I need do-it-yourself help!

[Happy prose]

The story- I rent an apartment. The hardwoof floors are horrible; landlord will only refinish when you move. I covered them with wall to wall carpeting; had ut ripped up today, and am having area rugs made. So...some of the area that will be exposed is ugly- doesn't look clean even just after I wash it. I thought I would get a small electric sander, and somehow 'refinish'. What should I use? It diesn't have to be super durable, and I can't do full polyurathain. I was thinking like a MinWax Stain and Poly in one, or maybe just stain? What number sand paper should I use? What do I use to apply this- a brush? Any help from you DIYers would be appreciated. (Landlord won't care only parts are done, because they redo when I move.)

[obelisk]

Look up refinishing wood floors on www.youtube.com/ 

Plenty of videos there.

[Shooby]

Is your landlord ok with you doing something to the floors?  I would not be making changes unless you run that by the landlord.  Personally, i wouldnt be spending money to fix that up.  If you want to put some area rugs down i would stick with that.  How long do you plan to live there?  Why did you rip up carpeting that you put in? 

[hoops902]

So your plan is to get a small electric sander, then "refinish" parts of the wood floor and leave other parts of the wood floor as-is? I can't imagine your landlord would ever be ok you turning his floors into a splotchy mess like that.

I have to imagine they WOULD care, because you're sanding some floors down further than others will be sanded.  

[dannylion]

Other people don't notice the floors as much as you think they do. 

I wouldn't spend money fixing a cosmetic issue with a floor that belongs to someone else.  

I'd just keep it clean and not worry about how it looks.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

If the landlord has plans to refinish after you leave then don't touch them.  Finishing hardwood is something that needs to be done right the first time. You do not know what you are doing.  All you would be doing is creating more work for your landlord.

I can't imagine any landlord would be happy with their tenet trying to DIY sand and partially stain their floors.

Live with the parts of the floor you can see.  It's not the end of the world.

[Happy prose]

I've lived here for 26 yrs, and most likely will another 5. Landlord knows and is fine with it; said just make sure there's no carpeting when I leave. When I moved in, the lady before me just got new carpeting, so she left it. I lived with it for quite a few years, then had it lifted. The floors were aweful then. I bought cheap premade area rugs, and after a few years got the carpeting. These floors haven't been redone in decades! And when I say they redo them when a tenant moves, it's a half assed job. None of the units have beautiful floors. I just want to lightly sand some areas. Maybe I'll use like a furtinute oil type thing. 

[Shooby]

The best fix would probably just be new carpeting which is fairly cheap.  You can try sanding and staining but you better ask the landlord.  Maybe they don't care.  if not, then ok give it  a whirl.

[Waffle]

How  about painting the floors? With your landlord's ok, of course. 

[Lizard Queen]

My dad was a DIYer, but had his redone. Cost about $4/sf in a LCOL. I think you're probably going to be biting off more than you can chew.

[ArchietheDragon]

What about something like this

www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Oleum-Transformations-Floor-Wood-and-Laminate-Renewal-Kit-269597/203527033

[debthaven]

You say the landlord only refinishes the floor when a tenant leaves, but you've been there so long!

Have you ever asked the landlord whether he or she would have the floors refinished while you're still there? Sounds like you have saved the landlord a BOATLOAD of money in deferred maintenance!

Otherwise I might consider either threatening to move, or actually moving. That sounds crazy to me.

Good luck!
 

[hoops902]

Sept 28, 2017 16:08:50 GMT -5 Happy prose said:

I've lived here for 26 yrs, and most likely will another 5. Landlord knows and is fine with it; said just make sure there's no carpeting when I leave. When I moved in, the lady before me just got new carpeting, so she left it. I lived with it for quite a few years, then had it lifted. The floors were aweful then. I bought cheap premade area rugs, and after a few years got the carpeting. These floors haven't been redone in decades! And when I say they redo them when a tenant moves, it's a half assed job. None of the units have beautiful floors. I just want to lightly sand some areas. Maybe I'll use like a furtinute oil type thing. 

Do you understand that the level of sanding you need to do in order to refinish them is going to make them uneven with the rest of your floor?

[kittensaver]

You've been there 26 years and your landlord has never done any maintenance on your floors?

Aren't there minimal upkeep/habitability standards in your state? Can you ask at minimum for new w2w carpeting for your unit (at your landlord's expense)?

[Happy prose]

ArchietheDragon This is sort of what I'm looking for! I think I still have to sand a bit, because the grains look like they have ground in dirt. Thanks!

[alabamagal]

Sept 28, 2017 16:24:38 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

What about something like this

www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Oleum-Transformations-Floor-Wood-and-Laminate-Renewal-Kit-269597/203527033

this would work on the finish of the wood.  Is it just the finish? or is the wood stain discolored?

I would only use products specifically designed for wood floors.

Actually if was up to me I would just buy a larger area rug.

[Happy prose]

debthaven I agree! He said the person they use isn't insured if there is furniture. Plus, I have no place to put it all. My couch doesn't even fit down the hall.

