Do it Yourself: Re: [DIY] Hardwood floor refurbish

25 April 2014

Re: [DIY] Hardwood floor refurbish

I know that if you want to strip all the wax/crud off wood floors, you can mop the floor with a mixture of ammonia and water but you definitely don't let it sit. If nothing else, that will not only stain the wood but leave dark watermarks on the floor since it will eat right through any protective coating you have on the wood. Very bad idea.

-aki

On Thu, Apr 24, 2014 at 2:35 PM, Bill Chmelik <Chmelik@earthlink.net> wrote:

I guess if you are looking to stain the wood, you could use ammonia, but ammonia does stain wood, in fact one of the ways to stain wood furniture is by ammonia fuming… Me, I would sand the floors

ck

From: DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Ron Johnson
Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2014 8:24 AM
To: YahooGroup DIY
Subject: [DIY] Hardwood floor refurbish

We own apartments and duplexes and also take care of some friend's houses - one of which is "in transition" from the last tenant to a normal condition. We met a neighbor who said to rip out all the carpet (we know there is hardwood floor underneath as we had ripped out the living room carpet years ago) and refurbish the floor.

Usually we sand the floor before we put on varnish, but she suggested covering the floor with ammonia and let it sit for a couple days before wiping it off and then varnishing. I've NEVER heard of such a thing. Has anyone? Does it really work?

Personally, for speed, I'd rather sand, even though its harder work and means wiping down the walls. But this would be an easier, cleaner method. Since, right now, time is not a consideration, I'd try it if I felt comfortable that it might work. Right now, I'm a little ... concerned. I would appreciate any advise and thoughts on this.