How to Refinish a Top-Nailed Antique Oak Floor

If you've got an old antique oak floor with visible nail heads and it needs to be refinished, you need to be especially careful not to ruin the character of the floor. If at all possible, you should avoid sanding down into the wood, which should only be done if there are stains in it that have to come out. In most cases, all you really have to do is screen off the top finish and replace it. The nails will present a problem for the screening process if you don't sink them all before you start.

Hammer
Centerpunch
Rotating floor buffer (rented)
Refinishing screens in medium and fine abrasion
Vacuum cleaner
Polyurethane
Paintbrush
Extra-fine sandpaper

Instructions

- 1
  Go over the floor with a hammer and centerpunch, knocking down any raised nail heads that might tear the flooring screen.
- 2
  Load a floor buffer with its medium refinishing screen. Start the machine and immediately begin going over the floor with it, moving it forward and back with the direction of the boards. It should take off most of the shine.
- 3
  Vacuum thoroughly to pick up the dust.
- 4
  Load the fine refinishing screen on the buffer. Screen the floor as before, removing the last of the gloss. Vacuum well.
- 5
  Brush on polyurethane starting on the edge of the floor furthest from the entrance. Apply it in a thin, even coat, going with the direction of the boards. Continue across the whole floor. Let it dry for six hours.
- 6
  Dull the dry gloss by hand with extra-fine sandpaper, sanding it just enough to take off the shine. Vacuum up the dust.
- 7
  Apply a second coat of polyurethane in the same manner. Let it dry, hand-sand it, pick up the dust and apply a third coat. Let the final coat dry for 24 hours.

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