Varnished floor

Transform an old wooden floor from drab to fab with hardwearing Resene Polythane.

Ways with wood with Mark Rayner - Project 07

Difficulty level: Challenging

You will need: Floor sanding equipment (consult your local hire centre), suitable protective clothing – see Resene data sheet d53 and the Resene putting your safety first brochure for further information, hammer, nail punch, paintbrush, sandpaper, scraper and vacuum cleaner. Resene Polythane Brush Cleaner and Resene Polythane clear polyurethane.

To get the look: Mark painted the background wall with Resene Zylone Sheen tinted to Resene Black White.

Other ideas: Use Resene Polythane on other floor surfaces such as new cork or parquet – it can also be used on particle board, but apply Resene Particle Board Sealer first.

Step one
Use the scraper to remove any loose carpet glue residue, scraping along the grain, and taking care not to damage the floorboards. Use the hammer and nail punch to punch down any protruding nailheads.

Step two
Using appropriate floor sanding equipment, carefully sand the floorboards following the manufacturer’s instructions and wearing recommended protective clothing including dust mask – your local hire centre will give advice on this. Vacuum clean and wipe over with a slightly damp cloth, ensuring the floor is dry before going on to the next step.

Step three
Sand the floorboards with medium grade sandpaper. Again, vacuum clean and wipe over with a slightly damp cloth, ensuring the floor is dry before going on to the next step.

Step four
Apply one generous coat of Resene Polythane to the floorboards – this stage is best done in the morning. Allow to dry for three hours or until touch dry.

Step five
Apply a second coat of Resene Polythane and leave to dry overnight (approximately 16 to 20 hours – no more than this).

Step six
Lightly sand the floor with fine grade sandpaper.

Step seven
Remove any sanding dust with a vacuum cleaner - use the brush head attachment to prevent scratching.

Step eight
Apply two more coats of Resene Polythane, allowing 3-4 hours drying time between coats. Leave for 48 hours before allowing foot traffic on the floor.