As with any painting or varnishing job, preparation is the key. However, the correct preparation is even more essential when the paint or varnish is being applied to floors. Floors obviously take more of a beating than walls, etc, so getting it right first time will mean less repair work in the future.
Preparation
First and foremost, clear the room of ALL furniture, etc. Now vacuum the room from edge to edge (in fact especially the edges). Once the floor is clean, use a lint-free cloth dipped in white spirit to further clean the boards. If you want to bring up the grain of the wood slightly, take a wire brush and carefully stroke it along each board following the direction of the grain.
If the floor is already painted or varnished, rub it down well with abrasive paper to strip the boards back to bare wood. This is backbreaking work, so hiring a floor sander might be a better option, especially for big rooms. Floor sanders are very powerful, noisy and create a lot of dust, so take your time and make sure the room is well ventilated. You can also hire a smaller sander designed to let you do the edges of the room without taking gouges out of the skirting board. Using a floor sander will result in a much smoother finish than sanding by hand.
Wood Stain
Wood stain can create a very attractive finish and is available in a wide range of colours. Wood stain will also act as a protective coat. Wood stain is available as a water-based and a solvent-based product. The water-based wood stain dries much quicker than the solvent-based, but will not give quite as protective a finish. Seal your new (or newly stripped) floor with a thinned Polyurethane varnish before you start and allow it to dry. Wood stain may require up to three coats, so make sure you buy enough to start with. As with any flooring project, make sure you work towards the door and not into a corner. You might be stuck there for some time!
Liming
Limed boards, if done correctly, can look fantastic. You can even apply it over a colourwash to create an effect sometimes called "pickling". To apply the liming paste, you first need to strip the boards back to bare wood (if they are already treated). Once you have done this, gently stroke the floorboards along the grain with a wire brush and paint with a coating of Shellac to seal the wood. Once the Shellac is dry, take fine wire wool and apply the liming paste. Work into the grain in small circular movements until the whole area is well covered. Leave the paste to dry thoroughly before applying some clear paste wax. This will help to remove any excess liming paste as well as adding another protective coat.
Floor Paint
You can buy specially formulated floor paint, which give a very durable finish. However, they do cost more than standard paint, and in all but the highest traffic areas, standard emulsion paint with a coat or two of varnish will do the job. Painting your floorboards tends to be a much quicker job than varnishing or stain...
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