What is water popping? I know it sounds weird, but it is actually a very usefully technique to help your hardwood floors look better after you sand them, but before you start to put the finish down. Water popping is a process were you actually mop the floor with water. I usually take a bucket of water a couple of rags, get on my hands and knees and start wiping the floor with the wet rag. Once I get the whole floor wet I wait for the floor to dry, which takes a couple of hours if it is about 70 degrees in the house. After the floor is dry I put the finish down, which is a first coat of sealer and two coats of oil polyurethane. Water popping does two things. First, it will raise the grains in the wood. This helps reduce any minor stains or imperfections. Second, it opens the pores of the wood. By opening the pores in the wood the floor will accept more of the stain or finish. As a result, you should get a more even looking finish.

Incoming search terms:

• cleaning wood floors woodbury mn
• water popping to raise the grain in wood flooring