Floor resurfacing involves applying a new layer of material on top of your existing flooring, while refinishing involves sanding down the surface of your floors and applying a new stain or finish.
After recoating, the floor will have a uniform sheen and surface scratches will be eliminated. Refinishing is a great option when the floor has deeper scratches (scratches you can feel when rubbing your hand across the scratch) or when you want a new look to your floor.
Budget. Generally speaking, it is almost always less expensive to refinish your hardwood floors than to replace them.
Refinishing a floor basically means giving it a facelift. Refinishing a floor involves: removing the floor's current varnish, seal and stain. sanding down the floor's top layer, to expose the bare wood and its natural grain. applying a fresh stain and lacquer or varnish.
There are three general types of floor finish: polyurethane, penetrating oils and sealers, and waxes. It's important to know which you have because not all finishes are compatible. If the old and new finish don't mix, you'll have to sand down to bare wood before refinishing.
REFINISHING CONS
- Dust, dust, dust. While many companies claim to have excellent dust mitigation systems that really do limit the amount of dust that will inevitably collect in every nook and cranny of your home, no system is 100% dust free. - Smell. Staining floors is stinky and toxic.
This process, which is far cheaper than replacing and reinstalling hardwood floors, involves sanding down the first layer of wood then restaining and sealing it so that you can enjoy many more years with your beloved flooring. It's important to note that the refinishing process only applies to actual hardwood floors.
Floors with extreme movement between boards are not good candidates for refinishing because "the movement will affect the sanding and finish," Lupresto says. Substantial structural problems — those that require the flooring to be removed so the subfloor can be fixed.
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!
Hardwood flooring can be refinished every seven to ten years. If your floors have problems such as the following, then you will want to consider refinishing them: Water damage. Scratches, dents, or other damage.
It's recommended that you stay out of your home for at least 8 hours after applying a water-based polyurethane finish, though usually, you can walk on it much sooner. For a single-component water-based finish, full cure time is usually 7-14 days. This is the finish I recommend to 99% of clients.
How long will my new finish last? On average, a hardwood flooring finish lasts approximately ten years. But with proper care and maintenance, it can last much longer.
How often can I refinish my floors? 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.
It may be possible to refinish the floors if the boards are thinner than 1/8 of an inch. One way to assess the thickness of your wood floorboards is by performing what is known as the “business card test.” If there is a gap between any floorboards, place a business card in the gap.
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.
Refinishing hardwood floors increases your home's value tenfold. It could very well be one of the best decisions you can make for yourself. If you want to sell your home, then consider refinishing the hardwood floors or installing new ones.
As a rule of thumb, the more you wait, the better. 48 hours are generally enough to let the refinished floors dry and then move the furniture back in place. Very important: Never slide or scoot furniture across your hardwood floors! It would be a shame if you just refinished your floors and immediately scratched them.
So can you refinish hardwood floors one room at a time? Of course! I faced a situation similar to this when we needed to replace the floor in the hallway (including the subfloor) after the crap geyser episode in the hallway bathroom.
Darker floors are better suited for larger rooms and open floor plans. Another seemingly unrelated factor to consider is how often you clean your floors. Light hardwood flooring can hide small flaws, dirt, and debris, but anything larger will be very noticeable.
Step 8: Maintaining Your Hardwood Floors
Some people need this done in 5-7 years, while others can wait 7-10 years. All the furniture must be removed from the hardwood areas for this process, but we won't need to remove trim or appliances.
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).
Applying a Revitalizer. 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.
For WOCA applications, projects up to 1,500 sq ft will take 2-3 days, and add one extra day for every additional 1,000 sq ft. Rubio requires an 80-grit sand, which is normal for all sanding procedures. Rubio necessitates only one coat, and wood treated with Rubio will not take more than one coat of the product.
Choose DIY-friendly sanding equipment.
Random orbital sanders are the best choice for do-it-yourself hardwood floor refinishing. They take longer to remove old finishes than drum sanders, but they do not require a lot of experience to use and are less likely to damage your wood floor.