5 things you should know about wood floor refinishing

Infusing a new life to your hardwood floors is a rewarding process. No matter is it is a hardwood floor that has graced your house for years or attractive hardwood floor that was hidden under the carpet, wood floor refinishing process can add a completely new life to your hardwood floors. As a matter of fact, one of the most important reasons for the popularity of hardwood floors, is their refinishing feature which makes them look just like a newly installed floor.

However, if you are planning a wood floor refinish, here are 5 things that you should keep in mind.

Type of Finish-

There are commonly three different types of wood finishes- polyurethane, penetrating sealer and varnish. Polyurethane finish will provide the floor with a plastic-like, shiny finish, varnish for a glossy-matte finish and penetrating sealer will provide it with a natural look. Also remember that the penetrating sealer can turn dark with time. However, it offers enhanced protection to the floor.

Consult a Professional-

While a lot of DIY-enthusiasts prefer doing the wood floor refinishing themselves, it is better to consult a professional for doing the job. While it seems like an easy process, the reality is, smallest of mistakes can require to start the entire process all over again. Right from buffing, applying sand to the finish, everything needs to be done precisely to get the desired results. If you do not have any prior experience with the refinishing process, let a professional handle the process.

Do Not Buy the Equipments-

If you want to do it yourself, there is no need to buy the equipments, like duster or sander. There are many hardware shops where you can rent these equipments. Wood floor refinishing is not something that you will do twice in a month, so there is no use of buying the equipment. This will also help in keeping the cost of the entire process low. However, make sure that you do purchase safety goggles and ventilation masks for safety.

 Using Sand is NOT Compulsory-

If there are only minor scratches on your hardwood floor and they are not even reaching the actual wood, then it is not necessary to sand the floor. Simply use a buffer for scuff-sanding and apply one or two coats of finish. This will save you money as well as time.

Keep Sawdust Handy-

If there are protruding nails on the floor which you might have hammered back, it is better to keep some sawdust from the sanding process with you. The sawdust can be used to create a putty which can be applied to fill such damages. This will give a uniform look to the entire floor.

Remember these 5 things in mind while refinishing the wood floor as they will make the process easier as well as less time and money consuming.