Insight and Tips for Refinishing Hardwood Floors

 

Let’s talk installing and refinishing hardwood floors. You all know the long and arduous process we went through last year when our kitchen and family room was flooded by a dishwasher malfunction. The best thing that came out of the ordeal was a new kitchen and newly refinished hardwood floors. One of the top questions I receive is about refinishing the floors. I learned so much throughout that process and today I want to share my insight and tips for installing and refinishing hardwood floors.

CHOOSING HARDWOOD FLOORING

Over the years I have installing many types of flooring, hardwood, laminate, prefinished (engineered) hardwood, tile and vinyl. My personal favorite flooring for any home is solid hardwood flooring with prefinished hardwood as a close second. Both choices can add value to your home. Many of you might not know but I was a former Realtor and I saw first-hand how homes with hardwood flooring sold faster and for more money than homes with other types of flooring. A National Association of Realtors study indicates homeowners are willing pay an extra $2,080 just for hardwood. Hardwood and prefinished hardwood floors are an investment, but it is an investment that can deliver nice returns! Prefinished or engineered hardwood is made by fusing layers of hardwood together. The bonded layers create planks with strength and stability. Engineered hardwood can be installed in baths and basements because it tolerates higher levels of humidity. Installation is done though nailing, or gluing, or installing a floating floor system.

Solid hardwood flooring is made from a solid piece of wood. The advantage of solid hardwood is that it can be sanded repeatedly and will last for decades. Installation requires nailing the planks into to a wood subfloor. A disadvantage is that solid hardwood is susceptible to moisture damage and therefore is not ideal for moisture prone areas such as bathrooms or basements.

QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE REFINISHING HARDWOOD FLOORING

The average home with hardwood flooring most likely will need refinishing once every 10+ years. We found this true in our home which is less than 10 years old and though most of our floors looked ok, the areas that had high traffic were worn and scratched. In our specific situation, 1/3 of our hardwood oak flooring had been damaged by the flood waters and needed to be ripped out and replaced. This was an opportune time to refinish the entire existing flooring and make it our own. Here are some to questions you should ask before refinishing your floors:

•     Can your floors even be refinished? You need at least 1/8″ hardwood to be able to safely refinish the flooring.
•     Can you tackle this job yourself or do you need to hire a professional?
•     If I hire a professional what should I expect?
•     What steps do I need to take to prepare?
•     How long will the process take?
•     Do I need to move all furniture out?
•     Do we need to stay elsewhere during the refinishing process?

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