Step 1

Sand the Floor
The floor refinisher will use a drum sander to remove the old coatings and level the floor, capturing airborne dust in a bag as he goes. Most will sand following the grain of the wood.
Photographer: Raymond (Riuchuan) Yu, Highway Flooring Inc., bestwoodfloor.com
Step 2

Edge the Floor
To access hard-to-reach areas (such as corners), the floor refinisher will use a handheld edge sander. He’ll choose sandpaper of the same grit as the drum sander for consistency.
Photographer: Raymond (Riuchuan) Yu, Highway Flooring Inc., bestwoodfloor.com
Step 3

Apply Filler
The pro will touch up gaps, cracks, and holes with wood filler tinted a similar color to the floor’s before embarking on another round of sanding.
Photographer: Raymond (Riuchuan) Yu, Highway Flooring Inc., bestwoodfloor.com
Step 4

Finish the Floor
After vacuuming, it’s time to stain the floor and add coats of finish. Both processes require a paint roller or a special applicator that resembles a wide-brimmed mop.
Photographer: Raymond (Riuchuan) Yu, Highway Flooring Inc., bestwoodfloor.com
Written by Matthew Power
Produced By Nicole Sforza
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