Water Test If the water is quickly soaked up into the wood and leaves a darker stain on the surface, there's no finish left; the wood needs refinishing as soon as possible. Wipe any remaining water from the floor with a paper towel, and repeat the test on any other areas that look as though they may need refinishing.
Since most hardwood planks are manufactured with tongue and groove to interlock, it is necessary to leave at least 1/8 of an inch of wood at the top of the board, above the tongue and groove, for a complete refinish. It may be possible to refinish the floors if the boards are thinner than 1/8 of an inch.
Wood Floor Condition
The condition of the flooring is the most significant factor when choosing to refinish or replace. If the damage is mostly superficial, refinishing is usually the best choice. But if the damage is severe and includes rot or water damage, those planks will have to be replaced.
Solid hardwood floors that have been protected with polyurethane are easy to refinish because they already have a smooth finish. You'll want to sand down the finish and remove any old polyurethane before continuing.
Hardwood floors can last for the life of a home. However, with the wear and tear of everyday use, they will eventually need refinishing. Restore their beauty by learning how to refinish hardwood floors. Find out how to sand hardwood floors and what tools you'll need.
The truth is, it is almost always cheaper to refinish your floor than to replace it. When replacing, you must consider the cost of the new wood as well as the installation, plus the cost to haul your old wood floors away.
Refinishing the hardwood floors was the last step in remedying the odor issue. Once all was said and done, the smell disappeared and the flooring was revived – win win! As a reminder, here's what the flooring looked like.
Aged hardwood floors can be resurfaced or refinished to restore their shine and luster. Resurfacing is a good option if your hardwood floors are severely damaged or outdated, while refinishing is best for minor wear and tear. Hardwood flooring is a popular choice for both resurfacing and refinishing.
When deciding between wood stripping and sanding, consider the size, detail level, and type of wood of your project. For large, flat surfaces, sanding is usually the best option. For smaller, more detailed pieces, stripping might be a better choice.
Resurfacing the floor means repairing it: removing and replacing planks, grinding planks down to even them out, reinforcing the floor with new nails. After all that is done, then the floor can be refinished — sanded down, stained, varnished and sealed.
When can I move furniture back into the rooms? Within 48 hours (the longer you can allow your floors to cure the better) you can "PLACE" or "SET" furniture back into the rooms. Never slide or scoot furniture across your hardwood floors. By doing so there is a great chance you will scratch them.
For oil-based polyurethane, it can take up to 24-48 hours for the finish to dry and up to 72 hours for the fumes to dissipate completely. Therefore, it is recommended that you stay out of your home for at least 72 hours after applying an oil-based polyurethane finish.
Hardwood is the only floor covering that boasts the ability to wear a layer off the top and start anew. With the right professional team in place, it is cheaper to refinish hardwood floors than to replace with laminate or hardwood anew.
You should wait at least 24 hours before walking on the floors with no shoes on. If you have a dog, try to keep them off the floors for at least 24 hours, too. You should wait at least three days before moving your furniture back onto the floors to allow them enough time to cure.
In general, the wear-layer thickness of any wood floor (solid or engineered) that is being considered for a refinish should not be less than 3/32” (approximately 2.5mm).
Flooring professionals can sand away as much as 1/16 inches of wood with the coarsest paper. However, some engineered floors cannot sustain more than one heavy-duty sanding, as they may have a surface veneer of only twice that thickness. Refinishing these floors more than once poses a risk of wear-through.
Use a Store-Bought Chemical Abrasion Kit
You use a chemical solution to prepare the flooring and etch the old finish so the new finish will bond. Then you'll apply a new coat of finish to restore your floor. The Rust-Oleum Transformations Floor Wood and Laminate Renewal Kit ($42) is a popular option.
Yes, refinishing your hardwood floors is worth it. It keeps them looking their best, and it's always less expensive than replacing them.
DON'T: sand against the grain, UNLESS you feel skilled enough to sand diagonally or across the grain. DO: start with 20 grit paper and work your way up to 120 grit paper. DON'T: Go too high in grit or it can cause you to over sand your floors leaving them unable to absorb stain or poly adequately.
How Often Should You Refinish Hardwood Floors? There's no set answer to this question. It depends on the type of wood you have and how much wear it experiences. Most floors start to show age after about ten years, but floors that get a lot of foot traffic or sunlight may need to be refinished sooner.
If you are in the market to have your hardwood floors refinished this summer, then you might want to consider having it done while you are on vacation. Better yet, use your need for refinishing as an excuse to go on vacation!
Plus, it depends on whether you have to move furniture and prepare your space to begin refinishing. It's important to allow floors to dry completely before returning to use and putting furniture back in place. On average, expect it to take 3 full days at the very least to refinish your wood floors.
Mop with a mixture of 1 c (240 mL) of white vinegar and 3 US gal (11 L) of warm water to safely and effectively clean your floors. If your floors have an unsound finish (meaning they absorb water), use mineral spirits to clean them, instead. Sweep your floors regularly, or use the bare floor setting on a vacuum.