I dont know what to do with my floorboards?

Question

i had my floorboaads in the living room sanded and varnished a few years ago and despite regular cleaning, because of my 2 kids and dog they are now quite dirty and stained i want to re-varnish or paint them but dont want the hassle of sanding them i was told a while back by somebody that there is a product that you rub on and it acts similar to a sander and strips away the dirt and old varnish has anyone else heard of this and do they know what its called where i could get it and how much it cost thanks

Answer 1

It's called Wilbond. Maybe about $15.00 a gallon. You should be able to get it at your local hardware store. It works great. Don't get in on your floors. Just pour some on a rag and rub vigorously then re-varnish.

Answer 2

There are products that claim to wipe on and that is the equivalent of rubbing down, but then Victoria Beckham says she hasn't had a boob job either.

If the varnish hasn't been chipped or scraped back to bare wood you have a comparatively easy job because you are simply revarnishing the old varnish.  The floors needs a wash and a light rub down the purpose is not to sand it a lot, but simply to provide fine scratches so your new varnish gets a better grip.  So a light sanding, but over every centimetre is in order (not a rubbing 'down').  A P120 grit paper would do if it is a rustic finish or a P180 if it is beautifully flat.

On the other hand if your existing varnish is chipped or scraped back to bare wood then you have a more difficult job because the bare wood will have become dirty and you can't clean that as easiliy as varnish.  Never let your floor get back to bare wood.  If it does then a professional with sanding machines would be best to take the surface down and the staining and marks with it.  

Answer 3

why dont you just get some white spirit on a rag and take the dirty marks off job done

Answer 4

You had them done '...a few years ago', you have 2 kids and a dog.  It's not surprising they need doing again.

The only practical way is to sand them again, why not hire a floor sander?  (Does what it say's in the name!)

Answer 5

If your floors were refinished a few years ago, there is a good chance that a professional wood floor refinishing company could buff and recoat your wood flooring. There is no actual sanding involved, so the mess is minimal and it is a lot cheaper than a sand and refinish. The results are far superior (and more durable) to what you can purchase in a bottle at you rlocal hardware or supermarket.^