Looking for a way to spruce up the look of your home? One of the major benefits of wood floors is that they can be adapted to a variety of décor and style changes over the years while other flooring options require replacement. If you only have some minor scratches and dings or a dull finish, it might be possible to simply buff and add a new coat of finish. But, even if your floors need a complete makeover, refinishing hardwood is a great way to make a space feel brand new.
When your floors start to look a little dull, a maintenance coat may be the solution. A maintenance coat involves a wood flooring professional cleaning the existing floor finish, then lightly sanding it, and applying a fresh new coat of wood floor finish. When a new coat of finish doesn’t meet the needs of the floor, a resand may be in order.
A complete sand and refinish is recommended when there is damage to the wood floor like deep scratches, dents, and other flooring damage. It is also recommended when the finish has worn away, and the bare wood is exposed. Sanding a floor back to raw wood is the perfect opportunity to change the color of the floor.
The number of times a floor can be sanded varies depending on a variety of factors including the skill of the contractor, the equipment used, the thickness of the wear layer, the flatness of the floor, and the condition of the floor. There are wood floors more than 300 years old that are still in service today that have gone through numerous style changes.
It’s easy to transform the look of your wood floors through the process of sanding and refinishing. You’ll want a certified wood flooring professional who has the knowledge and skills to do the job right, though. The NWFA is dedicated to educating wood flooring professionals in the installation, sanding, finishing, inspection, and sales of wood flooring products. Find one in your area using our “Find a Professional” search feature.
Once you have a home full of beautiful floors, keep them looking new by sweeping and dust mopping regularly, using furniture pads, and exercising caution with hard-soled shoes. Click here for additional tips on how to maintain your wood floors or here to download the free Homeowner’s Handbook to Real Wood Floors.
