A Few Things To Know About Refinishing Your Old Hardwood Floor
If you bought an older home with carpet, it's possible there is hardwood flooring underneath. Hardwood flooring was popular decades ago, but when carpeting became trendy, many homeowners covered up the beautiful wood in favor of modern trends. Now, hardwood is back in style, and you may be sitting on beautiful flooring and not know it. The problem is, once you pull up the carpet, if you have hardwood floors and they have been neglected for decades, they'll need to be restored to their original beauty. Here are a few things to know about hardwood refinishing.
DIY Or Contractor
Even if you are skilled at various home improvement chores, you'll probably want to pass on refinishing hardwood flooring. It's not a job you can master the first time. It takes skill and experience to operate a floor sander so the surface of your floor is smooth and even. However, if you are intent on doing the job yourself, you can rent a floor sander and all the equipment you need. Just be sure to practice on an area that will be out of sight in case things go wrong. Also, be sure the flooring is actually hardwood. Refinishing a floor involves sanding off the surface layer. If the floor is laminate or engineered wood, you'll only damage the floor in the process. Another thing to consider before you begin a DIY project is the type of wood that needs to be sanded. If the flooring is a softer wood, such as pine, there's a greater chance you'll be able to do the job yourself. Harder woods are more difficult to work with and are better left in experienced hands.
The Sanding Process
As you can imagine, sanding the floor in your home is a noisy and messy venture. You'll need to seal off the room you're working on to keep dust from floating around your house. You or the contractor will use a floor sander to wear away the top layer on the wood flooring. A sander is heavy and difficult to keep under control. If you don't have experience using one, there is a risk of sanding off more in one area than you do in another since it is difficult to maintain steady pressure and control of the machine. When sanding is complete, the flooring will be worn away down to bare wood. All surface imperfections and scratches are sanded out, so the flooring is back to its original state.
Sealing The Floor For Protection And Beauty
Of course, a bare wood floor is not very attractive, so you'll need to have it stained and sealed. This makes the floor glossy and also protects it from scratches and stains. You can choose an oil- or water-based stain. The oily stains are very thick and difficult to apply evenly. They also take much longer to dry between coats, so it will probably be a few days before your family can enter the room. The water-based sealants are much easier to apply and they dry quicker.
Although it's a big job to refinish a hardwood floor, the end result is worth it. A vintage hardwood floor in good condition will enhance the value of your home, make your home more attractive, and make it more enticing to potential buyers some day.
