Q: When I bought my home 7 years ago there were vinyl stick tiles on a 3×3 area in front of the door. I removed these tiles years ago. I’ve done all the steps required to refinish the wood floor. I used 50 80 and 120 grit to prep the floor. I’ve stained the floor. Now that I am applying the poly, I notice rough spots where the adhesive was on the floor.
How do I remedy these spots?
A: Did you fully remove the adhesive to clean, smooth wood? You should be applying 3 coats of finish at any rate after sanding with fine sand paper between coats. Hopefully this will result in a smooth floor. I think you were fortunate to be able to rough off the mess with 50 grit.
Follow-up Q: Thank you for your response. I went ahead and spot sanded the areas with 120 and my orbital palm sander. It seems to have worked so far. I just reapplied a coat of sealer and so far so good. When I originally removed the tiles years ago I used an adhesive remover and didn’t even see the affected areas until I applied the first coat of sealer. There were other areas along the same wall where there was still adhesive on the floor when I sanded yesterday and those spots are not visible. I’m wondering if the chemical I originally used to remove the glue damaged the wood to an extent that I had to sand deeper in those spots.. guess I’ll see when this coat dries.
A: You would think and hope after years of exposure the chemical you used would have neutralised by now, but you never know. As long as you have adhesion with the first coat, you should be okay from here on. Just make sure to thoroughly abrade the finish and clean well before applying another coat. Are you using water borne or solvent/oil based finish. If it is water borne you should be able to apply succeeding coats without buffing if applied within a specified number of hours, but check the documentation or label before doing that. Oil based should always be sanded first to completely scuff up the coating.
Follow-up: It’s a water based coating. The directions say 2 hours between coats. I did my dining room floor several months ago and had great success. It’s this one area that is troublesome. After sanding again and coating, some of the spots are gone but some came back. Definitely a learning experience. Thanks again for your input.
Related Q: Is it possible to remove old linoleum from original hardwood and still be able to salvage the floor? I’ve peeled a few spots and the adhesive is remaining stuck to the original hardwood. I’m wondering if there is a product that can be used to help peel off the old adhesive?
A: You might be able to hire a floor refinisher who could sand off the adhesive. The floor would have to be in fairly good shape to take a sanding like this. If it is 3/8 strip, it may not be worth it.