Give Your Wood Floors A Facelift
The strength and durability of hardwood flooring makes it capable of lasting for decades, especially if well taken care of. This entails the routine cleaning to get rid of the grime and stains that wind up on it, all through to the occasional restoration when the floor wears down due to the trauma that it undergoes over the years. A round of sanding and refinishing to deal with the scratches, dents, and faded or dull finish due to the finish various human and environmental effects that the floor faces is key. After all, you don’t want to have a lacklustre-looking floor or one whose structural integrity has deteriorated due to neglect. Getting it sanded can give you a fresh start. The restoration process – entailing both the sanding and refinishing, is more economical compared to replacing the floor itself. Moreover, with the wide range of finishing agents that are available, you will be able to have the specific decor result that you desire.
The floor restoration is a process with multiple factors to consider. Here are 6 things that you should know:
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Deep cleaning and touching up your floor
When the floor loses its lustre, there are some cases where it can be revitalized without the sanding. For this, specialised products are used that need to be compatible with the already existing treatment – and this should be indicated on the product label. The lacquers ‘nourish’ the finish, restoring the lost oils, and the surface can also be buffed up to bring back the shine. This is done after a round of deep cleaning to remove the grime that is on the surface, and it is only feasible when the level of wear is miniscule. However, it has the welcome benefit of prolonging the period before a complete cycle of floor and sanding and refinishing is required.
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Preparing for the floor restoration
Before the contractors come over, there are measures that you can take that will enable the process to proceed more smoothly. For starters, you should clear away previous items, and also look into getting covers for the appliances around the premises. Also cover the electrical outlets and doors, and seal off the affected rooms as much as you can, to prevent cares of dust spreading through the rest of the premises.
Given that dust is a key concern during the floor sanding, it is recommended that you hire a contractor who uses dustless systems. These are machines where a strong suction system is incorporated into the sanding units, which picks up the dust particles immediately they get sanded off the floor. It traps both the fine and coarse particles, preventing them from being circulated through the rest of the indoor space.
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Sanding and refinishing cycles
Wood floors have a limit to the number of times they can be sanded and refinished. This is dependent on aspects such as the thickness of the wear layer. For instance, in engineered wood floors, the thin wear layer means that they can only be sanded two or three times. On the other hand, for solid hardwood floors this can be over 7 times. When you have professionals carrying out the task, you will be able to ensure only the required amount of wood tissue is removed for the surface to be restored without compromising the structural integrity of the installation.
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Dealing with gaps
During the sanding, imperfections like gaps in the structure can be fixed. Here, these are filled by mixing the optimal filler agent with the sanding dust from the wood flooring worked on. The paste formed by mixing them will have similar properties to the rest of the floor, that way factors like the seasonal expansion and contraction can be more uniform.
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Making radical changes: Applying new colours
Once the floor has been sanded down to the bare wood, you can apply similar finishes as before, or completely new ones. The wide range of wood stains available, coupled with the oil-based and water-based lacquers available, allow you to have the finish effect that matches your decor preferences. Note that you should also consider the properties of the finish product, such as the impact of the sun’s radiation on it, since there are those that yellow over time.
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Caring for surrounding surfaces and materials
During the floor sanding and refinishing, if the baseboards get scuffed up, or some wood stain or finish end up on them, some extra painting will be required. This also applies to structures like stair rises, steps, stringers as well as the spindles. The edger sanders used to get to the floor edges also means that the walls may get scuffed. When dealing with a professional contractor, measures are put in place to prevent this from happening, protecting the surrounding structures during the floor sanding process.
Note This Before Restoring Your Wood Floor
- Items like nails or screw heads that are sticking out of the surface can damage the floor sanding machines. These will need to be driven below the wood surface.
- Gaps and cracks on the floor should be filled before new finish coats are applied. That way you can have a uniform result with the rest of the surface.
- There are also cases where the problem is underneath the surface, such as when the floor is creaking. There could also be a mould infestation, or pets like termites, which can cause widespread damage to the installation. For these cases, it is imperative to call in the professionals to rectify the underlying problem.
- When the damage to the hardwood floor is extensive, then you may need to have the floor repaired. This also applies when the floor has been sanded so many times that the wear layer has been depleted.
Call In The Pros To Refurbish Your Wood Floor
Our team is on standby to bring a new look to your floors. We have invested heavily in both the equipment needed for the task, as well as the professional development of the crew sent to handle the project. They will undertake the task while maintaining industry levels of professionalism, and also address any queries that you will have about the processes being undertaken. Contact us for a quote.
