How to Refinish Hardwood Floors: A Complete Guide

Hardwood floors have always been a classic addition to a home, offering beauty, durability, and charm. Over time, however, wear and tear can lead to floors that look dull, scratched, or faded. If your hardwood floors are beginning to show signs of age, refinishing them can bring back their original beauty and luster. 

At Perfect Restoration, we specialize in hardwood floor refinishing and help homeowners create floors that seem brand new. If you’ve been thinking about refinishing your hardwood floors, this guide covers the entire process. Whether you’re a handy person or want a professional to handle the job, you’ll find the right information to get started.

Why Refinish Hardwood Floors?

Refinishing your hardwood floors can improve the look of your house dramatically. Over time, your hardwood flooring can be scratched, stained, and worn on the surface through heavy foot traffic, pets, and furniture. Refinishing is a wonderful way to:

• Restore shine: Revive the glossy finish on your hardwood.
  
• Repair damage: Fill in scratches, and get rid of scuff marks.
  
• Extend lifespan: Refinishing will extend your floor’s life when done correctly.
  

Refinishing your hardwood floors is an economical way to breathe new life into your space without replacing the flooring.

How to Refinish Hardwood Floors: Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Prepare the Area

Before beginning the refinishing process of your hardwood floor, it is critical to prepare the area. Remove all the furniture, rugs, and anything else from the room. If there are baseboards, you may want to tape them off so that they do not get hurt in the area while you are performing the refinishing project. 

• Vacuum and clean: You will want to remove any dirt and debris from the surface of the floor. Cleaning the floor’s surface will allow the refinishing product to adhere properly
  
• Cover vents and doors: Dust is created during the sanding process. You will want to cover any vents or doors so that dust does not spread throughout your home

Step 2: Sand the Floors

Sanding is an important step in refinishing hardwood floors. The purpose of the sanding process is to remove the old finish and prep the wood for refinishing. A drum sander can be used for the open areas, and a hand sander will work well for corners and edges.

• Start with coarse sandpaper: Start with coarse 36-40 grit sandpaper to remove the old finish.
  
• Follow with finer sandpaper: Move to finer grit (60-80 grit) sandpaper to help smooth out the wood.
  
• Dust removal: Vacuum the floor very thoroughly and wipe with a damp cloth afterward to remove all dust.
  

Step 3: Apply a Stain (Optional)

If you want to change the color of your hardwood floor, now is the time to apply a stain. You can use any stain that complements the design of your home. 

• Test the stain: As always, test the stain on a part of the floor before applying it to the entire floor
  
• Apply evenly: Apply the stain with a cloth or a brush. Be sure to apply the stain in the direction of the wood grain.

Step 4: Apply the Finish

The last step to refinish your hardwood floors is applying a finishing coat. The finishing coat will improve the color and also protect the floor from the future. 

• Choose the right finish: PolPolyurethane is commonly used because it is durable and has a nice sheen.
  
• Apply thin coats: Apply thin, even coats, and allow each coat to dry before applying the next coat
  
• Buff the surface: After the first coat has dried, buff the floor lightly to make sure the surface is smooth before applying the additional coats.

Step 5: Allow Time to Dry

Once you have applied the finishing coat, allow the floor to dry completely. This will take several hours, depending on the product and the humidity level.

• Ventilate the room: Open the windows and/or use fans to help the drying process.
  
• Avoid foot traffic: Don’t walk on the floor until it is completely dry so you don’t leave smudges or dents in the finish.

Benefits of Hiring Professionals at Perfect Restoration

Although it is possible to refinish your hardwood floors on your own, there are multiple benefits to hiring a team like Perfect Restoration.

• Expert knowledge: We know what we are doing when it comes to sanding, staining, and finishing hardwood floors.
  
• Quality tools: We use the right equipment, so you do not have to worry about finishing in the wrong way
  
• Time-saving: We can get it done fast, so you can get back on your newly refinished floors more quickly
  

If you are not certain about refinishing it yourself and prefer to leave the results to an expert, give Perfect Restoration a call to schedule an appointment, and we can walk you through the whole process and finish the job correctly.

FAQs About Refinishing Hardwood Floors

1. How often should hardwood floors be refinished?

Hardwood floors will typically require refinishing about every 7-10 years, depending on the amount of traffic. A more heavily trafficked area will likely need refinishing more often.

2. Can I refinish hardwood floors without sanding?

There are methods that are referred to as “screen and recoat” that involve buffing the surface and applying a new coat of finish. However, this may not be an option for floors that have significant damage.

3. How long does it take to refinish hardwood floors?

Refinishing floors typically takes 3-5 days, depending on the size of the area, the amount of drying time in between coats, and the number of coats being applied to the area.

4. Is refinishing hardwood floors messy?

Yes, there will be a significant amount of dust during the sanding process, and refinishing can be a mess depending on the conditions. However, if you hire professionals like Perfect Restoration, dust management is part of their equipment setup process.

5. How much does it cost to refinish hardwood floors?

The cost for refinishing hardwood floors varies based on the size of the area being refinished, the existing condition, and whether you are hiring professionals or doing it yourself. The cost generally ranges between $3 $8 per square foot. (Havwoods)

Conclusion

In conclusion, refinishing hardwood flooring is a satisfying and effective way to bring back its appearance and to prolong its life. Whether the process is done yourself or you hire a business like Perfect Restoration for a skilled project, the outcome is going to benefit your home. If you follow the right processes, along with the correct materials, you could enjoy your remarkable floors’ glow for years to come. Call Perfect Restoration for hands-on refinishing, along with specialized solutions.