All
Members
Companies
Blog
Forums
Podcast
Webinars
    User Log in  /  Sign up
  • Forums
    Newest Posts Trending Discussions Followed Forums Real Estate News & Current Events General Landlording & Rental Properties Buying & Selling Real Estate Deal Analysis See All
  • Education

    Read

    BiggerPockets Blog BPInsights: Expert Analysis Coronavirus Content & Resources Guides Glossary Reviews Member Blogs

    Watch

    Webinars Video Library Financial Independence Blueprint Intro to Real Estate: Rentals

    Listen

    BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast BiggerPockets Money Podcast BiggerPockets Business Podcast Real Estate Rookie Podcast Daily Podcast (Audio Blog)

    Topics

    Business Operations Finance Finding Deals Property Management Property Types Strategy
  • Network

    Recommended Vendors

    Real Estate Agents Mortgage Lenders Companies Hard Money Lenders Contractors Investment Companies

    Search

    Members Events Jobs
  • Tools

    Calculators

    Rental Property Fix and Flip BRRRR Rehab Estimator
    Wholesaling Mortgage Payment 70% Rule Airbnb

    Services

    BPInsights: Property Insights Tenant Screening Property Management Lease Agreement Packages

    New Feature

    BPInsights (beta)

    Quickly analyze a property address or ZIP Code to compare your rent in your neighborhood.

    Analyze a property
  • Find Deals
    Real Estate Listings Find Foreclosures External Link Ads, Jobs, and Other
  • Bookstore

    Real Estate Books

    Profit Like The Pros Bidding to Buy See all books

    Featured Book

    BiggerPockets Wealth Magazine book cover
    BiggerPockets Wealth Magazine

    Written by financial journalists and data scientists, get 60+ pages of newsworthy content, expert-driven advice, and data-backed research written in a clear way to help you navigate your tough investment decisions in an ever-changing financial climate! Subscribe today and get the Oct/Nov issue delivered to your door!

