Are your home’s hardwood floors looking dull? Have they had many years of wear and tear from children and animals running around? If you said yes to any of these questions, then your hardwood floors are in need of a refinish. Replacing the floor all together will take tons of time, labor and money. Whereas, refinishing your hardwood floors will give them a shiny refresh with half the time and labor. In this guide, we go over everything you need to know about hardwood floor refinishing.
Why Refinish Your Hardwood Floors?
Hardwood floor refinishing refreshes dull or old hardwood floors. Instead of replacing wood that has scratches, scuffs or stains from years of wear and tear, give them a new life by refinishing them. Floor refinishing usually lasts about seven to ten years.
What are the Types of Hardwood Floor Refinishing?
There are two types of refinishing products — oil-based polyurethane and water-based polyurethane. Oil-based polyurethane takes longer to dry but lasts longer and is more affordable than water-based polyurethane. Water-based polyurethane refinishing takes half the time to dry. It usually only takes two days whereas oil-based polyurethane takes up to four days to dry. You can also choose between a matte or satin finish. A matte finish works well for families that have pets or children because matte refinishing easily covers scratches, scuffs and stains easily from plain sight. Satin refinishing creates that shine that most homeowners are searching for when they want their hardwood floors refinished. Unlike a matte finish, satin finish can display scratches or scuffs.
How to Set-up Your Home to Refinish the Floors?
If you are ready to refinish your hardwood floors, there are a few steps you must take for the process to go as smoothly as possible. The first step is to choose where you want the refinishing to go. Most homeowners prefer refinishing their floors before they move into their new house. However, you can refinish specific sections or rooms at a time. Once you know where you want it to go, you need to clear all furniture and other items off the area. After the finish is on the wood, you must wait at least 24 hours before walking or placing items back on your hardwood floors. However, we recommend waiting up to four days to prevent any damage while drying.
How to Maintain the Hardwood Floor Refinishing?
Caring for your newly refinished hardwood floors should start about a week after they finish drying. To maintain your floors, you will need to sweep daily to remove any dirt and mop once a week with a hardwood floor cleaner. You’ll want to avoid using soap and water to clean your floors because water exposure can cause your hardwood to swell, buckle and contract. For information about the proper hardwood floor cleaner, give us a call to see our recommended list of cleaning solutions. You’ll also need to clean spills and messes immediately by wiping them with a dry clean cloth, so you don’t have to worry about your floors damaging or gaining spots.
Here at Valor Home Services, our experts specialize in every type of hardwood floor refinishing. Our hardwood floor refinishing services don’t end in just refinishing. We also can sand, repair, buff and so much more on all your hardwood floors. Contact us today to go over our hardwood floor refinishing options and more.
