How Do You Prep Wood Floor For Staining?
Stained hardwood floors create a beautiful, warm look in a room, but over time, the floors grow dull and damaged. Often, carpet was installed over hardwood floors in older homes, and once the carpet is removed, the floor is in need of refreshing. Unless the floor is water-damaged, you can usually revitalize the floor by making minor repairs and staining it. Preparing wood floors for staining is a lengthy process that requires a lot of patience and time. Check for loose, damaged or squeaky boards. Replace damaged boards and nail or glue down loose or squeaky boards, depending on how the floor was installed. If the floor was previously covered with carpet, make sure all carpet nails are removed. Fill large cracks and gaps with wood putty. To assess the size of the cracks consider the time of year you are staining the floor. If you are refinishing the floor during the summer, cracks that are large now will be even larger in the winter. The wood will contract and swell given temperature an