    Get the Magazine
  • Pricing
Log In Sign up
User
Quick search links
Podcast Hard Money Lenders Books Washington
ForumsArrowDo it YourselfArrowRemoving paint from wood floors
  • Newest Posts
    • Newest Posts
    • Unanswered Discussions
  • Trending
    • Top Discussions
    • Trending Discussions
  • Browse Forums
Search Nova
Topic: 1031 Exchanges Topic: Akron Real Estate Forum Topic: Alabama Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Alaska Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Alberta Real Estate Forum Topic: Albuquerque Topic: Allentown Real Estate Forum Topic: Anchorage Real Estate Forum Topic: Ann Arbor Topic: Arizona Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Arkansas Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Arlington Real Estate Forum Topic: Asheville NC Real Estate Forum Topic: Ask About A Real Estate Company Topic: Athens Real Estate Forum Topic: Atlanta Real Estate Forum Topic: Aurora Real Estate Forum Topic: Aurora Real Estate Forum Topic: Austin Real Estate Forum Topic: Bakersfield Real Estate Forum Topic: Baltimore Real Estate Forum Topic: Bankers, Lenders, and Mortgage Brokers Topic: Baton Rouge Real Estate Forum Topic: Beaverton Real Estate Forum Topic: BiggerPockets Business Podcast Topic: BiggerPockets Exclusive PRO Area Topic: BiggerPockets Money Podcast Topic: BiggerPockets Real Estate Investing Summit Topic: BiggerPockets Summer Reading List Topic: BiggerPockets Webinar Discussion Forum Topic: Billings Real Estate Forum Topic: Birmingham Real Estate Forum Topic: Bismarck Real Estate Forum Topic: Boise Real Estate Forum Topic: Boston Real Estate Forum Topic: Bridgeport Real Estate Forum Topic: British Columbia Real Estate Forum Topic: BRRRR - Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat Topic: Buying & Selling Real Estate Discussion Topic: California Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Cambridge Real Estate Forum Topic: Canadian Real Estate Topic: Cape Cod Real Estate Forum Topic: Cape Coral Real Estate Forum Topic: Casper Real Estate Forum Topic: Cedar Rapids Real Estate Forum Topic: Chandler Real Estate Forum Topic: Charleston Real Estate Forum Topic: Charleston Real Estate Forum Topic: Charlotte Real Estate Forum Topic: Chattanooga Real Estate Forum Topic: Chesapeake Real Estate Forum Topic: Cheyenne Real Estate Forum Topic: Chicago Real Estate Forum Topic: Chittenden County Real Estate Forum Topic: Cincinnati Real Estate Forum Topic: Cleveland Real Estate Forum Topic: Coastal NC Real Estate Forum Topic: Colorado Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Colorado Springs Real Estate Forum Topic: Columbia Real Estate Forum Topic: Columbia Real Estate Forum Topic: Columbus Real Estate Forum Topic: Columbus Real Estate Forum Topic: Commercial Real Estate Investing Forum Topic: Completed Deal Diaries Topic: Connecticut Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Construction & Remodeling Diaries Topic: Contractors Topic: Conway Real Estate Forum Topic: Coronavirus Conversation Topic: Coronavirus Government Assistance Programs Topic: Creative Real Estate Financing Forum Topic: Currently Under Contract Topic: Dallas Real Estate Forum Topic: Davenport Real Estate Forum Topic: Dayton Real Estate Forum Topic: Delaware Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Denver Real Estate Forum Topic: Des Moines Real Estate Forum Topic: Detroit Real Estate Forum Topic: Do it Yourself Topic: El Paso Real Estate Forum Topic: Eugene Real Estate Forum Topic: Evansville Real Estate Forum Topic: FAQ Forum Topic: Fargo Topic: Fayetteville Real Estate Forum Topic: First Time Home Buyer Topic: Florida Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Foreigners Buying in the USA Topic: Fort Collins Real Estate Forum Topic: Fort Lauderdale Real Estate Forum Topic: Fort Smith Real Estate Forum Topic: Fort Wayne Real Estate Forum Topic: Fort Worth Real Estate Forum Topic: Fresno Real Estate Forum Topic: General Foreclosure & Pre-Foreclosure Forums Topic: General Landlording & Rental Properties Topic: General Real Estate Investing Topic: Georgia Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Germantown Real Estate Forum Topic: Get Foreclosure Help - Stop Foreclosure Forum Topic: Gilbert Real Estate Forum Topic: Glendale Real Estate Forum Topic: Goals, Business Plans & Entities Topic: Grand Rapids Real Estate Forum Topic: Green Bay Topic: Greensboro Real Estate Forum Topic: Hammond Real Estate Forum Topic: Hartford Real Estate Forum Topic: Hawaii Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Henderson Real Estate Forum Topic: Hialeah Real Estate Forum Topic: Hilo Real Estate Forum Topic: Home Owner Association (HOA) Issues & Problems Forum Topic: Honolulu Real Estate Forum Topic: Housing News & Real Estate Market Discussions Topic: Houston Real Estate Forum Topic: HUD, VA, and Tax Sales Topic: Huntington Real Estate Forum Topic: Huntsville Real Estate Forum Topic: Idaho Falls Real Estate Forum Topic: Idaho Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Illinois Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Indianapolis Real Estate Forum Topic: Indiana Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Innovative Strategies Topic: Interest Rate Drops Topic: International Real Estate Topic: Investor Deal Diaries Topic: Investor Psychology Topic: Iowa Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Jackson Real Estate Forum Topic: Jacksonville Real Estate Forum Topic: Jersey City Real Estate Forum Topic: Job Loss/Company Closings Topic: Joliet Real Estate Forum Topic: Jonesboro Real Estate Forum Topic: Kailua Real Estate Forum Topic: Kānèohe Real Estate Forum Topic: Kansas City Real Estate Forum Topic: Kansas City Real Estate Forum Topic: Kansas Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Kentucky Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Knoxville Real Estate Forum Topic: Lakewood Real Estate Forum Topic: Landlord Problem Solving Topic: Las Cruces Real Estate Forum Topic: Las Vegas Real Estate Forum Topic: Lewiston Real Estate Forum Topic: Lexington-Fayette Real Estate Forum Topic: Lincoln Real Estate Forum Topic: Little Rock Real Estate Forum Topic: Local Real Estate Networking Topic: Long Beach Real Estate Forum Topic: Long Island Real Estate Forum Topic: Los Angeles County Real Estate Forum Topic: Louisiana Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Louisville Real Estate Forum Topic: Madison Real Estate Forum Topic: Maine Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Managing Your Property Topic: Manchester Real Estate Forum Topic: Manitoba Topic: Marketing Your Rental Topic: Marketplace Topic: Maryland Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Massachusetts Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Meads Real Estate Forum Topic: Memphis Real Estate Forum Topic: Meridian Real Estate Forum Topic: Mesa Real Estate Forum Topic: Miami Topic: Michigan Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Military Investing Topic: Milwaukee Real Estate Forum Topic: Minneapolis Real Estate Forum Topic: Minnesota Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Mississippi Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Missoula Real Estate Forum Topic: Missouri Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Mobile (Alabama) Real Estate Forum Topic: Mobile Homes & Mobile Home Park Investing Topic: Modesto/Merced Real Estate Forum Topic: Montana Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Montgomery Real Estate Forum Topic: Mortgage Payment Suspension Topic: Mt. Pleasant Real Estate Forum Topic: Multi-Family and Apartment Investing Forums Topic: Nampa Real Estate Forum Topic: Naperville Real Estate Forum Topic: Nashville Real Estate Forum Topic: Nebraska Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Nevada Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Newark Real Estate Forum Topic: New Brunswick Real Estate Forum Topic: Newfoundland and Labrador Real Estate Forum Topic: New Hampshire Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: New Haven Real Estate Forum Topic: New Jersey Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: New Member Introductions Topic: New Mexico Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: New Orleans Real Estate Forum Topic: New York City Real Estate Forum Topic: New York Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Norfolk Real Estate Forum Topic: North Carolina Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: North Dakota Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Northwest Territories Real Estate Forum Topic: Norwalk Real Estate Forum Topic: Nova Scotia Real Estate Forum Topic: Nunavut Real Estate Forum Topic: Oakland Real Estate Forum Topic: Off-Topic Topic: Ogden Topic: Ohio Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Oklahoma City Real Estate Forum Topic: Oklahoma Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Omaha Real Estate Forum Topic: Ontario Real Estate Forum Topic: Orange County Real Estate Forum Topic: Oregon Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Orlando Real Estate Forum Topic: Overland Park Real Estate Forum Topic: Pearl City Real Estate Forum Topic: Pennsylvania Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Peoria Real Estate Forum Topic: Personal Finance Forum Topic: Philadelphia Real Estate Forum Topic: Phoenix Real Estate Forum Topic: Pittsburgh Real Estate Forum Topic: Pocatello Real Estate Forum Topic: Portland Real Estate Forum Topic: Portland Real Estate Forum Topic: Prince Edward Island Real Estate Forum Topic: Private Lending & Conventional Mortgage Advice Topic: Property Insurance Questions & Discussions Topic: Providence Real Estate Forum Topic: Provo Real Estate Forum Topic: Quad Cities Real Estate Forum Topic: Quebec Real Estate Forum Topic: Questions About BiggerPockets and Official Site Announcements Topic: Raleigh Real Estate Forum Topic: Rapid City Real Estate Forum Topic: Real Estate Agent Forums Topic: Real Estate Crowdfunding Forums Topic: Real Estate Deal Analysis and Advice Topic: Real Estate Development & New Home Construction Topic: Real Estate Events and Happenings Topic: Real Estate Guru, Book & Course Reviews and Discussions Topic: Real Estate Investor Marketing Help & Advice Topic: Real Estate News & Current Events Topic: Real Estate Not-So-Successful Stories Topic: Real Estate Quizzes Topic: Real Estate Rookie Podcast Topic: Real Estate Success Stories Topic: Real Estate Technology, Social Media & Blogging Topic: Real Estate Wholesaling Questions & Answers Topic: Rehabbing and House Flipping Topic: Reno Real Estate Forum Topic: Renters Discussion Topic: Rent to Own a.k.a. Lease Purchase, Lease Options Topic: REOs Topic: Rhode Island Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Richmond Real Estate Forum Topic: Rio Grande Valley Real Estate Forum Topic: Riverside Real Estate Forum Topic: Rochester Real Estate Forum Topic: Rockford Real Estate Forum Topic: Sacramento Real Estate Forum Topic: Saint Paul Real Estate Forum Topic: Salem Real Estate Forum Topic: Salt Lake City Real Estate Forum Topic: San Antonio Real Estate Forum Topic: San Diego Real Estate Forum Topic: Sandy Springs Real Estate Forum Topic: San Francisco Real Estate Forum Topic: San Jose Real Estate Forum Topic: San Luis Obispo Real Estate Forum Topic: Santa Fe Real Estate Forum Topic: Saskatchewan Real Estate Forum Topic: Savannah Real Estate Forum Topic: Scottsdale Real Estate Forum Topic: Seattle Real Estate Forum Topic: Short Sales Questions Topic: Short-Term and Vacation Rental Discussion Topic: Shreveport Real Estate Forum Topic: Sioux City Real Estate Forum Topic: Sioux Falls Real Estate Forum Topic: South Bend Real Estate Forum Topic: South Carolina Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: South Dakota Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Southeast NC Real Estate Forum Topic: Spokane Real Estate Forum Topic: Springdale Real Estate Forum Topic: Springfield Real Estate Forum Topic: Stamford Real Estate Forum Topic: Starting Out Topic: St. Louis Real Estate Forum Topic: Stockton Real Estate Forum Topic: St. Petersburg Real Estate Forum Topic: STR Strategies Under Travel Restrictions Topic: Surprise Real Estate Forum Topic: Tacoma Real Estate Forum Topic: Tallahassee Real Estate Forum Topic: Tampa Real Estate Forum Topic: Tax, Legal Issues, Contracts, Self-Directed IRA Topic: Tax Liens, Notes, Paper, & Cash Flows Discussion Topic: Tempe Real Estate Forum Topic: Tenant Screening Topic: Tennessee Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Texas Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Thornton Real Estate Forum Topic: Toledo Real Estate Forum Topic: Topeka Real Estate Forum Topic: Tucson Real Estate Forum Topic: Tulsa Real Estate Forum Topic: Tuscaloosa Real Estate Forum Topic: Upstate New York Real Estate Forum Topic: Utah Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Vancouver Real Estate Forum Topic: Vermont Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Virginia Beach Real Estate Forum Topic: Virginia Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Waipahu Real Estate Forum Topic: Waipahu Real Estate Forum Topic: Warren Real Estate Forum Topic: Warwick Real Estate Forum Topic: Washington D.C. Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Washington Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Waterbury Real Estate Forum Topic: Westchester County Real Estate Forum Topic: Western NC Real Estate Forum Topic: West Gulfport Real Estate Forum Topic: West Virginia Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Wichita Real Estate Forum Topic: Wilkes Barre Scranton Real Estate Forum Topic: Wilmington Real Estate Forum Topic: Wisconsin Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Worcester Real Estate Forum Topic: Wyoming Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum Topic: Yukon Real Estate Forum
Create post

