Refinishing hardwood floors can help to reveal the beauty hiding under old, worn and damaged hardwood floors. After about 20 years of use, beautiful hardwood floors can end up looking tired under scratches, staining, discoloration and wear. Refinishing your floors can reinvigorate them to look like new, bringing them up to date with the latest style. However, refinishing your hardwood floors can be an involved process and there are some important questions you need to ask before beginning the process.
Do You Need Refinishing or Just Deep Cleaning?
Hardwood floors have the option for sanding and refinishing built in, with most full, natural hardwood floors being able to be sanded and refinished 3-4 times. If floors only have light wear, they can be sanded to a lesser extent (a process called ‘screening’), and the floor may be refinished numerous times in this way. However, some floors may not need to be refinished at all, and professional hardwood floor cleaning may be enough to refresh and renew floors. This is especially true for antique wood floors and hard to replace wood stains. If the floors are still in good condition, it’s worthwhile investing in deep professional hardwood floor cleaning to get your hardwood floors clean and shiny, without spoiling the classic stain, or trying to replace a dark stain.
What Type of Wood Floor Do You Have?
Some types of wood floors can be refinished while others can’t. Natural hardwood floors in every wood type can generally be sanded and refinished but it can always be helpful to check with a flooring expert.
On the other hand, engineered wood floors may or may not be able to be refinished, depending on the composition of the floors. Engineered wood floors are designed with a layer of hardwood on top of a base of plywood. The thickness of the wood layer will determine whether or not an engineered floor can be refinished. It’s best to consult your engineered flooring manufacturer for advice or ask a flooring expert. You can also get professional floor cleaning for laminate and luxury vinyl tile floors, but these can’t be refinished.
How Damaged or Dirty Are Your Wood Floors?
The level of dirt, damage and wear on your floors will determine the intensity of treatment needed. Heavily scuffed and gouged floors may need a full refinishing service, whereas only lightly marked floors will look good as new after being ‘screened’ and coated with a new finish. For other floors, a thorough professional hardwood floor cleaning may be enough. Talk to your floor cleaning professional for more advice on the treatment needed for your floor.
Who’s the Right Contractor to Refinish Your Floors?
Once you’ve decided to refinish your floors, finding the right contractor for the job is essential. Industrial floor sanding tools can be very powerful, and improper use can lead to uneven results and an irregular flooring surface. It’s essential to choose an experienced professional to work on your floors and to also check a number of references before hiring.
Can You Move Out During Floor Refinishing?
Floor refinishing can be a loud, dusty and very messy job. The dust released from floor sanding can be bad for you, and living in your home with the noise of the industrial sander can be highly disruptive. While you may be able to stay in your home during some floor refinishing jobs, for more extensive work it will be compulsory to move out at least while the finish dries. Ensure you can take the time to be out of the house during the floor refinishing before you start the job.
Hardwood floor refinishing can completely refresh and rejuvenate your home. Talk to your local floor professional about what kind of floor refinishing or hardwood floor cleaning is right for your floors.