If you think it may be time to refinish your hardwood floors, then you really need to consider taking another deeper look. While it is possible that your hardwood floor needs a refinish, some people do it prematurely, which wastes a lot of time and money.
There are several things that you need to look at when you think about refinishing. If the surface of the hardwood is getting a little dull, or if there are minor surface scratches, then it’s probably not worth completely refinishing it.
On the other end of the spectrum, if your boards are warped or cracked in many places, then you may need to bypass the refinishing all together and just get a new floor installed completely.
Refinishing hardwood floors yourself takes a lot of time. Hiring a contractor to do it will require a good amount of money. That’s why it’s very important to be 100% sure that your floor needs a refinishing before you jump into the process.
What to do if You Have Dull Hardwood Floors?
Like anything else, hardwood floors are going to lose their luster. People and pets constantly walk all over them, furniture gets moved, food and drinks get spilled along with the endless messes that occur. It’s actually pretty amazing that most hardwood floors hold up as well as they do.
It can take many years for you to notice that your floors are getting a little dull. When you do see that your hardwood floors aren’t as shiny as they used to be, you can consider other options.
Many home improvement or hardware stores have products that you can use to restore your floors instead of going through the refinishing process. Sometimes all you will need to do is rough up the surface a little bit, apply the product and then watch it get its shine back. By going this route, you will save yourself a lot of time, money and effort. You will also realize that the floor looks just about as good as it would if you refinished it completely.
What about Warped or Damaged Planks?
The answer to that question is that it depends. If you have multiple planks that are damaged or warped, then you may have to consider replacing the floor completely.
However, if the damage is just limited to a few random boards, then you may be able to replace just those pieces. If you do that, then you could consider an entire refinish.
Planks that are damaged, warped or where the finish has been removed completely could benefit from a refinishing. If you start to notice dirt and grime getting lodged in between cracks in the individual plank, then it’s probably time to refinish. If the damage is expensive, then you may save yourself some time and money by calling out a professional to examine the floor for you and give advice.
Consider the Type of Hardwood
If you’ve made the decision that you need to refinish your hardwood floors, then there are things you need to consider further before getting started.
You need to find out whether your hardwood floors are solid wood or engineered wood. These react differently to refinishing, so it’s very important to know what you’re working with.
Engineered hardwood floors are made with layers of wood stacked on top of one another and glued together. This makes it extremely difficult to refinish because of the slim margin of error that you have.
Solid wood floors are easier to refinish yourself, but you also need to know what type of wood you are working with. You will have to do your research on the different types of wood so you can avoid damaging your floors further.
When in Doubt, Call a Professional
If you’ve never refinished a hardwood floor by yourself before, then it’s in your best interest to call a professional. It may seem like an easy task, but there is a lot more that you have to think about. If nothing else, the professional can help answer any questions and give you things to look out for if you decide to refinish them yourself. Do yourself a favor and consult a professional before you take any drastic steps toward refinishing your floors.