Removing paint from wood floors

26 Replies

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
Rotate Log in or sign up to reply
user profile avatar
Check Rosette Top Subjects:
Traditional Financing, Real Estate Finance, and Analyze Deals
  • Posts 89
  • Votes 18

Daniel Porter
Rental Property Investor from Dallas, Texas

posted about 1 year ago

So I tore up some carpets in this house and found some wood flooring underneath that seems pretty salvageable. Whoever rehabbed it before us was really sloppy with their paint job and left paint all over the floor, and actual coats of it near the trim. Is it possible to remove this with some sanding? Maybe a 20-30grit? I’d love to get these floors back in action! I’m planning on doing a dark stain to help hide some blemishes, but the paint is a big issue.

Rotate Log in or sign up to reply
user profile avatar
  • Posts 1.2K
  • Votes 1.2K

Kris H.

replied about 1 year ago

@Daniel Porter 30 grit is WAY to aggressive. Grab some rubbing alcohol from dollarama, assuming it’s latex it’ll soften right up and wipe off with some elbow grease. Putty knife may help (but may also squish it into joints so be careful).

Rotate Log in or sign up to reply
user profile avatar
  • Posts 258
  • Votes 82

Don Meinke
Investor from Northeast, Nebraska

replied about 1 year ago

Just had oak floor refinished with lots of paint drops, it sanded right off.  DEPENDS ON what species of wood.  If oak try 60 grit.  Soft wood like for or pine I would Try 120 grit to start.  Whatever you do keep the sander moving from on till off.  

My understanding is between coats of poly you have to use a floor buffer to make it look great.

I wanted light stain but was told dark walnut needed for stains.  Everybody loves it and so do I.  Big job tho.

Rotate Log in or sign up to reply
user profile avatar
Check Rosette Top Subject:
Rentals
  • Posts 397
  • Votes 192

Matt Clark
from Roanoke, VA

replied about 1 year ago

@Daniel Porter you need a case of these and a 4” grinder: https://www.homedepot.com/p/3M-4-in-Round-Rust-and-Paint-Remover-03172/303173626

Rotate Log in or sign up to reply
user profile avatar
Check Rosette Top Subjects:
Flipping, Team, and Real Estate Finance
  • Posts 3.6K
  • Votes 9.3K

Jim K.
Handyman from Pittsburgh, PA

replied about 1 year ago
Originally posted by @Matt Clark :

@Daniel Porter you need a case of these and a 4” grinder: https://www.homedepot.com/p/3M-4-in-Round-Rust-and-Paint-Remover-03172/303173626

Matt, I don't do this often, but I'm going to now. Your advice could seriously hurt this poster. You attach those things to a standard electric drill, not a grinder. A grinder spins at 10,000 RPM or more. A drill spins at 2000 rpm max.

Rotate Log in or sign up to reply
user profile avatar
  • Posts 9
  • Votes 5

Frank Scaffidi
Rental Property Investor from Milwaukee, WI

replied about 1 year ago

100 grit sandpaper, nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol with a putty scraper on paint spills.  Sand entire room and stain then clear coat.

Rotate Log in or sign up to reply
user profile avatar
  • Posts 9
  • Votes 5

Frank Scaffidi
Rental Property Investor from Milwaukee, WI

replied about 1 year ago

150 -200 grit to buff out previous poly helps if you have imperfections after 1st coat.

Rotate Log in or sign up to reply
user profile avatar
Check Rosette Top Subjects:
Flipping, Team, and Real Estate Finance
  • Posts 3.6K
  • Votes 9.3K

Jim K.
Handyman from Pittsburgh, PA

replied about 1 year ago

@Daniel Porter

@Kris H. 's post is technically correct. You can scrape it off with denatured alcohol if it's latex. I prefer TSP cleaner and green scouring pads + a small scraper for this sort of thing.

