How to Prep & Stain Pine Floors
- 1). Sweep the floor several times after installation to remove all the dust. Use a broom to get up the larger particles and then switch to a dust mop to finish.
- 2). Check nails in the floor to make sure that they are all slightly below the surface. This is called countersinking the nails. If you find one that is above the floor, place a metal pin on the nail and tap it lightly with a hammer to force the nail below the surface.
- 3). Fill in the nail holes with wood putty, unless they are decorative nails.
- 4). Spread on the stain using a rag. Use a paintbrush close to the edges of the floor. Let the stain dry, and then apply a second coat if needed. It should take several hours to dry.
- 5). Wait a day and then apply a polyurethane finish. Paint the edges near the walls with a paintbrush so that you have more control next to baseboards. Use a lambswool applicator pad in the open areas.
- 6). Spread the poly seal on evenly. Allow the floor to dry for at least six hours.
- 7). Lightly sand with a floor sander and 280-grit sandpaper. Clean up the dust with a dust mop and soft rag and then apply a second coat of polyurethane. Allow the floor to dry for at least six hours.