Refinishing will restore life
to home’s hardwood floors

ONE OF the wonders of naturai
hardwood products is their re-
markable ability to spring back to
life with proper refinishing.

Despite the age of a piece,
careful refinishing can restore the
original beauty of hardwood fur-
niture, cabinets, and architectural
detailing whether the surface was
siained or previously painted.

The three steps to proper
refinishing are stripping away the
existing finish, sanding, and re-

surface is a prerequisite before
any new finish can be applied.

-Most craftsmen and do-it-
yoursclfers agree that stripping is

typically the most messy and:

time-consuming aspect of this
process.

Before you start, you'll want to
gather together all the appropriate
‘tools to complete the job.

include rubber gloves,
fine steel wool, sandpaper, a putty
knife, and plenty of newspapers
and clean rags.

Using traditional methods,
stripping away the existing finish
down to the bare wood can take a
great deal of time because most
Stripping products require 15 to 20
minutes per apptication to work.

says several applications of

are required, particularly
if if paltipie Eayers of paints, var-
“nishes or other finishes must be
- removed. In between applicatioss,
scraping and sanding is often ad-
vised to bcip loosen the finish.

New advances in refinishing
Products, however, can make the
Stripping of wood finishes a great
deal easier. At least one new pro-
duct safely removes multiple
layers of paint, varnishes, stains
and other wood finishes very
quickly, and in a single applica-
tion. ;

Products available in  pzste
formulation will climinate dripp-
ing and allow the product to be
applied to Large areas at a time.

Once the finish has deen

and fine (#0000) steel wool to
achieve the smoothest surface
possible.

Be certain to brush or vacuum
all dust from the wood surface
and the entire area before ap-

plying any stains, paints, varnishes
er other new finishes.

It’s always a good idea to work
in a well-ventilated area whenever
you're. workiag on a wood
finishing project.

When stripping and sanding
have been completed, the
refinishing process begins. A
number of wood stains are avail-
able which. can add richness and
enhaace the naturaf beauty of
wood.

After staining, you will want to
“apply a protective finish to the
wood surface. You'll need to
choose from a number of dif-
ferent types of coatings.

These include varnishes,

Gas Toe} {wat
1986 dain SI. NV. 985-8341

me os

polyurethanes, and tung oii
finishes.

Varnish is a clear wood protec-
tor specially formulated to provide
long-lasting finish with superior
weatherability.

It can be used on all types of
wood surfaces to prevent whiten-
ing, fading, cracking and peeling.

Polyurethane provides a long-
lasting protective finish that resists
water and alcohol. [t is available
in either gloss or a matte finish.

Used as a final step in the

ALL INSTOCK

tefinishing of woed, it will
enhance the beauty of wood while
giving it a hard, protective
coating.

A tung oil finish is used to pro-
duce a hard-rubbed finish that
will enhance the rich color, beauty
and grain of the wood.

Water and alcohol resistant, the
oil is an easily applied protective
coating that won’t build up, and
leaves a beautiful satin-luster
finish.

WALLPAPER — up to

Friday, September 25, 1992 - North Shore News —

OUR COLOR
MATCHING EXPERT

So you think you've got a
hard-to-match color? Moore’s
Computer Color Matching
System loves a challenge!

Just bringin your sample — ~
whether it's fabric, wallpaper

or almost any decorating material
— and our computer will give
you an accurate paint-color
match in minutes.