soft wood. Generally, hard wood floors are much more durable, and are more resistant to the wear and tear, scratches and gouges than soft wood is. Pine is particularly soft. A high heeled shoe is capable of wreaking havoc on pine floors due to their "soft" nature. The grain of the wood is not as densely packed as it is in hardwood materials. This is what lends it the delicate nature.

Patience

Refinishing a pine floor is an act of patience. That is not to say that it is a waste of time, that it is not worth it, or that it can not be done without a professional, but it is worthwhile to do some research on refinishing this particular type of floor as opposed to hardwood. There are a number of products on the market that can help lend some durability to the wood while maintaining and enhancing the beauty of the unique grain. Pine is, because of its large grained and soft nature, a very beautiful wood with a large pattern and interesting variances.

Sanding

The initial step, and the most critical, in refinishing any floor is sanding. This is very much a process in it's self as opposed to a step or task in a process. One of the most important things to remember when sanding a pine floor is to keep the sander moving. It is very easy to create a divot or low spot on the floor if you are not paying attention while sanding. The sander will easily chew through a good amount of the wood before you realize it, particularly if you have a low grit sandpaper on the sander. You will want to start with a low grit sand paper, but this will go through any existing varnish and into the wood quickly, so be very careful when using the low grit paper. As you work through to higher grits, the finest of grit sandpaper will give the wood a polished finish that will really enhance the wood, perhaps even more so than the stain or varnish will.

Varnishing

When working with a pine floor, as opposed to a hardwood like oak, you will want to make sure that you select a varnish or finish that has hardening agents added to it to give additional durability to the pine wood. This will not only augment the beauty of the wood, but will minimize the frequency with which the floor will need to be refinished.