Could you sand it off a hardwood floor with a belt or some sort of disc sander? Sure. If you're ready to commit to refinishing the whole floor, as it seems you are. 60 grit will work, 40 grit will work faster but especially if it's a softer kind of floor, you've got to worry about running a gouge into the floor with the coarser grit.

Rotate Log in or sign up to reply
user profile avatar
Check Rosette Top Subject:
Rentals
  • Posts 397
  • Votes 192

Matt Clark
from Roanoke, VA

replied about 1 year ago

@Jim K. Good catch - thanks. Here’s a link to the ones used with a grinder: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Gator-Power-Sanding-Silicon-Carbide-4-5-in-60-Grit-Paint-Stripping-Disc/1000346965.

Rotate Log in or sign up to reply
user profile avatar
  • Posts 1.2K
  • Votes 1.2K

Kris H.

replied about 1 year ago

@Jim K.

Yep, should’ve mentioned the scotch brite pads. They’re ~ 1000 grit or so and that combined with the alcohol will work. Gotta massage it a little to let the alcohol work on the paint.

Rotate Log in or sign up to reply
user profile avatar
Check Rosette Top Subjects:
Team, Single Family, and Maintenance
  • Posts 1.6K
  • Votes 729

Mike Reynolds
construction from Nacogdoches, Texas

replied about 1 year ago

@Daniel Porter

I agree with @Kris H. and @Jim K.

Rubbing alcohol works good and is cheap. Try green alcohol for oil base products like stain. I don't know why but it works better than clear. My MIL got Rust-Oleum out of a sweater with that stuff once. She says the clear wouldn't do it. I later tried both on white carpet and the clear didn't cut it but the green did for an oil based stain. Didnt leave a stain either. 

 Start with 100 or 120 grit before you decide if you need maybe 80 grit. I wouldn't go more than 80 grit because whatever damage you do you will still need to finish it off with finer grit. 

Rotate Log in or sign up to reply
user profile avatar
  • Posts 114
  • Votes 92

Daniel Hennek
Lender from Lewis, CO

replied about 1 year ago

Sounds like some YouTube can help you out. You're getting answers all over the place and some of them not good at all. There are lots of ways to refinish a wood floor and it sounds like your going to need to do the whole thing and not just where the paint is.  Watch a few videos.

Rotate Log in or sign up to reply
user profile avatar
Check Rosette Top Subjects:
Flipping, Team, and Real Estate Finance
  • Posts 3.6K
  • Votes 9.3K

Jim K.
Handyman from Pittsburgh, PA

replied about 1 year ago
Originally posted by @Daniel Hennek :

Sounds like some YouTube can help you out. You're getting answers all over the place and some of them not good at all. There are lots of ways to refinish a wood floor and it sounds like your going to need to do the whole thing and not just where the paint is.  Watch a few videos.

Well, it's not exactly a cacophony. And it turns out that this is a great opportunity to illustrate something interesting about DIY. Why are there multiple answers to the same question, and why do they sometimes conflict?

Here are some of the people talking about this here: I'm a handyman working in my own old, beaten-up C'class properties in western Pennsylvania. @Matt Clark is (please correct me if I'm wrong, Matt) a high-volume property manager who has been in this for over a decade and also worked as a handyman before he stopped. @Mike Reynolds is (please correct me if I'm wrong, Mike), a GC who had filled multiple roles on teams working in new construction and renovation for decades. I don't know @Kris H. , but judging from the posts I've read, he's also a hands-on landlord with clear experience working on his own properties himself in the past. I don't know @Frank Scaffidi at all, but he's giving a good answer here. All of us have different takes on the problem.

Denatured alcohol softens latex paint, turns it into a putty. So does TSP, but not as effectively. What TSP also does is work on heavily soiled areas, including residues of old oil-based paint. The newest property I own is over 45 years old. Even getting my start in Athens, Greece, I worked in poured-concrete masonry apartment buildings. I use oil-based primers and paints on a lot of problem surfaces much more frequently than people working in newer construction. So when I see a paint stain on a floor, I tend to reach for what I know as a general paint cleaner, TSP. When Frank see it, he reaches for acetone (nail polish remover), which is also a strong general solvent, or rubbing alcohol, isopropanol, a less powerful but still highly effective solvent and cleaner.

I talked about green scouring pads, Kris talked about Scotch-Brite. They're the same thing.

I said "a small scraper" because I actually meant a 3/4 in. putty knife, a little guy you can get a lot of pressure behind. Since I'm using TSP, the paint will tend to come off in flakes, not turn into soup. Kris, using alcohol, warns against that. Kris talks about keeping the rubbery putty softened by denatured alchohol out of gaps in the flooring if you use a putty knife.

Mike goes deeper into denatured alcohol, the green and the clear. The green works better as a cleaner. He doesn't know why. Because I was on my high school's trivia team and still enthusiastically collect useless facts, I DO know why. An increased amount of methyl (wood) alcohol, a more powerful solvent than ethanol, is mixed into green alcohol to denature it. If you drink green denatured alcohol, you'll go blind. What's mixed into clear denatured alcohol to denature it is mostly concentrated ipecac extract, stuff to make it stink and taste very bad. This is typically why it takes a much higher dosage of clear denatured alcohol to suffer permanent negative health effects, and you'll be vomiting faster ingesting a similar amount of clear versus green alcohol (kids, don't try this at home!). BTW, in the USA, it's green. In other countries, it's a different color. Greece's is blue, Italy's is pink. Clear is 97% ethanol, colored is 92% ethanol.

The OP got different answers about sanding, too. All my hardwood floors are either 90-year-old+ heartwood pine or white oak. I refinish for utility, not for appearance. I would be going with coarser grades. Mike gives a more measured answer, with finer grades.So does Frank, who also refers to refinishing the whole floor.

Matt posted a link to a coarser paint stripping wheel that only goes on a drill, they make others that go on a grinder, and they're easily confused looking at product pages on a website. These are essentially very beefed up scouring pads. It's faster grinding out paint by machine than doing it by hand, and you can do larger areas without solvent. A grinder is faster and easier to use to do this work than a drill. That is probably the better solution to reach for in areas and situation where you have to avoid spreading stink and get the work done soonest, such as apartment buildings. It might not be as good in tight corners and tight along floor edges, where you often get the kind of drips the OP is talking about.

