If your hardwood flooring is looking worn and the grain is splitting or darkening with age, quite often it can be rejuvenated to near new with a thorough sanding and refinishing. Warping caused by moisture, broken pipes or flooding can sometimes be sanded out or even spot planed if it is contained in a small area. Major lifting and warping may require a more complete re installation using new materials.

Refinishing Hardwood Floors

Minor warping can be repaired using some old woodworker tricks of the trade like heat steaming with a clothes iron and pressing on a moist cloth for a few minutes. This same technique works quite well for hardwood dents and some deep drag marks. Sanding the hardwood floor will only remove a top layer of old finish coat and surface damage and wear. Using a coarser sand paper will dig deeper and may be effective for major discoloration.

After the floor has been thoroughly sanded using different grades of sandpaper increasingly to finer grade [120 – 360 grade as required], you may find your hardwood flooring is still ‘spotty’ where it required the most machining. Remember that the finish you choose will hide a multitude of sins and defects in the hardwood. So choosing a slightly darker stain may be in order.

Finishing and coating specialists can mix a color for you specifically, like they would if you were ordering paint colors so ask for mixing assistance. Certain clear coats will dry on the darker side after being absorbed by the freshly sanded hardwood so inquire about this when purchasing your cover coat. Be sure to use a hardy and durable final finish coat and three, sometimes four applications will make for a beautiful as well as tough hardwearing finish that will last a long time.

Fine, light sanding between applications is required except for the final coat, which should be applied before previous coat dries entirely. Usually a quality oil-based varnish is used for hardwood floor finishing but water based varnish is gaining in popularity because of its tendency to dry quicker making multiple applications faster.

Or Replace Them

Replacing your hardwood floors can be a simple and enjoyable process if you do your research. Keeping your budget in check and finding materials that are long lasting and resilient will save you time and money later. Remember to choose polyurethane varnishes that will provide a protective as well as elegant finish. If you are a busy individual, you’ll want to make sure your replacement hardwood is easy to maintain and that starts with the finish coat you choose.

Start your search with an online Inspiration Gallery.

Professional installation is always the best choice unless you are handy working with wood and have the proper tools to do the job yourself. The replacement process is straightforward but patience is required since one of the main problems with amateur installations is rushing the process. Waiting to see the finished product seems to be one of the more difficult steps in the entire installation procedure.