Tack cloth

After the floor is screened, there is fine dust everywhere. Most of it comes up with a shop vac. But some of it is too fine for the vacuum to catch, and it settles in a thin film on the floor.

That is where tacking comes in. A tack cloth is a little sticky, so dust clings to it instead of getting pushed around. Wiping or mopping the floor this way is called tacking. Some pros use a slightly damp microfiber pad for the same job.

Tacking matters because the new coat of finish sticks to whatever is on the floor. Dust left under the finish turns into tiny bumps you can see and feel. On a clear finish, every speck shows. A careful vacuum and tack is the difference between a smooth floor and a gritty one.

The step in the FloorIt process is simple to say: vacuum and tack until the floor is spotless. It is also a step people rush when they are new. Take your time here. It is much easier to remove dust before the finish goes on than to fix it after.

Then you mix the two-part finish and roll it on with a roller on a pole, working in a way that does not trap you in a corner.

The equipment you need to recoat hardwood floors: a buffer (rent for about $40 a day), screens and pads, a shop vac, a roller and pole, and a two-part finish.