Do you know the feeling you get when you step onto a nice fall? What, exactly, a nice floor is may depend in part on your personal preferences. Some people really like hardwood, while others think carpet is the premier type of flooring. Also, some types of flooring work better in certain rooms than in others. For example, hardwood looks lovely in a dining room but is not the best choice for a bathroom. As you can see, there is a lot to know about flooring. That's why we are proud to offer an array of articles all about flooring right here on this website.
Why You Need A Professional For Hardwood Floor Refinishing
There are many people buying older homes as their first homes. These homes are generally less expensive and they can be renovated and sold or renovated and lived in for decades to come. One of the benefits of these homes is the flooring. Many have hardwood floors throughout that have been covered by vinyl, carpet, or both. You may be tempted, once you uncover these floors, to refinish them yourself. Here are the reasons why you should hire a flooring professional for hardwood floor refinishing.
Hardwood Floor Stripping
When you have hardwood floors that have had carpet, vinyl, or other flooring systems placed over the wood, then you will have buildup. This buildup may be from glue or other adhesives. You may believe you can remove this buildup on your own. The issue with doing it on your own is not knowing about the actual wood. You can make a guess as to what kind of wood it is, but if you do not know for sure and you buy the wrong stripping solution, you will ruin the floors. A professional can determine what type of hardwood is in the home and use the right chemicals to strip off the buildup without harming the natural wood.
Hardwood Floor Sanding
Once the buildup is removed, you may need to sand the floor. This is to even out areas and to make sure you have the natural wood on the top. You will need to expose the natural wood of the top layer in order to refinish the wood and prep it for the actual refinishing and staining steps. If you have never used a sander, you may find that you are pressing too lightly or too hard. You may be using the wrong sanding page as well. A professional will know how to use a sander to give an even finish and will know what grade of sanding paper or discs is needed.
Hardwood Floor Finishing
The final step of the refinishing will be staining, sealing, and buffing. Staining an entire room of hardwood flooring, as well as sealing it, can take a considerable amount of time. Your professional flooring contractor can handle this step and seal the wood in a shorter amount of time. They can also buff it with the proper industrial flooring equipment. This will give you an even color, shine, and overall professional finished look to the hardwood flooring.
If you are ready to begin the refinishing of your floors, contact your flooring contractor. They will visit the home to inspect the floors and give you an estimate for the refinishing. After you settle on a time to start the process, they will schedule your appointment. This is the time to ask any questions you have regarding maintaining the refinished floors and what you need to know about basic cleaning of the floors to keep them looking like new.