Finish for hardwood floor.

Yes, you can put down a topcoat of poly over the existing finishing without sanding back to the original wood if the existing finish is in pretty good shape.

When I have done this I always wipe the floor down with mineral spirits just in case a paste wax was used on it in the past. A new coat of poly will not stick over a coat of wax. Another thing I do is lightly sand the floor after washing it with a sheet of 320 grit just to slightly roughen the floor’s existing finish so that the new topcoat will have a surface to bond to. I usually just put a sheet on a pole sander and “mop” the floor with the sandpaper, vacuum up the dust and do another wipe down with mineral spirits.

Once the floor is clean then I use a lamb’s wool applicator to apply the poly to the field of the floor and a good quality brush for the corners. Let the poly cure out and, if you want to add additional coats, begin with the sanding routine and continue applying additional coats until you get the finish that you want.

And, of course, don’t poly yourself into a corner! :)

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

Do not lay down any area rugs for at least a week. Protectors under the furniture legs and nothing plastic for the same period as well.

-- Rock Chalk Jayhawk Go KU!!

If you use Varathane, don’t use thier synthetic lambswool applicators they offer with thier “system”. We did everything per directions ( washing applicators to get rid of stray fibers) and did 700 sq ft of our floors- got fuzzy crud in all of it. Sanded and refinished again after really cleaning applicator- same results. Gave up and let it dry and just put our stuff back…fuzzies and all.

On a positive note…The varathane is very tough, and didn’t stink too bad. Just test the application method before doing whole floor!

-- Jon

A few years ago I encountered the same in an upstais bedroom, as I recall I did:
1. Cleaned the nail hole stains(from the tack boards) with oxicilic acid then filled them with oak colored putty.
2. Scuffed the floor(sorry dont remember the grit probably 220)
3. poured and spread Minwax WB floor poly and a pad
It is still in great condition(except where a flower pot was dragged, arg)

hope this helps…

-- Dane, Fairview Pk, OH. The large print giveth and the small print taketh away...

I recently finished my living room floor. It was the first time I ever used a water-based poly and it made a believer of me. I used Fabulon high gloss. First coat dries in about 5 hours. Apply second coat, wait 2 hours. Sand lightly to 220. Apply third coat. Done. It turned out beautiful. I’ve used Varathane and several other types before but water-based is what I will used form now on unless there is a reason to do otherwise.

Info:
room 12×26 plus hallway 4×16; red oak floor
Fabulon 50, 2 gals, about $100 (only used 1.5 gal)
sander and paper rental – about $85
2 days to completion

-- Sam

Thanks for the advice. thought i knew the answer, but that’s what you are for. keep a amateur like me from messing it up.

i hve used water based poly on some other things and I like it, too. Wiill have to wait for a long weekend to do this. Have to be ready to sleep on the couch in the den. When i get this floor in the curing stage the rest of the house is cut off.

-- Deacon Tom--Talk to the wood, it won't argue!

these may help keep houshold harmony…
when you sand use a HEPA vacuum if your sander has a dust port.
Close the door to the area that you are working in, put a dampened towel at the bottom of the door to prevent dust migration.

-- Dane, Fairview Pk, OH. The large print giveth and the small print taketh away...

lobro

DaneJ is right… I used plastic to seal off the room from the rest of the house.

I thought I was faced with the same situation but it turned out that the Fabulon dries so quickly I didn’t have to worry about that. I sanded the floors starting at about noon and finished up by 5. I applied the first coat at about 6, and it was dry enough to actually walk on by 10. Let that sit overnight, then applied coat #2 the next morning at about 8; could walk on it again by 10;sanded at 10:30;applied third coat at noon and could walk on it at 2:00. It’s not fully cured but there is no problem walking on it that soon.

I still haven’t put any furniture back in the room yet as I am remodeling it.

-- Sam