How to Waterproof a Wood Floor

Sand the floor if it doesn't already have a finish. If you are waterproofing as part of a complete refinishing job, you'll probably want to use a drum sander and edger to give the floor a professional sanding job. If you don't want to go to that trouble, you can also equip a floor buffer with a 120-grit sanding screen and run it over the floor to flatten the grain.

Clean the floor thoroughly with a vacuum, then wipe it down with a damp tack cloth to remove fine bits of dust the vacuum missed.

Choose the waterproofing sealer that best suits your needs. Exterior waterproofing sealers, such as the type you use for decks, evaporate quickly and leave a water-repellent coating of paraffin in the wood. Penetrating oils provide a protective coating by hardening in the grain, and they also leave the surface looking natural. Film coatings such as polyurethane provide the most water protection, but they remain visible on the wood.

Pour the sealer into a 5-gallon bucket. Apply paraffin-based sealer with a brush or roller. If you're using penetrating oil, apply it with a brush and keep a rag handy to wipe off excess that pools on the wood. A floor finish applicator, which is similar to a weighted sponge squeegee that you drag along the floor, is best for polyurethane. Begin spreading it on the floor in the corner of the room farthest from the door and work toward the exit. Keep the windows open while you're working and wear a respirator.

Allow the sealer to dry overnight. If you applied paraffin sealer or oil, your job is done, but if you applied polyurethane, and you're not going to apply another coat of floor finish, screen the floor once more with a 120-grit sanding screen, then vacuum and tack away the dust.