A hardwood floor is certainly a investment, and it makes a huge difference to the overall aesthetic of your home. If you regularly maintain your hardwood floor (sweeping daily, clearing up spills as they happen) you probably won’t need to refinish it for around 20 years. After this time normal wear and tear takes place, and as such the floor might suffer from scratches, discoloration, and dullness. Give your hardwood floor a new lease of life by refinishing it using the following steps:
Sand
The first step is to sand the floor. You might want to hire a professional to do this, or if you feel confident you can rent a sander to complete the job yourself. Make sure you’re using the right sandpaper gradient and know how to operate the machinery – it’s not worth ruining your floor to save money as it will cost more in the long run to install an entirely new floor!
Clean
After sanding you need to remove all dust and dirt from the room – every single speck. Wipe down walls and moldings debris onto the floor, letting it settle for a while. You can then vacuum up using a dust filter. Then finally use several tack cloths to clean up any residue.
Choose your Finish
Next you need to choose your finish – which type you choose will be dependent on the needs of your flooring as some are more durable than others. You can opt for polyurethane, varnish, or penetrating sealer. It make the most sense to seal the wood as soon as possible in order to ensure the exposed wood is not affected by moisture. Apply evenly and use thin coats, following the directions on the container. You should wait at least 24 hours (if not longer) to move furniture back into the room.
