How do I know if my floors need refinishing?

Author: Viva Feil  |  Last update: Monday, June 13, 2022

Big scratches and dents, gray floorboards and splinters are all signs that your hardwood floors need refinishing.
...
  1. Major scratches and dents. ...
  2. Cupping. ...
  3. Splinters. ...
  4. Gray floorboards. ...
  5. Water stains. ...
  6. Fading and discoloration.

How do you know if your floors need to be refinished?

5 signs that it's time to refinish your hardwood floors
  1. Lots of scratches. ...
  2. Some boards are turning gray. ...
  3. Some boards have already turned black. ...
  4. Water damage (or moisture damage) ...
  5. Fading (and/or discoloration) from sun…or dullness.

How often do wood floors need to be refinished?

Depending on a floor's thickness and the experience of the flooring professional, a floor can be sanded around 4-6 times in its entire life. Hardwood floors can be refinished every 7-10 years, making the 4-6 refinishes more than enough.

Is it worth it to refinish floors?

It takes some elbow grease to refinish hardwood floors, but it's worth it. Hardwood floors add value to your home and provide a classic look that goes with any style.

Is it worth refinishing my hardwood floors?

In most scenarios, refinishing rather than replacing your hardwood floor is the ideal outcome. While refinishing hardwood can be a long and tedious process, it is much more cost-effective than a total replacement. During the refinishing process, all furniture will have to be removed from the room.

How To Sand & Refinish Hardwood Floors

Can I stay in my house while floors are refinished?

If your hardwood floors have been sanded and finished with Bona Mega Clear HD, it is safe to sleep in the home about 2-3 hours after the project is finished, but again, only if there are other rooms that have not been robbed of their furniture – furniture should stay off floors for at least 24 hours after ANY project ...

Are pine floors worth refinishing?

Refinishing pine floors is more challenging than sanding oak floors as the wood is softer. This is definitely a job best left to the professionals. There are multiple species with varying hardnesses, each requiring different grits.

Is it cheaper to refinish floors or replace?

In general, it will almost ALWAYS be less expensive to refinish your hardwood floors. If you replace them, you need to pay for additional wood as well as ripping up and hauling away existing hardwood.

How do I make my hardwood floors look new without refinishing?

To make hardwood floors look like new without refinishing:
  1. Try buffing and polishing with a commercial-grade buffer.
  2. Use a hardwood floor polishing sealant.
  3. Clean markers with toothpaste and a clean cloth.
  4. Apply a wood floor cleaner or oil soap for a high-gloss clean.

What is the difference between refinishing and resurfacing wood floors?

You can undertake to refinish yourself — but the professional treatment is sure to leave you most satisfied. Resurfacing your floor involves more than just putting a layer of polish on top. It may require removing old floorboards, grinding down uneven boards, and reinforcing wood planks with new nails.

What is the best time of year to refinish hardwood floors?

If I had to pick an ideal time, I would say spring or fall when the indoor temperature is most consistent with outdoor temperature and it's often easy to open the windows (after the work is complete) to help air out the smell faster. But, really, sanding and refinishing hardwood can take place any time of year.

Will refinishing hardwood floors remove scratches?

Refinishing hardwood floors is the right solution. All wood floors are protected by a clear coating that eventually becomes scratched, scuffed and dull. Hardwood floor refinishing can help you get rid of those unsightly scratches and marks.

What to expect when getting floors refinished?

What to expect when sanding and refinishing your floors
  1. Wood is a natural product; do not expect perfection; be realistic.
  2. Do expect dust.
  3. Timeline – time to do the work, drying time, curing time.
  4. If you are ripping up the carpet, you may have a few unexpected minor surprises.

How do I know if I need to sand my hardwood floors?

If the mark on the card is less than 3/4-inch from the edge, hire a professional to refinish your floors rather than attempting to do it yourself. To refinish the floors, you must sand off the old finish. If the floor is less than 3/4-inch thick, sanding it is a delicate job best handled by a professional.

How many times can you sand and refinish hardwood floors?

Hardwood flooring can be re-sanded up to 10 times, depending on how bad the floor is and how skilled the person doing the sanding is. It costs about $2.50 per square foot to refinish a floor, plus $50 an hour for patching and thresholds.

How long does it take to refinish floors?

Depending on the product used, and the current weather conditions, each coat could take either hours or days. Figure at least two days for the “sand and poly” job or three to seven days for a full refinishing project, plus at least one day if you're adding color.

How do I bring my old hardwood floors back to life?

How to Revitalize Floors
  1. First, give your floor a good cleaning. ...
  2. Next, apply the revitalizer according to the package instructions. ...
  3. Use your mop to spread the revitalizer on the floor. ...
  4. Once the revitalizer is spread evenly, let it dry fully before you move furniture back in place or allow foot traffic on the floors.

What is the cheapest way to refinish hardwood floors?

Applying a revitalizer gloss is the simplest and cheapest way to refinish hardwood floors. This approach works best on floors that only have surface-level scratches and other minor wear and tear issues. You can get the job done without the need for equipment rentals or hard-to-find materials.

How can I make my hardwood floors look good again?

  1. STEP 1: Test the finish on your wood floors. ...
  2. STEP 2: Clear and clean your wood floors of dust and dirt. ...
  3. STEP 3: Polish wood floors to a shine. ...
  4. STEP 4: Hold off restoring the room for at least a day. ...
  5. STEP 5: Follow a few precautions to keep wood floors looking great, and you can put off your next polishing job!

How much does it cost to install 1000 square feet of hardwood floors?

Installing hardwood flooring averages between $6 and $12 per square foot. On average, wood flooring costs between $3 and $7 per square foot for materials and $3 to $5 per square foot for labor. An estimate for installation of 1000 square feet of hardwood flooring runs between $6,000 and $12,000.

How do I know if my hardwood floor is salvage?

"The two best indicators to tell if a wood floor is not salvageable are cracking or breakage along the perimeter of individual planks, and exposed nailheads—meaning the flooring has been sanded down so much the heads of the original blind nails are exposed," says Murray.

Is pine too soft for flooring?

Pine Flooring

A pine floor will be soft, so it will acquire dings, dents, scratches, and scuff marks easier than other harder flooring options. But just because the wood is soft doesn't mean it doesn't work for flooring. Over time, the floor will harden.

Can you refinish floors one room at a time?

For people who are already living in their homes and needing to shuffle furniture from one room to another to get the floors done, refinishing the entire home at once isn't possible. So can you refinish hardwood floors one room at a time? Of course!

Can I leave my wood floors unfinished?

After installing such beautiful natural flooring, you may wonder if it is really necessary to apply wood stain and finish products. Is it okay to leave hardwood floors unfinished? The answer is yes, you do not have to finish a hardwood floor!

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