Almost anyone who opts for this type of flooring eventually wonders about the best way to refinish hardwood floors. Good flooring is both attractive and durable, but even the strongest hardwood can’t stand up to a family forever. Between furniture moving over it, spilled drinks, shoes and even family pets, it’s a wonder our floors manage to last as long as they do. Luckily, much of the damage they absorb can be temporary with a good refinishing job. Just make sure you don’t fall victim to the following misconceptions about hardwood floor refinishing.
Misconception #1: You Always Need a Full Refinishing for Hardwood
If some of the floor needs refinishing, all of it does, right? Wrong!
A full refinishing job isn’t always necessary, which means you can end up with the results you want without paying the higher costs associated with a full refinish. If there aren’t any deep gouges in the floor and the finish is still mostly there, you might only need a maintenance coat!
To apply this, a flooring professional lightly sands the current layer of finish before applying a fresh coat right over the top. Applying this coating costs roughly half of what a full refinishing job would cost.
Misconception #2: Sanding Down to Bare Wood Is Mandatory for Refinishing
If your flooring has plenty of scratches, you might think you need to sand all the way down to bare wood to refinish it. This isn’t necessarily true, however. If the scratches are shallow and don’t go far beneath the surface, a scuff-sand job performed by a buffer can do the trick before application of fresh coats of finish. This is cheaper, quicker and easier than sanding down to bare wood, but be sure you’re not using a buffer for the first time when you get started.
Misconception #3: Refinishing Your Own Floors Is the Best Way to Proceed
Performing your own sanding and refinishing is a great way to save some money, but it’s also a common way people end up damaging their hardwood flooring. Wooden floors are a considerable investment, which means it doesn’t make sense to risk their condition for the sake of keeping a few extra bucks. The professionals who do flooring for a living will always be the best bet for you, as doing the job right the first time means less headache down the line. Beyond that, if you accidentally cause damage you’ll end up spending more in the long run anyway.
Need help with understanding the best way to refinish hardwood floors? Have questions about switching from carpeting? At Atlanta Flooring, we have the answers you need. Call us today with your questions, or to schedule a free estimate at (404) 915-5054.
