Are you considering refinishing your hardwood floors to give them a fresh new look? With the right techniques, it’s definitely achievable!
By sanding and refinishing your floors, you can bring them back to their former glory. However, it’s important to prepare properly before starting the refinishing process.
If you’re wondering how to prepare for refinishing, we’ve got you covered! Read on to learn more.
Decide When You Want The Project To Be Held
When scheduling your hardwood floor refinishing project, it’s important to consider the pros and cons of each season. For example, summer allows for open windows and better ventilation, while winter may offer discounts from contractors.
Ultimately, choose a time that works best for you and your schedule. Be sure to consult with professionals to understand how long the process will take and how it may disrupt your routine.
To refinish an existing hardwood floor, the process typically starts with sanding the surface down to raw wood. About 500-600 square feet can be completed in a day. The next steps involve applying a sealer and several coats of polyurethane, with a 12-hour dry time between each coat. A 3-day refinishing process means you’ll likely be able to return to your space on the 4th day.
Prefinished Flooring
What About The Pets?
The question that most people have is regarding their pets during the flooring project. Can pets roam free during the project or should they be kept away?
The answer depends on the type of finish being used. If a water-based finish is being applied, pets can move around safely, but if an oil-based finish is used, pets should not be allowed near the area.
Another important consideration is the loud noise that occurs during the project. Pets may become distressed by the sound of the machines and tools, and wearing earbuds won’t help.
It’s also possible for pets to escape when workers are entering or leaving through doors. Therefore, it’s best to keep pets away until the project is finished.
Finally, if you’re looking for durable and cost-effective flooring options, Maple is a good choice.
Things to Consider When Choosing Dark Floor Stains
When it comes to refinishing your hardwood floors, choosing a new stain color can be an enjoyable part of the process. Rich mahogany or dark oak stains are currently in vogue. However, darker colors may not necessarily conceal dirt, and dust particles can be more visible.
Satin or Glossy?
While glossy floors have an attractive appearance, satin finishes have become increasingly popular, especially in households with young children. The primary reason is that compared to their shiny counterparts, satin finishes provide more traction and are less slippery.
Here are some additional facts to consider about floor finishing:
Waxed floors are not only very slippery, but they also lack durability when compared to a urethane-based coating.
Water-based polyurethane finishes have lower VOC levels, which means they are less pungent and less hazardous to breathe in than oil-based finishes.
Refinishing your hardwood flooring may be easier and cheaper than you think. That’s because unlocking a sad floor’s hidden beauty doesn’t always involve messy sanding and staining, particularly if yours aren’t damaged. To decide the best solution that works for your home, here are seven things to consider before renewing or refinishing old hardwood floors.
Deep Cleaning is as Easy as One-Two-Three
Making your floor shine like new again can be accomplished with a simple three-step process. Here’s what you should do:
Start by sweeping your floors thoroughly with a soft-bristled broom, as stiff bristles may leave scratches on the wood’s surface.
Next, use a vacuum cleaner to remove any hard-to-reach dirt in corners or between floorboards.
Finally, mop the floors using a microfiber cloth and a concentrated cleaner specifically designed for hardwood floors, such as Method Squirt and Mop or Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner. Remember that steam, water, and cleaners that produce bubbles or suds should never be used to clean hardwood floors.
If your home has high-traffic areas with hardwood floors, you may need to enlist the services of a professional flooring expert to perform a thorough cleaning. These professionals typically utilize specialized scrubbing machines to eliminate stubborn dirt and grime that may be embedded in the flooring.
To maintain the pristine condition of your newly cleaned floors, you should follow these simple steps:
Perform surface cleaning at least three times per week using either a vacuum or a microfiber cloth.
Conduct a deep clean once a month using a concentrated wood floor cleaner.
Have your floors professionally deep cleaned once per year.
DIY a New Finish Without Sanding
In case a thorough cleaning didn’t bring back the shine of your wooden floors, there’s a way to achieve a brand-new finish without having to sand or stain the surface. You can use any of the following products:
Rust-Oleum Wood Floor Transformations Kit: This kit contains everything necessary to create a fresh, semi-glossy polyurethane finish that won’t alter your floor’s natural color. It takes about 24 hours to dry and 7 to 14 days to fully cure. Please note that this product is not suitable for use on waxed wood floors.
Minwax Hardwood Floor Reviver: This product is specifically designed to restore an existing polyurethane finish on your wood floor. Its high-gloss sheen can last up to six months.
Rejuvenate Wood Floor Restorer: This product is specially formulated to restore previously sealed old hardwood floors. It’s available in both satin and glossy finishes.
Moreover, it’s worth noting that such refinishing products have a thick consistency that can fill light scratches and diminish small dings, providing your floors with an improved appearance.
Repairing Gaps in Hardwood Floors
The easiest way to repair deep scratches, dings, and gaps in your hardwood floors during the refinishing process is through trowel filling after sanding. However, this fix may not be long-lasting if done during the wrong time of year.
Why is that? In summary, wood contracts in winter and expands in summer.
When you fill gaps between floorboards during cold and dry weather, the filler material is often squeezed out during hot and humid conditions. Therefore, it’s best to fill floors during the summer when the humidity is higher.
Even then, trowel filling may not be a perfect solution, especially for patching small crevices where the filler can quickly come loose. So, what’s the solution? Only fill larger gaps and leave the smaller ones unpatched to allow for wood expansion.
When Refinishing is the Best Option
When it’s necessary to give your hardwood floors a makeover, refinishing may be the best course of action. Floors that are dry, dirty, and deeply scratched with wide gaps are often beyond simple repairs.
Refinishing your floors can be a time-consuming and physically demanding process, especially if you plan to do it yourself. You should be prepared for the steps involved, including sanding, patching, staining, and top coating, which could take a weekend or more to complete if you’re working on less than 500 square feet.
If you want a professional job done, there are online services like Yelp or Angi that can help you find local contractors. The cost of refinishing your floors will depend on your location, but you can expect to pay at least $3 to $8 per square foot.