We're all different. with different ways of coming at the same problem that have worked for us in the past, and in my case, I will almost always give you an answer based on not-so-nice working conditions in old single-family properties that will get you to a good-enough solution. If you have an A-class or a B-class property that you're trying to DIY, much of my advice is a bit rough. Mike has worked much more than I have in different conditions, places where you might be dealing with softer wood flooring materials that can't take the same amount of abuse as a white oak floor that's survived 80, 90 years of being walked on.

What about you, Daniel? What's your experience doing this work?

Rotate Log in or sign up to reply
user profile avatar
Check Rosette Top Subjects:
Team, Single Family, and Maintenance
  • Posts 1.6K
  • Votes 729

Mike Reynolds
construction from Nacogdoches, Texas

replied about 1 year ago
Originally posted by @Jim K. :
Originally posted by @Daniel Hennek:

Sounds like some YouTube can help you out. You're getting answers all over the place and some of them not good at all. There are lots of ways to refinish a wood floor and it sounds like your going to need to do the whole thing and not just where the paint is.  Watch a few videos.

Well, it's not exactly a cacophony. And it turns out that this is a great opportunity to illustrate something interesting about DIY. Why are there multiple answers to the same question, and why do they sometimes conflict?

Here are some of the people talking about this here: I'm a handyman working in my own old, beaten-up C'class properties in western Pennsylvania. @Matt Clark is (please correct me if I'm wrong, Matt) a high-volume property manager who has been in this for over a decade and also worked as a handyman before he stopped. @Mike Reynolds is (please correct me if I'm wrong, Mike), a GC who had filled multiple roles on teams working in new construction and renovation for decades. I don't know @Kris H.  , but judging from the posts I've read, he's also a hands-on landlord with clear experience working on his own properties himself in the past. I don't know @Frank Scaffidi at all, but he's giving a good answer here. All of us have different takes on the problem.

Denatured alcohol softens latex paint, turns it into a putty. So does TSP, but not as effectively. What TSP also does is work on heavily soiled areas, including residues of old oil-based paint. The newest property I own is over 45 years old. Even getting my start in Athens, Greece, I worked in poured-concrete masonry apartment buildings. I use oil-based primers and paints on a lot of problem surfaces much more frequently than people working in newer construction. So when I see a paint stain on a floor, I tend to reach for what I know as a general paint cleaner, TSP. When Frank see it, he reaches for acetone (nail polish remover), which is also a strong general solvent, or rubbing alcohol, isopropanol, a less powerful but still highly effective solvent and cleaner.

I talked about green scouring pads, Kris talked about Scotch-Brite. They're the same thing.

I said "a small scraper" because I actually meant a 3/4 in. putty knife, a little guy you can get a lot of pressure behind. Since I'm using TSP, the paint will tend to come off in flakes, not turn into soup. Kris, using alcohol, warns against that. Kris talks about keeping the rubbery putty softened by denatured alchohol out of gaps in the flooring if you use a putty knife.

Mike goes deeper into denatured alcohol, the green and the clear. The green works better as a cleaner. He doesn't know why. Because I was on my high school's trivia team and still enthusiastically collect useless facts, I DO know why. An increased amount of methyl (wood) alcohol, a more powerful solvent than ethanol, is mixed into green alcohol to denature it. If you drink green denatured alcohol, you'll go blind. What's mixed into clear denatured alcohol to denature it is mostly concentrated ipecac extract, stuff to make it stink and taste very bad. This is typically why it takes a much higher dosage of clear denatured alcohol to suffer permanent negative health effects, and you'll be vomiting faster ingesting a similar amount of clear versus green alcohol (kids, don't try this at home!). BTW, in the USA, it's green. In other countries, it's a different color. Greece's is blue, Italy's is pink. Clear is 97% ethanol, colored is 92% ethanol.

The OP got different answers about sanding, too. All my hardwood floors are either 90-year-old+ heartwood pine or white oak. I refinish for utility, not for appearance. I would be going with coarser grades. Mike gives a more measured answer, with finer grades.So does Frank, who also refers to refinishing the whole floor.

Matt posted a link to a coarser paint stripping wheel that only goes on a drill, they make others that go on a grinder, and they're easily confused looking at product pages on a website. These are essentially very beefed up scouring pads. It's faster grinding out paint by machine than doing it by hand, and you can do larger areas without solvent. A grinder is faster and easier to use to do this work than a drill. That is probably the better solution to reach for in areas and situation where you have to avoid spreading stink and get the work done soonest, such as apartment buildings. It might not be as good in tight corners and tight along floor edges, where you often get the kind of drips the OP is talking about.

We're all different. with different ways of coming at the same problem that have worked for us in the past, and in my case, I will almost always give you an answer based on not-so-nice working conditions in old single-family properties that will get you to a good-enough solution. If you have an A-class or a B-class property that you're trying to DIY, much of my advice is a bit rough. Mike has worked much more than I have in different conditions, places where you might be dealing with softer wood flooring materials that can't take the same amount of abuse as a white oak floor that's survived 80, 90 years of being walked on.

What about you, Daniel? What's your experience doing this work?

Good info there. Didn't know that about the green alcohol. 

 

Rotate Log in or sign up to reply
user profile avatar
  • Posts 114
  • Votes 92

Daniel Hennek
Lender from Lewis, CO

replied about 1 year ago
Originally posted by @Jim K. :
Originally posted by @Daniel Hennek:

Sounds like some YouTube can help you out. You're getting answers all over the place and some of them not good at all. There are lots of ways to refinish a wood floor and it sounds like your going to need to do the whole thing and not just where the paint is.  Watch a few videos.

Well, it's not exactly a cacophony. And it turns out that this is a great opportunity to illustrate something interesting about DIY. Why are there multiple answers to the same question, and why do they sometimes conflict?

Here are some of the people talking about this here: I'm a handyman working in my own old, beaten-up C'class properties in western Pennsylvania. @Matt Clark is (please correct me if I'm wrong, Matt) a high-volume property manager who has been in this for over a decade and also worked as a handyman before he stopped. @Mike Reynolds is (please correct me if I'm wrong, Mike), a GC who had filled multiple roles on teams working in new construction and renovation for decades. I don't know @Kris H.  , but judging from the posts I've read, he's also a hands-on landlord with clear experience working on his own properties himself in the past. I don't know @Frank Scaffidi at all, but he's giving a good answer here. All of us have different takes on the problem.

