Undoubtedly, refinishing hardwood floors in your home is similar to getting a facelift; it rejuvenates and makes things look brand new. And in most cases, refinishing is less expensive than replacement. In addition, because wood is a natural material, its natural variations are a significant part of its appeal, and these can be emphasized when refinishing hardwood floors. It’s all part of the wood’s and house’s character. No amount of modern manufacturing is capable of duplicating authentic hardwood floors. Whether you have some well-loved wood floors that need refinishing or your hardwood floors have been hidden by carpeting and you are considering hardwood floor refinishing, there are six things you need to know.
Cleaning Hardwood Floors • Restoring dirty hardwood floors that have lost their sheen may appear simple; a thorough deep cleaning can restore their former luster. It will require sweeping and vacuuming, mopping with concentrated cleaners, and then ongoing maintenance to keep the floor in pristine condition. • If that doesn’t work, your wood floor can be refinished without sanding if you use certain products. • Some hardwood floors are beyond a quick fix because the job is labor-intensive and time-consuming.
Floor and Room Preparation for Wood Floor Maintenance
- Everything must be removed; anything left inside will be exposed to a great deal of dust and debris.
- Confirm that the room will be as tightly sealed as possible to prevent dust from spreading throughout the house.
Check that all vents, doorways, and electrical outlets need to be covered. If necessary, sweep and mop the floor thoroughly prior to refinishing it.
Sanding and Refinishing Do Not Close Spaces.
- For your information, quality hardwood floors can be sanded and refinished approximately ten times prior to replacement.
- People inquire whether a floor can be refinished without sanding. However, if floors are not sanded, neither the stain nor the polyurethane will adhere properly to the hardwood.
- If the floors are damaged, for instance, a more aggressive sanding tool may be necessary to restore their smoothness.
- If you observe gaps between the boards prior to the start of the project, those gaps will remain; however, refinishing may help close minor gaps.
It is also important to remember that the boards will likely have color variations and knots.
Wood floor color trends will bring out the floor’s uniqueness and beauty, which are sometimes not visible until after polyurethane has been applied.
- After sanding the floors, the powdery dust will settle on the floor, be vacuumed away, and then the floor will be dry-tacked with soft microfiber cloths.
Refreshing Your Hardwood Floor’s Color
- When a hardwood floor begins to show signs of wear and tear, it must be refinished. After investing so much time and energy, you want to ensure that your floor looks incredible. It is best to delegate the work to trained professionals.
- After sanding the floor to its natural state, you have the option of drastically altering its appearance with a new color. Some individuals believe that hardwood floor color stains enhance the wood’s natural color. Similarly, you may not be able to find the perfect color for your needs; hardwood darkens over time; however, hardwood floors can be made lighter or darker. Consult an expert regarding this matter.
- Cleaning products can also affect the color of a surface. If the same color was used in another area and then compared to flooring that was refinished 5 to 10 years ago, it will not be an exact match, but it will be close.
- If you intend to stain after making repairs, keep in mind that when new wood is used to repair damaged areas, these pieces will typically be lighter than the existing hardwood because they have not had as much time to age.
Expect to paint the baseboards after refinishing the hardwood floors.
- Sanding and refinishing will scratch the baseboards, and you will get stain and polyurethane on them; they will need to be painted afterward. The same holds true for the treads, risers, stringers, and spindles.
- If the carpet was removed from the floor, there may be spaces where paint is missing from the trim. Because the edgers will need to access the floor edges, the walls may also be scratched.
- Plan to paint, but only after refinishing the floors. If you intend to replace the baseboards, please note that they must be removed prior to refinishing the floors and reinstalled afterward. Flooring specialists are aware of the proper order of procedures.
Utilizing Polyurethane
- A polyurethane coating will now be applied.
- The highly toxic chemical content of polyurethane stripper can necessitate additional safety precautions when removing floor finishes. Applying polyurethane floor finish is more difficult than it was in the past, but polyurethane has many advantages: it is superior, safer, and dries faster. However, faster drying results in a shorter open time. There are additional reasons why it is preferable to hire a professional flooring service for this task.
We are familiar with the most recent wood flooring fashions
If you lack experience refinishing wood floors or are unaware of the latest wood flooring trends, you may end up with an unprofessional result and spend two to four times as much time as a professional business would. The timeless beauty of hardwood flooring positively impacts the resale value of your home. This necessitates using the expertise of Walk on Wood.
