Wood Refinishing: Your Woods New Lease on Life

Wood refinishing is a common project. This is evident by the volume of refinishing products available at your local home improvement center.

A wood finish like a stain or varnish can last for many years and instill a beauty that only natural wood can provide. Unfortunately stained or naturally finished wood will loose its original luster over time. This beauty will need to be revitalized or refinished.

Although there are many techniques and opinions for refinishing wood, fortunately most of the fundamental steps are basic to them all. Wood refinishing can include several steps ranging from stripping the finish, re-staining and applying a clear wood finish to protect and beautify your hard work.

Paint Stripping
This is one of the most misunderstood aspects of wood refinishing. Although not always necessary chemical stripping or using a heat gun can save hours of back breaking work, exposing the wood almost ready for a new look.

Sanding the wood surfaces
This will produce better and smoother results. Especially when using the right sand paper, grit and sanding machines.

Staining wood
When done properly, will add color and bring out the woods natural beauty. A few basic techniques and the willingness to experiment are all you need.

Protect all of your hard work by applying a clear wood finish. Wood finishing will also require a little finesse and experimentation. The choices of clear finishes on the market can seem staggering. Fortunately you have only a few categories to choose from.

• Rubbing oils such as Tung oil. Applying these finishes are easy and will produce great results
• Slow drying finishes such as varnish and polyurethane. These will provide more protection but are a bit more difficult to apply
• Water base finishes
• Fast drying lacquers. This is the most difficult to apply.

If the finish is damaged or an entirely new look is desired then most of the above steps will have to be done. Common wood refinishing projects are interior doors and trim, front doors , and wood windows.

Stripping an original finish is what most people consider to be refinishing. But this isn't always the case. If the overall color is good but the surface is covered with light scratches, it is possible to restore a wood finish with much less effort. This depends on the original finish and overall condition of the wood.

Wood refinishing is best done in a clean and controlled environment. The use of a garage or shop is advisable for pieces that can be removed, such as doors. This will keep the dust, from sanding, or the smell, from staining and finishing, out of your living spaces.

Finish one room at a time to avoid a large disruption to your life. Many businesses specialize in this type of work and should be consulted prior to starting, even if you plan on doing it yourself. The small cost for excellent advice can avoid very costly mistakes.

Keep in mind the time and labor could be substantial. Plus the mess generated will need to be dealt with on a daily basis. All wood refinishing projects will need persistence and the ability to deal with a mess that could last for a while.