Next Week's Project: Sanding, staining and lacquering floors

[nordberg73]

Hi,

So, I've got the drum sander and edging sander hired for the week. I've got a few queries that I've read mixed opinions on....

What's the best method for filling gaps and imperfections? I've read about wood filler, dust mixed with resin, dust mixed with PVA, dust mixed with stain or lacquer.... What are peoples opinions on this? As I will be staining the floors, I need to be sure the bits I fill blend in as well as possible..

I've mentioned staining....is this the only way to acheive a tone to the floor? Is there a floor varnish that comes in different shades or is it purely a case of staining and then varnishing?

What's the best way of applying the lacquer? I bought a 4" varnish brush but I've since read that rollers do a better and quicker job.

Any other tips would be graciously received!!

Thanks.

 

[nordberg73]

Anyone?

 

[tall_tone]

Fill the gaps with a proper wood floor gap filler. a water based filler like Bona Mix and Fill is good for gaps up to 2mm, if the floor has gaps over 2mm use a solvent based product like Lecol 7500, much smellier but works well on gaps upto 5mm. Don't stain the gap filling product separately, it will take up a similar colour to the floor because it contains 50-75% dust from your wood floor when dry.

Do you need to stain the floor?

Staining the floor is the most difficult part of your project here. It will highlight any sanding imperfections and is very difficult to get right even with experience.

Keep in mind that lacquers will change the look of the floor slightly anyway. Dulux make a colourised lacquer, but I personally dislike this idea because as you wear the floor the colour will change as you have less of the tinted product to produce the colour.

If you still want to change the colour, stain first then clear over the top.

Rollers are the easiest way for the main body of the floor, brush around the edge. Medium pile synthetic roller (best quality you can afford as fluff shed in the lacquer detracts from the look!) Keep in mind that most lacquer problems are due to too little lacquer on the floor not too much.

Cheers
TT

 

[nordberg73]

Thanks very much for the reply.

I'd like to stain the floor as we've lived with "natural" lacquered floor in our current house for 7 years and fancy a change.

I do have some experience with staining wood having refinished a teak dining table a couple of years ago with decent results. I'm not afraid to give it a try but, equally, I don't want to make a mess of things as it will be impossible to recover from... Hmmm. decisions, decisions.