How Do I Resurface My Hardwood Floors?
Resurfacing hardwood floors is a great way to restore their beauty and extend their lifespan. This is a great way to bring life back to an older floor and really improve the overall look of a room. Here are the basic steps to follow when resurfacing hardwood floors:
Check The Floors: Before starting to resurface your hardwood floors, be sure to check that there is enough quality wood leftover that the floors can take resurfacing. As the floors wear, sometimes they wear so low that sanding them down again will cause cracks or breaks to happen as the floor is too thin to sustain the weight of traffic. Once you have confirmed the floors are able to be resurfaced, move to step #2.
If you aren’t sure if your floors have enough wood left for resurfacing, reach out to the team at Exclusively Floors and Cabinets and we can help give you an opinion on whether your floors are a good candidate for a resurfacing.
Clear the Room: Remove all furniture and rugs from the room so you have a clear workspace.
Prepare the Floor: Use a pry bar and hammer to remove any baseboards or shoe molding that may be attached to the perimeter of the room. Sweep or vacuum the floor to remove any dust or debris.
Sand the Floor: Rent a floor sander and sand the entire floor, starting with a coarse grit sandpaper and working your way up to a finer grit. Sand in the direction of the grain to avoid damaging the wood. Make sure to remove all existing finish, scratches, and dents. When you're done, vacuum or sweep the floor to remove any sawdust.
Stain the Floor (Optional): If you want to change the color of your hardwood floors, you can apply a stain. Choose a stain that matches your desired color and follow the manufacturer's instructions to apply it evenly across the floor. Let it dry completely before moving on to the next step.
Apply a Finish: Apply a high-quality finish to the floor using a roller or brush. Make sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for application and drying time. Typically, two to three coats of finish are recommended for best results. Allow the finish to dry completely before walking on the floor or replacing furniture.
Reinstall Baseboards and Shoe Molding: Once the finish has dried completely, reinstall the baseboards and shoe molding that you removed in step 2.
Clean the Floor: Clean the floor with a mild cleaning solution and a damp mop or cloth. Avoid using abrasive cleaners or tools that could scratch the surface.
Resurfacing hardwood floors is a time-consuming project that requires a bit of skill and patience and makes quite a mess. If you're not comfortable doing it yourself, it's best to talk to professionals to see if resurfacing is the best option and what it would cost for them to do it. Sometimes it can be more economical to replace the flooring than to resurface it. If you aren’t sure if resurfacing is for you, reach out to the team at Exclusively Floors and Cabinets and we would be glad to send out someone to help you weigh your options.
- The Team at Exclusively Floors and Cabinets