Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - caring for *waxed* wood floor
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diylady
05-05-01, 12:50 PM
Okay, after a morning of poking around on the internet and in the local DIY store, I feeling a bit frustrated. The house we've moved into has oak hardwood flooring that was originally put in, I imagine, in 1955 when the house was built. They have been waxed. While I can find plenty of products and information on caring for "no-wax" floors, I'm having the dickens of a time finding many details or any products intended for waxed floors. I have a machine that I assume was used by the previous owners (a "Clarke Floor Maintainer" looks like it dates to the 60's anyway!) and a tin of Johnson's Paste Wax. I'm sorry, I am not getting on my hands and knees to apply paste wax to 1800SF of oak flooring! Surely there's something else?
I believe I'm supposed to use pads for this thing? What kind and where would I get them? It's got a sort of a circular brush attached to the bottom. I seem to remember from my elementary school days (longer ago than I like to think) seeing janitors just placing the machine on the pad. Apparently the weight of the machine holds it in place?
While re-finishing and polyurethane is definitely in my future, it will be a while and I need to keep them in shape in the meantime. Any and all help appreciated!
I believe I'm supposed to use pads for this thing? What kind and where would I get them? It's got a sort of a circular brush attached to the bottom. I seem to remember from my elementary school days (longer ago than I like to think) seeing janitors just placing the machine on the pad. Apparently the weight of the machine holds it in place?
While re-finishing and polyurethane is definitely in my future, it will be a while and I need to keep them in shape in the meantime. Any and all help appreciated!
05-05-01, 06:00 PM
diylady
I am sorry but I think the only way to do waxed wood floors correctly is to get on your hands and knees to apply the wax. Buffing with a lamb's wool pad seems to be the best. That is if the floor is smooth and there are no splintered wood that could snag the pad. Waxed wood is beautiful. You could alway hire some cleaning company to come in to wax and buff for you. If you do it yourself be sure to get a good pair of KNEE PADS. The ones I like the best are solid soft rubber from the hardware stores. The hard plastics knee pads slide around too much on too many surfaces.
Also one more thing. I think I heard one time that once wood floors are waxed they cannot be polyurethaned because the wax has soaked into the wood and the polyurethane won't adhere. A good floor person would know for sure.
Carol
I am sorry but I think the only way to do waxed wood floors correctly is to get on your hands and knees to apply the wax. Buffing with a lamb's wool pad seems to be the best. That is if the floor is smooth and there are no splintered wood that could snag the pad. Waxed wood is beautiful. You could alway hire some cleaning company to come in to wax and buff for you. If you do it yourself be sure to get a good pair of KNEE PADS. The ones I like the best are solid soft rubber from the hardware stores. The hard plastics knee pads slide around too much on too many surfaces.
Also one more thing. I think I heard one time that once wood floors are waxed they cannot be polyurethaned because the wax has soaked into the wood and the polyurethane won't adhere. A good floor person would know for sure.
Carol
diylady
05-06-01, 06:33 AM
Pooh. Can't believe that modern technology hasn't come up with something that's a bit easier ;). What I was hoping for was some sort of liquid wax that could be squirted on the floor. I know such things exist, I've used carnauba based liquid waxes for leatherwork, and what about the inumerable products that are used on cars? True, the better ones are the pastes that require either "elbow grease" or a buffer. But I need to make sure, of course, that it's something intended for floors.
You are absolutely correct. You cannot put poly on top of wax. The floors will have to be sanded down (they've never been re-finished, so there should be plenty of wood there) to bare wood without a trace of the old wax or finish left before being stained and finished with the polyurethane.
You are absolutely correct. You cannot put poly on top of wax. The floors will have to be sanded down (they've never been re-finished, so there should be plenty of wood there) to bare wood without a trace of the old wax or finish left before being stained and finished with the polyurethane.