Q: Our contractor applied polyurethane to our new doors. In the process he dripped polyurethane on our non-wood pre-fab flooring. How do we remove this polyurethane from the flooring?
Removing Gunk
Decades of Q&A have provided a wide variety of gunk getting stuck to or staining peoples wood flooring. Here’s our collection.
Socks black from hardwood floor
Q: My daughter bought a house with wood floors and the finish comes off on your shoes or feet. I have not been there to see it but do you know or have any idea what it is? It’s blackish.
Glue coming up between boards after 5 years?
Q: We purchased house 5 years ago in Florida that has hardwood flooring laid/glued over tile. It appears in some areas the glue maybe coming back up between the boards. I’m not sure if this is from dampness…? How can I repair it?
What can be used to remove epoxy paint from wood?
Q imported from our old site, Face Lift Floors: We recently purchased a cottage that we are renovating. The kitchen has pine flooring that was painted. Our plan was to remove the paint and bring the natural pine back, however, only the first coat of paint is removable with a chemical stripper. We have been …
Removing excess wax from wood floor
Q: I just recently purchased a house and had a friend help with the hardwood floors. I believe we put down too much of the Minwax Paste Finishing wax because after buffing the floor is still very tacky. What do you recommend to remove the excess wax? What is the next step after removing the excess wax? I have a very upset fiance that wants to move in! Thank you!
Removing a blob of silicone from wood floor
Q: We removed carpet in our living room, with plans to sand and varnish the floors (turned out great in the bedrooms several years ago). Smack in the middle of the floor, there’s a hardened blob of gunk. It’s kind of pink.
Stain was applied over ceiling and wall sanding dust in grooves
Q: Our builder has applied an ebony Minwax stain to our mahogany colored pre engineered hardwood floors. This was done to cover up all the ceiling and wall sanding dust that had settled into the distressed grooves in the floors. A year later I’m still getting black stain on rags when I clean, and on our socks and feet!
Removing paint off door trim without removing the stain also?
Q imported from our old site, Face Lift Floors: When we painted before we moved in, we got some paint on the trim around the doors. Would you ask Craig if there is any way I can remove the paint off the door trim without removing the stain also?
Creosote stain on newly refinished wood floor
Q imported from our old site, Face Lift Floors: We just purchased a schoolhouse that is 114 yrs old. The maple floor has recently been refinished. We also have a wood stove in the same room. Unfortunately, some snow or water got into the pipes and dripped creosote onto the wood floor. What would be the best way to remove the stain on the floor?
Large black oily stain keeps reappearing
Q: I recently inherited an 82 yr old home. The floors had very old (more than 20 years) carpet on them. We removed the carpet and found the original hardwood floor underneath. In 1 spot there is a large black oily stain.