Hardwood Flooring: The Essentials of Refinishing

Redoing your hardwood floors is not an easy assignment to tackle—it takes a great deal of preparation, patience and precision. You must have the proper skills and equipment, which most people don’t have. This is where professionals come in. They have the training, experience and tools needed to refinish a floor the way it’s supposed to be done. Once you’ve decided to hire someone to take on this project, it’s important that you fully understand the process of refinishing hardwood flooring.

 

The first phase of refinishing entails careful examination. This includes evaluating the floor’s level of wear and damage. Your contractor should also look at the thickness of the floorboards to determine if they’re able to be sanded, and he or she should know what type of sealant was used on them. Also, it’s important to see how far apart the cracks are between each plank, as gaps that are too wide may make a floor more difficult to refinish.

 

Next up is prep work. Your hired professional should give the floor a good cleaning, removing dirt and debris. Fixing any surface imperfections, such as scratches, holes or protruding nails, is also often necessary. Generally the moulding and doorsills will have to be pulled from the flooring.

 

Now comes sanding, the most time-consuming phase. To get the best results, many contractors use a variety of sanding equipment, including a drum or power sander, edge sander and a power buffer.  Going over the floor with the sander at least three times is vital to achieve consistency. Everything needs to be smooth before moving on.  After the sanding is done, the floor should be vacuumed until it’s free of sawdust.

 

Lastly, your contractor should apply a sealant. This should be done steadily, and two coats should often be applied for a better finish. Staining the floor is optional.

 

Overall, when it comes to flooring, it’s recommended that you hire professional services. Just one slipup on your part can cause enduring repercussions for your floor, and it would be quite a hassle to redo it a second time. A professional can ensure everything goes well from the start.