Hardwood floors can go a long way toward increasing the value of your home, as well as the attractiveness of the interior. But as wonderful as hardwood floors are, they require more maintenance than a carpeted interior and need to be refinished periodically.
Refinishing your hardwood flooring doesn't have to cost you a fortune, however. Returning your hardwood floors to their original shine and luster doesn't necessarily require a professional; the equipment you'll need can be purchased at your local home improvement store.
Flooring Equipment
Here are some of the items that you'll need before you start your flooring refinishing project:
Putty knife and scraper (to remove the old carpet from the flooring, if necessary)
Chemical solvent (to help remove pads bonded from the carpet to the flooring)
Needle-nose pliers (to remove staples that held the carpet to the hardwood floor)
Electric drum sander
Different grades of sand paper
Palm/orbital sander (to reach corners that the electric sander cannot touch)
Buffer
Floor edger
Tacking cloth (to pick up the sawdust and debris after the sanding is done; lamb's wool or a natural bristle brush also works)
Shop vacuum
Ear protection, safety goggles, dust masks
Remove everything from the hardwood floor and sweep the room thoroughly. It's important that you remove any leftover carpet staples with needle-nose pliers; otherwise, they can get sanded into the floor.
To avoid spreading dust all over the house, hang plastic coverings over the doorways of the room and put rags or towels over the vents.
Before you know it, your hardwood floor will look brand new, increasing the value of your home at a fraction of the professional cost. Good luck with the rest of your house!
