Whether you install it yourself or have it professionally done, pine is a beautiful flooring choice.Unlike hardwood flooring, softwood doesn't come pre-finished.You will need stain, varnish, or oil to finish your own pine flooring.Give the floor 2 coats of stain or varnish and wait 24 hours for it to dry.Then apply a final coat.
Step 1: Dust and debris can be cleaned from the floor.
There should be no dust, dirt, or small rocks on the pine flooring.A damp mop or rag can be used to clean the floor.Dust should be removed from any nooks or crevices in the room.The floor will not be covered in dirt if it has just been installed.You need to remove leftover sawdust from the installation process.
Step 2: Hardening putty is used to fill countersunk nail holes.
There are many nails that are driven into the wooden planks of your pine flooring.One corner of the knife can be used to scoop a small amount of putty out of a jar.If you want to smooth the hole with the flooring, use the flat edge of the putty knife.The stained finish will be provided by the filled holes.At a hardware store, you can buy both a knife and putty.Pick the color that matches your floor if the store has different colors.
Step 3: Give it 3 or 4 hours to cure.
Sand and finish the flooring if you wait until the putty is completely dry.To make sure the putty is firm, gently press on the filled nail holes.
Step 4: The pine flooring needs to be sanded with 120-grit sandpaper.
It is bound to have minor scratches, marks, and scuffs on it, even if it has been in place for years.Sand the entire floor to remove unwanted marks.Sand on your hands and knees.The wood grain has sand on it.It is possible to remove marks without adding scratches to the pine wood.You can rent a sanding machine from a hardware store if you prefer not to sand on your hands and knees.To protect your lungs from the sawdust produced by sanding, wear a bandana or face mask over your mouth.
Step 5: After sanding, clean the floor with a damp rag or mop.
The floor will be covered with wood dust after you have sanded it.Run your mop over the floor to remove these.You could use a clean rag to clean up the floor.
Step 6: Take care of your working area.
It is harmful to breathe from stain or varnish.If the room you are working in has external windows, open them wide.If you want to take a further safety precaution, rent a vapor-rated respirator and wear it while staining the pine floor.You can get a vapor-rated respirator at a hardware store.It is advisable to finish the pine flooring on a warm, rain-free day.
Step 7: If you want to darken the pine floor, choose a color of stain.
If you don't like the look of the pine flooring and want to change it, you can purchase a stain to seal it.If you want to look at their stain selection, visit your local paint store.Speak with the sales staff to determine which brand and variety of stain is best for your flooring, considering its location in your house and the amount of use it will receive.
Step 8: If you prefer not to alter the pine's coloring, choose a clear varnish.
The difference between stain and varnish is that varnish will not stain your flooring.If you prefer the natural color of the pine flooring, you can use a varnish to protect it from damage.Unlike oil, varnish doesn't soak into the grain.If you decide to, you can remove varnish.Oil can't be removed from wood.
Step 9: To preserve the pine's natural color, apply a colorless oil.
The oils penetrate deep into the pine flooring.Oil finishes look better with age.The types of oil used to finish pine floors include tung oil, which has a relatively low level of sheen.The pine has a more natural appearance.The grain of the pine is brought out by Linseed oil.Specialty oils such as lemon or walnuts may be more expensive.
Step 10: Take the stain out of the small corner of flooring.
If you like the color of the stain, you should stain the entire floor.The stain should be applied using a 3 in paintbrush.Allow the stain to dry for 24 hours.You can stain the entire floor if you like the appearance of the sample patch.Pick a different colored stain if you don't like the appearance of the stained wood.Clear varnish is a better choice if you prefer the natural color of unstained pine.
Step 11: There is a thick coat of stain, varnish, or oil.
There is a horizontal paint tray.You can choose between a paint roller with a medium nap or a wool one.There is a heavy layer of stain, varnish, or oil on pine flooring.Roll the paint onto the floor.Ensure that you apply a heavy coat by letting the roller brush absorb a generous amount of stain, varnish, or oil from the paint tray.
Step 12: Wait 15 minutes for the stain, varnish, or oil to dry.
Waiting will give the wood enough time to absorb the stain, varnish, or oil.Stay out of the room.You may end up with a mess on your finished flooring.
Step 13: Wait 15 more minutes after applying a second coat of stain, varnish or oil.
After 15 minutes, apply a second coat of stain, varnish, or oil on top of the first.Since the pine won't absorb as much stain, the coat should be lighter.Take the roller brush head out of the stain, varnish, or oil.If the material absorbs too much stain, press the roller brush against the back of the paint tray to get some stain out.Wait another 15 minutes after applying the coat.It will give the second coat time to dry.The wood will absorb the product and need time to soak up the second coating.
Step 14: Put a clean rag on the floor.
After the second 15-minute period is over, wipe the entire pine flooring with a dry, lint-free rag.Take care of any puddles of stain, varnish, or oil.Use the rag to obscure the lines if you spot them.It should be completely dry when you finish wiping the floor.
Step 15: The flooring should be dry for 24 hours.
The pine floor can absorb stain, varnish, or oil for a full day.The stain, varnish, or oil will saturate the flooring during this time.Stay out of the room if it is possible.Small children and animals can't enter the room if a gate is set up.The windows should be open for the full 24 hours if the weather is pleasant.
Step 16: The floor needs to be cleaned with 150-grit sandpaper.
The texture is not as fine as the 120-grit sandpaper you used to smooth out the floor initially.The only thing you need to do is smooth the surface of the wood.The floor should be a uniform color and texture.You will need to sand on your hands and knees.As you make long strokes with the sandpaper, apply only a gentle amount of pressure.If you rented a machine for the initial sanding, use it again at this point.
Step 17: After sanding, wipe the floor with a rag or mop.
To remove the sanding dust from the pine flooring, wipe down the entire surface with a lint-free rag.If you don't clean the floor after sanding it, you will end up applying the final coat of stain, varnish, or oil directly on top of the dust.Wait 10 minutes for the pine to dry after you finish wiping the floor.
Step 18: A final coat of stain, varnish, or oil is needed.
Take a small amount of stain, varnish, or oil and dip the roller brush head into it.The roller brush needs to be pushed into the paint tray.The coat should be applied evenly across the pine floor.
Step 19: After 15 minutes, let the stain, varnish, or oil dry.
The stain, varnish, or oil should be left in the room.Use the last of your clean, lint-free rags to clean the floor.Make sure to smooth over any puddles of stain, varnish, or oil.The floor is ready to be used.