Hardwood floors are beautiful, but to keep them that way, you need to install them correctly and make sure to maintain them well and get them refinished if necessary. Here are six tips for refinishing hardwood floors.

1. Choose Between Do It Yourself And Hiring Professionals

Just as you can choose to either install a hardwood floor yourself or hire a professional, you can do the same when you’re planning hardwood floor refinishing work. If you have experience working with hardwood floors, you may choose to refinish yours on your own. It’s important to keep in mind that refinishing can actually be more difficult, costly and time-consuming than installation, so it may be a good idea to hire a professional even if you installed your flooring yourself. To hire a professional, shop around for someone who will best meet your needs for the best price.

2. Prepare For Refinishing

First, examine the floor to determine whether there is damage or wear requiring refinishing. Then, remove furniture and other movable items and cover attached fixtures to protect them from the refinishing process. If you’re going to refinish the floor yourself, make sure you have the appropriate tools and safety equipment, such as ear and eye protection, sanders and dust masks. If you’re hiring a professional, ask if your home should be vacated while the team works and whether the team will need anything from you.

3. Sanding, Staining and Finishing

The refinishing process involves three steps: sanding, staining and finishing. Sanding involves using multiple grains of sandpaper, typically with a sanding machine, to polish the wood and remove any unevenness or old finish. Vacuum the floor after sanding to clear residue and debris. Staining is the process of applying a mixture of color and sealant to the boards to revive or change the color of the floor and provide a layer of protection against moisture absorption. Let it dry, then gently sand to even the flooring out. It’s typically applied in multiple thin coats. You should  The wood finish is applied to your flooring last. Multiple coats should be applied, just like the stain. It may take several hours for the finish to dry.

4. Consider Eco-friendly Options

Eco-friendly doesn’t just refer to refinishing materials that will be safe for the outdoor environment, but also to refinishing materials that will be safe for you, your home and your family and guests. There are three commonly used finish choices for hardwood flooring: water-based, oil-based and acid-cured. Water-based finish is the best choice when you want to avoid the possibility of releasing toxins during the refinishing process, which the other two choices may do. When you use an oil-based or acid-cured finish, it’s recommended that you vacate your home with your family, pets and plants to minimize the risk of toxin exposure. A water-based finish is also a more sustainable, durable and environmentally-friendly option.

5. Maintain The Hardwood

Properly maintaining your hardwood flooring can extend the lifespan of your finish. Keep the floor clean by dusting and sweeping regularly. Clean up spills as quickly as possible to minimize the risk of staining. Polish your flooring regularly, but avoid using steam cleaners, soap or vinegar, all of which can damage the finish or the wood. Instead, use products specifically formulated to clean wood and finished wood. Keep in mind that every wood floor will need to be refinished at some point in its lifetime and that the timeline will vary depending on the type of wood and the type of finish used.

You may need to get your hardwood flooring refinished for any number of reasons, including age and wear. Make sure you do your research and have someone skilled and experienced refinish your flooring to maximize the benefits and minimize mistakes.