Q&A for How to Wax a Floor

I wouldn't! I strip and rinse my floor until there isn't a piece of dirt or hair on it because once you add the wax, it's sealed in there and believe me, that one hair will be the only thing you see until you strip it off again!

Polyurethane is much more durable than wax. It resists scratches better and remains shiny longer too, but it's also harder to apply. Polyurethane is best put on with a brush so that it will not fill the cracks. Modern acrylic wax is very durable and almost as good as polyurethane, but it's much easier because you can apply it with a mop, which goes very fast. Acrylic wax is much cheaper than polyurethane. Never use varnish on a floor because it takes weeks to dry though! Acrylic and polyurethane dry in a few hours.

A wax mop, preferably. The material is made specifically for the application of wax so that it goes on smoothly. Use this mop only for wax application, or it may otherwise cause the wax to become dirty. Thoroughly rise and dry your mop afterwards before the wax dries, then store it in a bag or sealed container to keep it clean for later use.

Floor polish simply "cleans" the floor and gives the wood a shiny look. Wax is a protective layer for the wood.

Cleaning and waxing takes around two to three hours. Cleaning, stripping and waxing, takes near five hours. This also depends on the size of the floor.

Yes, if it is necessary. Just be sure to clean the floor thoroughly first. Also, when adding more layers of wax, try not to rewax the edges near walls. This will only make it more difficult to strip later. Remember, the wax will wear off of high traffic areas, but the areas that are not used as much (such as near walls and corners) will build a very thick layer of wax over time. So when adding wax, try to stay about 6 inches away from the walls, then buff as usual. This will keep the layers even.

If it's a light scratch, you can sometimes buff or lightly scrub it out. However, if the scratch is deeper, you may have to strip the area and rewax. Unfortunately, if the scratch is deep enough to break the surface of the flooring itself, then wax is no longer the problem and the floor material itself would need to be treated or replaced.

A brush is the best way to apply polyurethane on a wood floor, because you can apply the strokes in the direction of the wood. A brush prevents excess polyurethane from going into the seams between the wood, which can dry unevenly and look strange afterwards. Polyurethane dries fast and you can walk on it the next day.

Each quart will cover 1000 square feet or more, depending on how much water you put on the mop. If you wet down the mop and squeeze out the excess water before you start, the wax will go on a little thinner. On a hot sunny day, you must wet the mop to prevent the wax from drying too fast, making streaks. Four quarts will cover 4000 - 6000 square feet.

You can apply a second coat as soon as the first one is completely dry. It will take about 30 minutes, but time might vary because of humidity.

The floor is lighter because it's cleaner under the tables. You need to strip the old wax off to clean the floor, then it will all be the same color.