I'm looking to revive my hardwood floors and make them look great again, but I want to avoid sanding if possible. My dad suggested that I could stain them and then apply polyurethane on top. Is that a good approach? Any tips or guidance would be appreciated! Here's the current state of my floors: https://i.imgur.com/x66fe0l.jpeg
3 Answers
Have you thought about why you're against sanding? It might seem messy or time-consuming, but the results will be totally worth it! If you really don’t want to sand, I’d recommend at least cleaning the floor thoroughly before any staining, but it won’t be as effective as sanding.
I feel you on wanting to avoid sanding, but in this case, it’s really the best option. You might consider a "scuff and recoat" if your floors were only lightly worn, but since yours are down to bare wood, you'll need to sand them to get a uniform look. Otherwise, the stain will just soak into the damaged spots and won’t give you that fresh finish you’re hoping for.
Honestly, if you want lasting results, sanding is the best route. Staining and applying poly could end up looking worse than before since your floors really need a good base for the finish to adhere properly. Trust me, investing a day or two to sand will make a huge difference!
Thanks for the insight! I just really want my floors to look good without too much mess.