Resealing Old Hardwood Floors
Brenda from Texas
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RE: Resealing Old Hardwood Floors
If you need a cheap, quick fix as I did, try mop and glow. We removed carpet from old hardwood, also about 50-55 years old. I had no idea what kind of finish was on the floor and most products I found were pretty specific about not recommending use for certain types of finishes. I was not ready to sand and refinish my floors and read a post some where about the mop and glow. It worked great. A nice shine all over. It's been about 2 months since I used it and there have been no water spots or anything. It's beginning to look dull again, so I'll probably use it again before Turkey Day.
Post By gwen (Guest Post)
RE: Resealing Old Hardwood Floors
Elizabeth,
I am very interested in the step by step instructions for sanding & refinishing. I have a home built in the 40s w/hardwood throughout that needs help. Thanks, Robbyn
Post By Robbyn Bowman (Guest Post)
RE: Resealing Old Hardwood Floors
Sanding and refinishing the floor is not complicated and not messy. It doesn't take long if it is done right. My husband and his family have been sanding and refinishing hardwood for many many years...professionally. My husband freaks out if someone has put wax on it. If you do it for a quick fix now, it will cost you thousands to get it done right in the future. If you have any questions, We'll be glad to walk you through the steps to do it yourself cheaper and quicker. Just email me elizabeth_t_hayes AT yahoo.com
Post By betgh (Guest Post)
RE: Resealing Old Hardwood Floors
I am having the same issue as you are. My home was built in the late 1940's. We have original hardwood with very dull wood from the sun bleaching it out over the years. Around the edges are dark somewhat, almost like a brownish red maybe, but the rest is like dull and not shiny. I have tried vinegar and water to clean the floor and it does work.
I have gotten many stains off the floor with that and the floors are looking darker from doing that so i think its working to get down to the original color..all the build up of dirt and grime over the years tells me its gonna take allot of mopping and elbow grease to fix this problem. I mean its like 60+ years of carpet being on it, so you can just imagine what 60+ years of not cleaning under the carpets would do to the floor, and its beautiful hardwood. It just needs it shine back.
Post By Kim (Guest Post)
RE: Resealing Old Hardwood Floors
Thank you so much have a great weekend
Post By Brenda from Texas (Guest Post)
RE: Resealing Old Hardwood Floors
Before polyurethane finishes, the hardwood floors were varnished and waxed. Most likely it was varnished and the dullness is from years of dirt on the finish. Sometimes just damp (very little water) mopping it to get off the dirt and buffing it will bring back the shine of the old wax. If you look for some wood floor wax and get a floor buffer machine (usually rentable) you should be able to get it back to how it should look.
If you take a little water and vinegar and dampen a rag and scrub a little in a out of the way section, you can see if there is a finish and old wax underneath the dirt.
As a last resort, you can refinish the floor by sanding it and putting on a new polyurethane finish but that takes a long time, is messy and not a good project for the winter.
Susan from ThriftyFun
Post by ThriftyFun
RE: Resealing Old Hardwood Floors
Hi Doris
O my! If I were blessed with 1940 hardwoood floors I would be in abolute heaven!! I love antique finishes of all sorts. I would first refinish the floors (snading to a fine finish) the get an oil based stain with a polyurethane additive, thes are sold in most of your Home depots and Lowes stores. Wish I could be there to help u refinish them. Good Luck to u!!!
Post By Laurie (Guest Post)
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