Denatured alcohol softens latex paint, turns it into a putty. So does TSP, but not as effectively. What TSP also does is work on heavily soiled areas, including residues of old oil-based paint. The newest property I own is over 45 years old. Even getting my start in Athens, Greece, I worked in poured-concrete masonry apartment buildings. I use oil-based primers and paints on a lot of problem surfaces much more frequently than people working in newer construction. So when I see a paint stain on a floor, I tend to reach for what I know as a general paint cleaner, TSP. When Frank see it, he reaches for acetone (nail polish remover), which is also a strong general solvent, or rubbing alcohol, isopropanol, a less powerful but still highly effective solvent and cleaner.

I talked about green scouring pads, Kris talked about Scotch-Brite. They're the same thing.

I said "a small scraper" because I actually meant a 3/4 in. putty knife, a little guy you can get a lot of pressure behind. Since I'm using TSP, the paint will tend to come off in flakes, not turn into soup. Kris, using alcohol, warns against that. Kris talks about keeping the rubbery putty softened by denatured alchohol out of gaps in the flooring if you use a putty knife.

Mike goes deeper into denatured alcohol, the green and the clear. The green works better as a cleaner. He doesn't know why. Because I was on my high school's trivia team and still enthusiastically collect useless facts, I DO know why. An increased amount of methyl (wood) alcohol, a more powerful solvent than ethanol, is mixed into green alcohol to denature it. If you drink green denatured alcohol, you'll go blind. What's mixed into clear denatured alcohol to denature it is mostly concentrated ipecac extract, stuff to make it stink and taste very bad. This is typically why it takes a much higher dosage of clear denatured alcohol to suffer permanent negative health effects, and you'll be vomiting faster ingesting a similar amount of clear versus green alcohol (kids, don't try this at home!). BTW, in the USA, it's green. In other countries, it's a different color. Greece's is blue, Italy's is pink. Clear is 97% ethanol, colored is 92% ethanol.

The OP got different answers about sanding, too. All my hardwood floors are either 90-year-old+ heartwood pine or white oak. I refinish for utility, not for appearance. I would be going with coarser grades. Mike gives a more measured answer, with finer grades.So does Frank, who also refers to refinishing the whole floor.

Matt posted a link to a coarser paint stripping wheel that only goes on a drill, they make others that go on a grinder, and they're easily confused looking at product pages on a website. These are essentially very beefed up scouring pads. It's faster grinding out paint by machine than doing it by hand, and you can do larger areas without solvent. A grinder is faster and easier to use to do this work than a drill. That is probably the better solution to reach for in areas and situation where you have to avoid spreading stink and get the work done soonest, such as apartment buildings. It might not be as good in tight corners and tight along floor edges, where you often get the kind of drips the OP is talking about.

We're all different. with different ways of coming at the same problem that have worked for us in the past, and in my case, I will almost always give you an answer based on not-so-nice working conditions in old single-family properties that will get you to a good-enough solution. If you have an A-class or a B-class property that you're trying to DIY, much of my advice is a bit rough. Mike has worked much more than I have in different conditions, places where you might be dealing with softer wood flooring materials that can't take the same amount of abuse as a white oak floor that's survived 80, 90 years of being walked on.

What about you, Daniel? What's your experience doing this work? 

Seems as if you didn't like my comment and now you're challenging me?  Maybe not, but I'll bite because it's early and my coffee is hot...

I did my first complete remodel by my self when I was 25, flooring, cabinets, painting inside and out, counter tops (Corian I cut myself), new light fixtures, installing a new bathtub, tiling a new shower and lots more.  Bought the house with a mortgage I qualified for myself.  Bought the tools I needed for each job and did them myself with help from a friend only on certain things like mounting cabinets and setting the tub.

My grandfather was a die maker by trade and fine woodworker on the side, my other grandfather was a builder.  My father was a die maker by trade and still a fine woodworker.  I recently built a 4,400 sq ft shop on my property where I did the GC and paid framers, roofers, plumbers and electricians then I did the rest with cabinets, flooring, painting, compressed air system, air exchanger, trim, doors, baseboard, etc.  In that shop is a 1200 sq ft wood shop with automatic dust collection with gates, and more wood working tools than some professionals including a CNC table.  I can make or build just about anything one man can not only because I have the skills but the tools as well.

Doing all of those things was easier because I watched a lot of that type of work get done throughout my entire life.  Watching someone do it is a hundred times more valuable than coming on here and reading long winded posts.  Nothing against long winded posts.  I myself am definitely long winded, but it's not the best type of help for refinishing a floor when we have YouTube and 1,000 videos where you can watch someone do it.  People learn better watching because they like to talk or type much more than they like to read.

Rotate Log in or sign up to reply
user profile avatar
Check Rosette Top Subjects:
Flipping, Team, and Real Estate Finance
  • Posts 3.6K
  • Votes 9.3K

Jim K.
Handyman from Pittsburgh, PA

replied about 1 year ago

@Daniel Hennek

Once we start with the family history...oh boy.

The biggest problem with YouTube is that anybody can post on it. See anything wrong with this video?

How to Sand An Old Wood Floor

Rotate Log in or sign up to reply
user profile avatar
Check Rosette Top Subjects:
Tenants, Finding & Screening Tenants, and Maintenance
  • Posts 1.7K
  • Votes 1.7K

Andrew B.
from Rockaway, New Jersey

replied about 1 year ago

I'm confused. If you are re-staining the floor, the paint should come up when you sand the floors in prep for that. Am I missing something?

Rotate Log in or sign up to reply
user profile avatar
  • Posts 114
  • Votes 92

Daniel Hennek
Lender from Lewis, CO

replied about 1 year ago
Originally posted by @Jim K. :

@Daniel Hennek

Once we start with the family history...oh boy.

The biggest problem with YouTube is that anybody can post on it. See anything wrong with this video?

How to Sand An Old Wood Floor

 So I was right, you just wanted to build yourself up by breaking someone down my "family history was 2 sentences and it was to make the point that watching is valuable I doubt you disagree.  In any case, I hope you feel better. Good on you big guy

Rotate Log in or sign up to reply
user profile avatar
Check Rosette Top Subjects:
Team, Rentals, and Real Estate Finance
  • Posts 8.0K
  • Votes 13K

Steve Vaughan
Rental Property Investor from East Wenatchee, WA

replied about 1 year ago
Originally posted by @Daniel Hennek :
Originally posted by @Jim K.:

@Daniel Hennek

Once we start with the family history...oh boy.

