Key items to consider when refinishing your hardwood floors |
Posted: May 21, 2018 |
When it comes time to sand and refinish your hardwood floors, there are many considerations, so I wanted to provide a helpful outline for home owners, especially new home owners who may not be familiar with the process.
First, it's important to select the right contractor. I'd recommend hiring a professional who is a flooring specialist. General Contractors and Handymen don't have the right equipment or experience to get the work done properly...or they just hire a flooring company and mark up the price. Do yourself a favor and go directly to the source. Refinishing hardwood is not an easy skill. It's way easier to install hardwood than it is to refinish it.
Many are not sure whether it's even possible to refinish and change the color of their hardwood floors. The good news is that if you have solid hardwood, chances are you can refinish your wood and change the color (e.g. go lighter or go darker). In rare cases, the floors are so old, worn down and thin that they can't be refinished, but this doesn't happen often. A flooring professional will be able to tell you this in an instant.
Think about what stain colors you prefer. Do you want to go light or dark? What is your preference? What is the style of your home? Do you want to make a change. You may find this article on the most popular stain colors helpful.
Be sure to have your flooring professional test the stain colors for you. They will usually test 3-4 samples to help you make a smart decision. The stain colors look different on different people's floors and even on the different pieces of wood. Do not skip this important step.
You'll also want to select a finish or sheen for the floors. Currently, satin and matte finishes (i.e. less shiny) are much more popular. And, they are also easier to maintain. Shiny floors look dated and show every piece of dirt. And, shinier floors show scratches and dents more. You can read more about hardwood sheen levels in this article.
Finally, plan ahead. It usually takes much longer to refinish hardwood floors than people realize. And, it smells and you can't walk on the floors while the work is being done. So, most people choose to do this work while they are away.
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