Did you know that you’re supposed to refinish your floors every seven or ten years? If that time has come and you still thinking about how to refinish hardwood floors, don’t worry – it’s not too late. In this article, we’ll go over the ways to refinish your hardwood floors so you can bring back their original gloss in no time.
Refinishing vs. Resurfacing
If you want to freshen up your floors, there are two things you can do: refinishing and resurfacing. When you refinish the floor, you simply sand down the uppermost part of the floor and then finish it off with a fresh stain. Resurfacing, on the other hand, strips the floor – it involves the removal of the floorboards, uneven boards, and so on. For that reason, it tends to cost more than refinishing.
When Should You Refinish Your Floors?
When it comes to south Florida property maintenance, you can’t forget about the floorboards. Hardwood floors are designed to be long-lasting, but over time, they will be far from perfect. They’ll go through regular wear and tear, which is why you need to refinish your floors regularly, as well.
But how do you know if your floorboards need to be buffed? We’ve broken down a few ways to tell that your floors aren’t so fresh anymore:
#1 Scratches
Small scratches are unnoticeable, but some scratches are so big that they can be unsightly. This is particularly true if you’re a pet owner. Fortunately, you can refinish your floors to “conceal” the scratches on the surface. All you need is to sand the floors and use a stain for the finish.
#2 Gray Color
You’ll be able to tell that it’s time to refinish your floors when your floors are now gray. This is a sign that your floors have gotten wet or have gone through water damage at a certain stage. The polyurethane on the floorboards will slowly wear off as it absorbs water from wet pet paws, wet feet, and more. If you don’t refinish your floors now, it will be too late to save your floorboards, as you’ll have to resurface the wood instead.
#3 Water Damage
Water damage to the floorboards is inevitable in the event of a flood. In case your South Florida single-family home is flooded, you need to get the floors refinished (or resurfaced) fast. If the damage is on the surface, there’s a good chance that it can be sanded out. However, if the floor were submerged for a long time, there’s a good chance that it’ll turn into a breeding ground for mold, mildew, and more – and as a homeowner, you’re probably aware that this is bad news. For that reason, it would be better to replace the wood floors as it’s guaranteed that the water damage has penetrated the wood already. Partner with a high-end luxury property preservation service that can professionally inspect your floors for you.
How to Refinish Hardwood Floors: The DIY Way
#1 Store-Bought Abrasion Kit
If the scratches on your floors are on the surface only, you can use a store-bought abrasion kit to make sure the floors look professionally finished. By using a store-bought abrasion kit, you can keep your hardwood floorboards since you’re basically restaining the floor’s surface.
- Apply the abrasive solution to the floor and then scrub it into the surface, focusing on areas that have been severely scratched.
- Rinse off the solution. Do not use a wet mop, but instead, a damp mop so you don’t end up with water damage to the floorboards.
- Apply the stain – make sure to pick a color that complements the floor’s current color. Get a rag and use it to spread it across the surface of the floors.
- Finish it off with a coat. Be sure to act fast before it can become “clumpy”. If it hardens, you need to smooth it out so there aren’t any imperfections on the surface.
- Allow the floor to dry for at least 24 hours.
#2 Polyurethane
This method is similar to the first method, but the difference is that it uses a buffer. A buffer is a tool that “sands” the surface of the wood so that the stain can stick to it better. You will probably need to rent a buffer – or buy one from a hardware store, but chances are you don’t need it that often.
- Remove any furniture, decor, etc. from the room as these will likely be blanketed with dust.
- Clean the floor. This ensures that the surface is as smooth as possible, and the buffer can properly buff the floors.
- Seal the area. A lot of dust will be flying around, so if you don’t want the dust to end up in other rooms, seal it off.
- Use the buffer to sand down the floorboards. You’ll need to sand the edges by hand as the buffer won’t be able to get to them.
- After buffing, use a vacuum to get rid of any dirt and debris. Wipe the floors using a damp rag.
- Finally, apply polyurethane to the floors.
#3 Revitalizer
A revitalizer does what it suggests it does – it revitalizes your floors by filling in scratches and bringing back the floor’s original glossy shine. Best of all, it’s an affordable way to make your floors look brand-new.
- Clean the floor using a mop or a damp rag. Don’t use a rag that’s too wet so you don’t cause water damage.
- Apply the solution and allow it to seep into the “pores” of the floors.
- Spread the solution using a dry mop or dry rag.
- Wait for the surface of the floor to fully dry.
Here we have shared the useful and effective ways to refinish your hardwood floors. If you’ve recently installed hardwood floors on your property there are some preventive measures you can do to protect your hardwood floors from regular wear and tear.
When in Doubt, Let the Experts Handle It
If you aren’t confident in your DIY skills, let the pros take care of it. At Luxury Property Care, we’ve established long-standing connections with the best of the best contractors, handymen, and more. Our luxury estate maintenance service in Florida will connect you to experts that can get the work done at a fraction of the cost – not at the cost of workmanship, of course! Not only that, but we’ll also oversee the work on your behalf, so you can be absolutely certain that it’s completed based on your standards.
For more information, feel free to contact us at (561) 944 – 2992 or complete our contact form.
