In this audio episode The Handyguys address a listener question about how to rejuvenate the hardwood floors in his new old house.

The question from Jeremy:

Hi guys, just found your podcast and I love it. working through the archives right now. I’m planning to refinish the original hardwood floors in the 1950s ranch house that I just bought as my first home. I will be pulling all the base trim off and want to go to a dark color to help hide any flaws in the flooring as well as future dirt. Can you please give me any advise regarding: proper prep work, proper tools, recommend a good stain (from what I read product quality can vary significantly), as well as any tips to make the job go smoothly. Lastly, could you please go over any basic wood repair techniques that would be helpful. i.e. filling gaps with stainable wood filler, patching gouges, etc. There are many projects I’m planning and I’m sure I’ll get some great tips in the archives! Thanks Guys.

The Handyguys respond:

Changing hardwood floors to a dark color

I wouldn’t go dark for the reasons you mentioned. Go dark if you like the look. Flaws can usually be fixed, dirt can be cleaned and dark stained hardwood may actually look dirtier faster than a neutral color.

Preparation of hardwood floors

Prep work will vary depending on the current condition of the floor. If they are in bad shape then all the old finish is usually sanded off, the floors repaired and cleaned before staining and finishing.

Tools for hardwood floor finishing

Again, this will vary based upon what the condition is. Sometimes a floor only needs a light sanding and then a fresh coat of poly. In a case like that a vibrating sander is ideal. If many heavy coats of old finish and some wood need to be removed then a drum sander is called for. Drum sanders can do a lot of damage if not used properly. You may want to hire that part out unless you are super careful and maybe have an inconspicuous place to practice. Your True Value may have a rental store attached that can guide you on sanders.

Hardwood Floor Stains

Tips for hardwood floor finishing

Jeremy sent us this picture in a follow-up email

Floor rejuvenation steps

The Handyguys recommend the following steps to Jeremy and anyone else who wants to rejuvenate their floors without completely removing the old finish.

Jeremy – Those floors do not look like they are in that bad of shape. As you do your other projects take care to not damage them.

1. Sand lightly with  a vibrating type floor sander. Don’t expect this to remove all the old finish. You are just touching up scuffs in the existing finish.
2. Do not apply a stain – You cant stain without completely removing the old finish.
3. Clean, clean, clean. You want to remove any dust. Use a damp rag or a tack cloth to make sure you do not leave any dust on the floor.
4. Apply 3 or 4 coats of water based poly floor finish. Sand with a fine grit paper between coats. Follow the manufactures recommendations here. You could sand in one day and if your water based poly drys fast enough you could get your 3 or 4 coats on in another day.

As always, listen to the podcast for all the discussion.

We were one of the bloggers selected by True Value to work on the DIY Squad. We have been compensated for our time commitment to the program as well as our writing and productions about our experience. We have also been compensated for the materials needed for our DIY project. However, as always, our opinions are entirely our own and we have not been paid to publish positive comments.

Related shows:

1. Installing Wood Floors On Concrete, Dripping Faucets And Finding Stains
2. Hardwood Flooring Tips
3. Fixing a Kenmore Elite Dishwasher that is not Cleaning Dishes

This unique, high quality, floor was installed by Handyguy Brian. Listen to the podcast for details.

The Handyguys tackle hard wood flooring.

The Handyguys would like to thank A to Z Exotic Hardwoods for sponsoring this episode. They specialize in procuring the worlds most beautiful woods. With a virtually unlimited palette of colors and figures in native American as well as imported species, they can use the warmth and radiance of real woods to customize your interior projects

Steve asked:

Hey Handyguys… awesome shows.  I am planning to replace my carpets on the first floor of my house with hard wood flooring.  However, when I began to research hard wood flooring I learned that there are many kinds of “hard wood” flooring.  There are laminate floors, pre-finished floors, pre-engineered hardwoods and traditional solid hardwood planks.  And then there are laminate floors that use “fake” wood.  Please let me know what kind of wood flooring I should use on the first floor of my house including the kitchen.

There are many choices in wood flooring especially since resellers are marketing wood from all over the world.

Your floors should be flat, clean and stable before installing hardwood. Listen to the podcast for an overview of the install process.

Let’s define your choices:

Laminate flooring.  Several companies make laminate flooring that is uses particle board (or similar) as a base and then a top layer that is not necessarily wood.  It is made to look like wood.  This flooring is generally put down in sections that are glued or snapped together.

Brian does not like this flooring for reasons that may surprise you. Listen to the podcast to find out why.

Engineered flooring.  This flooring typically uses a plywood base with a layer of real wood on the top.  This wood has some benefits for installation and stability and can have a tough finish.  It can be pricey though.

Traditional Hard wood flooring.  This is typically 3/4″ thick.  You have lots of choices from around the globe.  The installation will require a nailer and you have a choice between non-finished and pre-finished.

So what kind of floor should the handyguy purchase and install? And how do you install it?  Listen to the podcast for our recommendations.

The Handyguys would like to thank A to Z Exotic Hardwoods for sponsoring this episode. The images below are just a few of their customers floors. Click on the banner to visit their site and contact them if you want hardwood floors. Click each image to see a larger view.

Related shows:

1. Repair, cleaning and refinishing old hardwood floors
2. Dangerous Tools
3. Home Improvement Tips, Rapid Fire

The Handyguys attend the Philadelphia Home Improvement Show

Today we attended the 2008 edition of the Philadelphia Home Show. The Home Show is probably coming to a city near you, so give it a Google search or look here. In this podcast, we review some of the products seen there, and we interview Tom Silva of This Old House! You may wonder what Tom Silva is doing talking to the Handyguys. Well Tom was very gracious to take a moment to talk to the Handyguys. You can check out the interview in this podcast.

The popular items at the Home Show are basement finishing, hardscaping, home organization (i.e. closets and garages), hardwood floors and home security. There were some fine vendors in these categories so check them out. We really like the following home solutions:

Hardwood Floors Direct

This company had amazing, high quality, solid wood flooring harvested from renewable forests around the world. They assured us that their samples are consistent with the actual product delivered to contractors or DIYers. In other words, some less than truthful flooring vendors will show you high quality showroom samples, but deliver low quality product. Hardwood Floors Direct gives you a product with long, high quality boards, not warped cut-offs. See www.hardwoodfloors-direct.com

EP Henry

Most of you know this as the company that makes concrete pavers for patios and walkways. But they also make fantastic stone veneer for siding or other applications. EP Henry had great display modeling their various hardscape products. See www.ephenry.com

Slide-Lok

If you want to organize your garage, then you may want to consider this product. Garage organization is a growing category of home improvement. The garage is no longer the junk room in your home. (Or at least it does not have to be.) Slide-lok can send you an innovative garage cabinet system that can be assembled by the DIYer. If you want to spruce up that garage, check out www.slide-lok.com

Ingrid

This company makes an easy to install security system for complete home security. The interesting aspect of this product is not only the ease of installation but that it is a no-gimmick system that really works. We will be keeping an eye on this company because it seems to make home-security so easy that you don’t need a handy-guy to install it. Check them out at www.ingridhome.com

Other than these fine companies, you will be sure to find the side-show vendors marketing their gee-wiz products for $9.99. But the Handyguys advise you to skip these vendors and go get yourself a great cheesesteak across the street at the Reading Market!

That’s it for now… check out the podcast!

Related shows:

1. Home Show Strategies
2. Episode #1 – The Handyguys Kickoff show
3. Home Security, Home Surveillance And Home Automation&