The biggest problem with YouTube is that anybody can post on it. See anything wrong with this video?

How to Sand An Old Wood Floor

 So I was right, you just wanted to build yourself up by breaking someone down my "family history was 2 sentences and it was to make the point that watching is valuable I doubt you disagree.  In any case, I hope you feel better. Good on you big guy

Easy fellas.  I bet Daniel and Jim would get along great in real life.  Who else goes this deep about sanding floors?  Bet you'll both have a chuckle over this some day.

Just wanted to add my go-to, the pull scraper.  No blob or drip survives my pull scraper.  No solvents or damage when pulled levelly and it's the thick stuff that turns into blobs when the sander hits.   Carry on.

 

Rotate Log in or sign up to reply
user profile avatar
Check Rosette Top Subjects:
Analyze Deals and Residential
  • Posts 1.1K
  • Votes 1.7K

Brian Ellis
Rental Property Investor from South shore, MA

replied about 1 year ago

My suggestion is to refinish the entire floor if it is in good shape other than the paint. Don't have to go crazy and rent a drum sander, especially if it is a rental. 

Rent a 20" floor buffer from home depot, buy a pad for it and a few 120 grit sanding screens. It looks like a mesh.

Run the buffer with just the white pad for a while to get the hang of it. Keep the buffer on your hips. When you lean up, it will naturally go right. When you slightly push down it will go left on you. Once you get the hang of it buff the entire floor using a couple sanding screens. Vaccuum it all up, and tack cloth the entire floor. Do 1 coat of waterbase poly using a high quality roller, wait 12 hours and buff again. Do one last coat of poly and you practically have brand new hardwood floors.

Rotate Log in or sign up to reply
user profile avatar
Check Rosette Top Subjects:
Flipping, Team, and Real Estate Finance
  • Posts 3.6K
  • Votes 9.3K

Jim K.
Handyman from Pittsburgh, PA

replied about 1 year ago
Originally posted by @Daniel Hennek :
Originally posted by @Jim K.:

@Daniel Hennek

Once we start with the family history...oh boy.

The biggest problem with YouTube is that anybody can post on it. See anything wrong with this video?

How to Sand An Old Wood Floor

 So I was right, you just wanted to build yourself up by breaking someone down my "family history was 2 sentences and it was to make the point that watching is valuable I doubt you disagree.  In any case, I hope you feel better. Good on you big guy

Daniel, that's not what I meant. As you might imagine, I too have an extensive family history doing this, some of it's in my profile description. My dad, however, was a mechanical engineer and a rather poor hobby woodworker. His dad was a banker who looked down on anyone who worked with their hands, and his dad was an army officer with the same sort of class-based prejudices, so my family history is not as direct as yours. I too suspect, as Steven said, we'd get along great in real life. I do not feel better that you feel insulted. I am not knocking your knowledge base, I was generally curious if you'd ever refinished an old wood floor.

Rotate Log in or sign up to reply
user profile avatar
Check Rosette Top Subjects:
Flipping, Team, and Real Estate Finance
  • Posts 3.6K
  • Votes 9.3K

Jim K.
Handyman from Pittsburgh, PA

replied about 1 year ago
Originally posted by @Steve Vaughan :
Originally posted by @Daniel Hennek :
Originally posted by @Jim K.:

@Daniel Hennek

Once we start with the family history...oh boy.

The biggest problem with YouTube is that anybody can post on it. See anything wrong with this video?

How to Sand An Old Wood Floor

 So I was right, you just wanted to build yourself up by breaking someone down my "family history was 2 sentences and it was to make the point that watching is valuable I doubt you disagree.  In any case, I hope you feel better. Good on you big guy

Easy fellas.  I bet Daniel and Jim would get along great in real life.  Who else goes this deep about sanding floors?  Bet you'll both have a chuckle over this some day.

Just wanted to add my go-to, the pull scraper.  No blob or drip survives my pull scraper.  No solvents or damage when pulled levelly and it's the thick stuff that turns into blobs when the sander hits.   Carry on.

 

Yes, I knew I forgot something! Pull scrapers for the corners! And the tungsten scrapers outperform the hell out of the steel ones! The name-brand replacement blades (Werner, Hyde) are way overpriced, Amazon has a perennial great deal on Chinese-branded ones that work great.

 

Rotate Log in or sign up to reply
user profile avatar
Check Rosette Top Subjects:
Flipping, Team, and Real Estate Finance
  • Posts 3.6K
  • Votes 9.3K

Jim K.
Handyman from Pittsburgh, PA

replied about 1 year ago
Originally posted by @Brian Ellis :

My suggestion is to refinish the entire floor if it is in good shape other than the paint. Don't have to go crazy and rent a drum sander, especially if it is a rental. 

Rent a 20" floor buffer from home depot, buy a pad for it and a few 120 grit sanding screens. It looks like a mesh.

Run the buffer with just the white pad for a while to get the hang of it. Keep the buffer on your hips. When you lean up, it will naturally go right. When you slightly push down it will go left on you. Once you get the hang of it buff the entire floor using a couple sanding screens. Vaccuum it all up, and tack cloth the entire floor. Do 1 coat of waterbase poly using a high quality roller, wait 12 hours and buff again. Do one last coat of poly and you practically have brand new hardwood floors.

 Again, a great example of difference in action. I love the oil-based poly, mask on, getting down on the floor and brushing on a diluted sealer coat and then a first coat, then a last sanding with 320, vacuum, wet Swiffer, dry Swiffer, and then the second coat painstakingly applied. Lambswool applicators are for the weak! An old white oak floor finished like that will stand up to anything short of the hammers of Hell. But the oil-based poly, while you get a slightly tougher finish, gives the oak a dated amber tint. Should I care more about durability than looks in hardened C-class rentals? It's oil-based every time for me. If I was doing flips? Water-based all the way.

Rotate Log in or sign up to reply
user profile avatar
  • Posts 114
  • Votes 92

Daniel Hennek
Lender from Lewis, CO

replied about 1 year ago
Originally posted by @Jim K. :
Originally posted by @Daniel Hennek:
Originally posted by @Jim K.:

@Daniel Hennek

Once we start with the family history...oh boy.

The biggest problem with YouTube is that anybody can post on it. See anything wrong with this video?

