Stripping Varnish from an Old Hardwood Floor

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Stripping varnish from a hardwood floor, sounds like a daunting task. It isn't. But before you break out the sand paper or gel, you'll have to prepare your floor and understand all the steps of the project.

Homes build before the mid 1960's often used varnish as a wood floor finish. More modern floors use urethane or wax. While the processes below will strip urethane from a wood floor, they will not work for wax.

Take Time to Prepare

First, determine if your floor is varnish finished. Assume any floor last refinished before 1960 is varnish. Still not sure? Scratch the floor surface using a coin or other sharp object in an inconspicuous spot. If the finish flakes, it is likely varnish.

Second, determine which method you'd like to use. Choosing the chemical option requires less time. Fumes involved could be caustic. Chemical strippers will not flatten the floor or remove noticeable scratches or wear patterns. Sanding is the other common method. This is typically done with an upright drum sander, available for rent at most home improvement stores.

Chemical Method

Refer to the directions on the package of product for complete instructions. ALWAYS use chemicals in a well ventilated area. The typical process for chemically stripping varnish from wood floor is:

1. Spray, mop or spread on the product (liquid, paint or gel consistency)
2. Let it sit until penetration of all layers of finish occurs
3. Scrape off the gummed-up finish
4. Reapply the product, if needed
5. Scrub with steel wool or some other fine abrasive
6. Rinse with clean water

Sand Stripping

While more labor intensive, this process is less harmful to the environment and your family. You'll need to borrow, rent or purchase an upright drum sander. You'll also need a supply of sand paper that fits the machine in 100-grit and 60-grit. You may also need a flooring edger, especially if you don't plan on covering the perimeter with baseboards.

1. Sand diagonally across the floor with 60-grit paper
2. Repeat on the opposite diagonal
3. Repeat along the grain
4. If using an edger, sand the perimeter with 60-grit
5. Vacuum floor
6. Fill gaps with a paste made of varnish and sanding dust from the sander, using a trowel; allow to set for 12 hours.
7. Sand again, this time only with the grain, using 100-grit
8. If using an edger, sand perimeter with 100-grit

Your wood floor is now stripped varnish and ready to stain and refinish.