Wood floor refinishing mistakes are pretty common. They come with inexperience, but they also teach you lessons you’ll never forget. From gouges and mismatched stains to uneven floorboards, the problems that occur during Do-It-Yourself repair jobs can make a major impact on the satisfaction you get from your flooring.
Keep an eye out for these mistakes when refinishing wood floors:
1. Uneven Sanding
You can rent a drum sander from most hardware stores. These large pieces of equipment weigh a ton and create a serious amount of noise and dust. They’re also necessary to scrape the finish from your hardwood floors and smooth out any light scratches and other impurities.
The problem comes from an uneven sanding rhythm. Stay in one spot for too long and you’ll scrape away too many layers of wood and create shallow, sander-shaped impressions across your hardwood floor. Sanding corners and other hard to reach areas can also prove cumbersome with a rented sander. Odd angles and uneven sanding can lead to gouges, waves and “chattering” or circular patterns carved into the floor.
In many cases, a professional using more powerful equipment and higher-quality sandpaper can smooth these imperfections out. In extreme cases, a professional might have to replace sections of flooring, then refinish the entire floor to restore a seamless look to the flooring in your home.
2. Drifting Dust Particles
Grinding layers of wood and finish off your existing flooring will create a very dusty environment in your home. It’s imperative you remove these specks before staining or finishing your floors. The bits of wood or lacquer will get trapped in the fresh varnish and create imperfections in your final look. But getting all that dust up can be a hassle.
Using a vacuum suited to wooden floors along with damp dusting goes a long way to pick it all up. Be sure to start at the top of the room – including light fixtures and door jams – to be sure you capture all the dust in the room before you begin the finishing touches.
3. Poorly Applied Stain and Finish
Consumers often don’t have access to a full range of products for stains and finishes. They get the basic options offered on retail shelves. Professionals have access to higher quality formulas which last longer, dry faster and ultimately look better once a job is complete.
In addition, technique counts! A common problem seen in DIY flooring jobs is peeling finish. When stain isn’t completely cleared off wood flooring before applying the finish, it prevents the finish from adhering to the wood.
Applying too many layers of finish or not allowing it to dry adequately before adding another layer will result in marring. In a short time, your floors will look dull, dirty and possibly damaged as regular wear creates imperfections in the surface.
Trying to avoid wood floor refinishing mistakes? Do yourself a favor and talk with a professional. The cost of hiring the job out might be less than you think! Contact our expert team at Atlanta Floors today.