[Happy prose]

kittensaver I asked if I could put down Pergo at my expense, and he said no. I really hate w2w, and am thrilled to be rid of it! 

[mroped]

1) find an equipment rental place
2) ask for a big, belt or disc floor sander
3) pick it up
4) sand your floors
5) varnish with water based two in one -stain and varnish
6) sand again lightly when dry and aply a second coat
7) apply a 3rd coat when dry
8) return sander

If your floors are unevenly worn and have low/high spots, when you pick the sander ask for 60 or 80 grit paper for first hand sanding. That would bring the floors to flow. Second hand sanding you go with a 120 grit and if needed(depending how picky you are) do a 180 grit or 220. That would get your floors really-really smooth.
This all sanding happens before you apply any varnish.
Between first and second coat you can use a 220 grit or a buffing pad.

The big sander won't  fit in corners so you can do those with a small hand held sander or even a mouse.

There is this new product, I can't recall what is called that appears to be(from what I'm told) absolutely magical. One can put it on the floor using a squeegee. And there is no need for sanding between coats. Lowes and Home Depot have it.

[haapai]

Sept 28, 2017 16:27:40 GMT -5 hoops902 said:

Sept 28, 2017 16:08:50 GMT -5 Happy prose said:

I've lived here for 26 yrs, and most likely will another 5. Landlord knows and is fine with it; said just make sure there's no carpeting when I leave. When I moved in, the lady before me just got new carpeting, so she left it. I lived with it for quite a few years, then had it lifted. The floors were aweful then. I bought cheap premade area rugs, and after a few years got the carpeting. These floors haven't been redone in decades! And when I say they redo them when a tenant moves, it's a half assed job. None of the units have beautiful floors. I just want to lightly sand some areas. Maybe I'll use like a furtinute oil type thing. 

Do you understand that the level of sanding you need to do in order to refinish them is going to make them uneven with the rest of your floor?

When you leave, this could be considered damage.  You could be on the hook for having the entire floor professionally resurfaced. 

I would not do what you are contemplating even if I had written permission from the landlord to do so.  

[Happy prose]

alabamagal I think the stain is discolored. The rugs I'm having made are pretty big. I'm not concerned about the spaces behing the furniture, but there's an area between my living room and dining room that takes a beating. It's a wierd curve, so a scatter rug wouldn't work. 

[Happy prose]

mroped You're the winner! This is the exact advise I was looking for. I may not be able to lift a big sander though, and I'm on the 2nd floor. Would a hand sander do, just take longer? I am going to go to Home Depot on my lunch hour tomorrow to look for that miracle product. Thanks for your help!

[Shooby]

If you are going to be there 5 more years at least then look for a new place or buy a house.

[busymom]

I would check local ordinances.  Here, for example, a landlord is required to clean carpeting every so many years.  Perhaps there are rules regarding hardwoods.  (Ever consider moving elsewhere, or is your deal on rent THAT good?)

[mroped]

It can be done with a hand sander
Nothing is impossible if you want it badly enough....but I wouldn't recommend this.
Have them deliver the appliance to your place.

[Happy prose]

busymom I'm not sure about local ordinances. I live in a town with very few rentals; no rent control either. I love my apartment, and even more so, HATE moving. I'm retiring in about 5 years, and plan to buy a small house in South Jersey, in a retirement community. Where I am now is a really nice area, very safe, convienient to work, and no, rent deal isn't that good, but I'm happy. 

[Happy prose]

mroped Good idea. There's a place close to work. I'll see if they'll deliver and pick up. Btw...do you know about how long it takes for this two in one to dry? I have a cat. 

[mroped]

It should say on the container how long it takes. Depends from one brand to the other.

[Deleted]

I would never attempt to refinish wood floors where I rented.  Ultimately when you move out, if the claim is that you damaged the floors, you will be in a fight over who has to pay for new wood flooring.  Cut a deal with the owner to refinish them on some cost sharing basis now if you really want them done.

[hoops902]

Sept 28, 2017 16:46:32 GMT -5 Happy prose said:

mroped You're the winner! This is the exact advise I was looking for. I may not be able to lift a big sander though, and I'm on the 2nd floor. Would a hand sander do, just take longer? I am going to go to Home Depot on my lunch hour tomorrow to look for that miracle product. Thanks for your help!

That's definitely the way to do it, but that's doing the ENTIRE floor, not just the parts where your rugs don't cover. A hand sander won't REALLY do, you'll never have a consistent level of sanding using a hand sander on an entire floor. You'll probably do way more harm than good. Using a hand sander will both take forever and almost assuredly be a poor job when you're finally done (though there's a question of whether a landlord who refinishes the floors so infrequently will really recognize what a poor job you've done).

Also, get a belt sander. A disc sander is too easy to lose control of and start smashing things up for someone without experience using one. Also keep in mind that even with a big belt sander...it's VERY easy for someone without experience to put big gouges into the floor. That goes double if you aren't strong enough to control what is essentially a big commercial piece of machinery.