How to Sand An Old Wood Floor

 So I was right, you just wanted to build yourself up by breaking someone down my "family history was 2 sentences and it was to make the point that watching is valuable I doubt you disagree.  In any case, I hope you feel better. Good on you big guy

Daniel, that's not what I meant. As you might imagine, I too have an extensive family history doing this, some of it's in my profile description. My dad, however, was a mechanical engineer and a rather poor hobby woodworker. His dad was a banker who looked down on anyone who worked with their hands, and his dad was an army officer with the same sort of class-based prejudices, so my family history is not as direct as yours. I too suspect, as Steven said, we'd get along great in real life. I do not feel better that you feel insulted. I am not knocking your knowledge base, I was generally curious if you'd ever refinished an old wood floor.

Sorry I took it the wrong way (removing foot from mouth).  I appreciate the tone of your response.

I've refinished one old wood floor myself, the other floors I've done I had to just tear up and get to concrete or plywood.  Rented a stand up random orbital and stood there countless hours.  Not something I would enjoy doing again, I'd get some younger guys to follow directions if I ever did it again. I prefer smaller woodworking these days, clocks, jewelry boxes, cutting boards, etc.

I will concede your point about YouTube videos from DIYers.  I watched the video you posted, which was pretty funny and ended up getting caught in the YouTube vortex for 30 minutes!  

I enjoyed this guy 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHiF8xwjRGI

Rotate Log in or sign up to reply
user profile avatar
Check Rosette Top Subjects:
Flipping, Team, and Real Estate Finance
  • Posts 3.6K
  • Votes 9.3K

Jim K.
Handyman from Pittsburgh, PA

replied about 1 year ago
Originally posted by @Daniel Hennek :
Originally posted by @Jim K.:
Originally posted by @Daniel Hennek:
Originally posted by @Jim K.:

@Daniel Hennek

Once we start with the family history...oh boy.

The biggest problem with YouTube is that anybody can post on it. See anything wrong with this video?

How to Sand An Old Wood Floor

 So I was right, you just wanted to build yourself up by breaking someone down my "family history was 2 sentences and it was to make the point that watching is valuable I doubt you disagree.  In any case, I hope you feel better. Good on you big guy

Daniel, that's not what I meant. As you might imagine, I too have an extensive family history doing this, some of it's in my profile description. My dad, however, was a mechanical engineer and a rather poor hobby woodworker. His dad was a banker who looked down on anyone who worked with their hands, and his dad was an army officer with the same sort of class-based prejudices, so my family history is not as direct as yours. I too suspect, as Steven said, we'd get along great in real life. I do not feel better that you feel insulted. I am not knocking your knowledge base, I was generally curious if you'd ever refinished an old wood floor.

Sorry I took it the wrong way (removing foot from mouth).  I appreciate the tone of your response.

I've refinished one old wood floor myself, the other floors I've done I had to just tear up and get to concrete or plywood.  Rented a stand up random orbital and stood there countless hours.  Not something I would enjoy doing again, I'd get some younger guys to follow directions if I ever did it again. I prefer smaller woodworking these days, clocks, jewelry boxes, cutting boards, etc.

I will concede your point about YouTube videos from DIYers.  I watched the video you posted, which was pretty funny and ended up getting caught in the YouTube vortex for 30 minutes!  

I enjoyed this guy 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHiF8xwjRGI

 Thanks, Daniel. I too apologize. Should have been smarter in the first response. I'll watch the video soon.

Rotate Log in or sign up to reply
  • 1
  • 2

Free eBook from BiggerPockets!

Ultimate Beginner's Guide Book Cover

Join BiggerPockets and get The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Real Estate Investing for FREE - read by more than 100,000 people - AND get exclusive real estate investing tips, tricks and techniques delivered straight to your inbox twice weekly!

  • Actionable advice for getting started,
  • Discover the 10 Most Lucrative Real Estate Niches,
  • Learn how to get started with or without money,
  • Explore Real-Life Strategies for Building Wealth,
  • And a LOT more.

Sign up below to download the eBook for FREE today!

Download the eBook Now

Lock We hate spam just as much as you

Related Resources Do it Yourself
6 Handyman Skills Every Flipper Should Master
3 Reasons to Always Buy Distressed Property (& How to Find One)
How to Avoid Over-Improving Properties (& Make Bigger Profits!)
5 Bathroom Remodeling Tips Every House Flipper Should Know
How to Renovate a House—Whether You’re Renting, Flipping, or Moving In
Resources Read, see, and learn more!
Link Real Estate Investment Calculators
Link BiggerPockets Blog
Link Path to Purchase
Link Mortgage Loans
Link Find a Contractor
Link Real Estate Agents
Link Hard Money Lenders
Link Real Estate Listings

Top Contributors

Brian Schroeder
Brian Schroeder
Houston, TX
8.1
Score
Matthew Rolf
Matthew Rolf
Katy TX
7.38
Score
David Paul Westenberger
David Paul Westenberger
7.38
Score
Sarah Kartsher
Sarah Kartsher
Grove City, OH
6.79
Score
Nathan G.
Nathan G.
Cody, WY
5.12
Score
Log in Sign up

Log in

Forgot password?

If you signed up for BiggerPockets via Facebook, you can log in with just one click!

Log in with Facebook

Or
btn_google_dark_normal_ios Created with Sketch. Continue with Google

Let's get started

We just need a few details to get you set up and ready to go!

Use your real name

Use at least 8 characters. Using a phrase of random words (like: paper Dog team blue) is secure and easy to remember.

By signing up, you indicate that you agree to the BiggerPockets Terms & Conditions.

Or
btn_google_dark_normal_ios Created with Sketch. Continue with Google

Why create an account?

Receive a free digital download of The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Real Estate Investing.

Connect with 1,000,000+ real estate investors!

Find local real estate meetups and events in your area.

Start analyzing real estate properties, we do the math for you.

It's free!

Explore

  • Membership
  • Community
  • Education
  • Marketplace
  • Tools
  • FilePlace
  • REI Resources
  • Perks
  • Glossary
  • Reviews
  • iOS App
  • Android App

Company

  • About Us
  • Press
  • Advertising
  • Careers
  • Stats
  • Contact Us

Important

  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Terms of Use
  • Rules
  • Privacy
  • FAQ

Social

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
© 2004-2021 BiggerPockets, LLC. All Rights Reserved.