Interiors by Design

Hardwood Floor Refinishing

By Robyn V. Powell

New Life for Old Floors

Hardwood flooring is by far the preferred flooring choice among homeowners. When properly maintained, a beautiful, durable, and hypoallergenic natural hardwood floor will last well over a century. One of the advantages of hardwood flooring is that it can be sanded and refinished several times over the life of the floor. Having an old floor doesn’t mean it has to look old! If styles or preferences change, you can completely change the look of your hardwood floor. That said, hardwood flooring, like everything else, needs to be replaced eventually. How do you decide whether to salvage and refinish that decades-old wood floor or just start fresh?

The answer often comes down to personal preference and cost. Nearly all of the time, wood floors can be restored and refinished with excellent results—that’s one of the reasons they last so long. Skilled contractors can repair or replace individual boards damaged by insects, pets, or accidents, and squeaky or loose boards can be tightened and quieted. Damaged areas can be patched by matching wood to the original. Once the entire floor is sanded and re-stained, the new section will blend in and look as if it’s always been there. Refinishing a wood floor is generally less expensive than replacing it.

In some cases, a floor can’t be refinished. If there are substantial structural floor issues that would require the wood floor to be removed to repair the subfloor beneath the wood, you’ll likely need to put a new floor on after the subfloor is repaired. Where there is extreme movement between the boards, refinishing is not recommended because the movement will impact the sanding and finish over time. Some floors have already been sanded so many times that there’s not enough wood left to sand again. Once a floor reaches this stage, when the tongue and groove is falling apart and nails are popping up, it’s time to pull it up and start anew.

Understanding what goes into refinishing hardwood floors will help you decide what your floors need. First, the surface is sanded down to remove the top coat and any light scratches and irregularities between boards. Sanding does not always remove deep scratches, gouges, or heavy discoloration caused by water stains and pet urine. While stains can be minimized, achieving a satisfactory result depends on your expectations. A good idea is to have a professional sand down the floor and apply the desired stain to the questionable area—then you can decide if you’re content with the result.

Once sanded, the wood can be stained anywhere from nearly white to the darkest ebony. Choose from stain charts or have your installer mix a custom stain and apply it to a few sample boards. Custom staining can provide the exact shade you desire, giving you a unique floor that is truly your own.

The final step involves finishing the floors with either a polyurethane-based or water-based finish. Polyurethane is a durable satin or gloss finish that penetrates the wood and adds depth. Both finishes allow for light walking on the floor within 24 hours. Oil-finished wood floors have gained popularity because they highlight and accentuate the natural beauty of wood with a low sheen and ultra-matte finish.

Create a healthy environment in your home by choosing environmentally friendly, low-VOC stains and sealers. Depending on the size of the project, allow three to seven days for completion. Because of the dust, odor, and general disruption, many homeowners move out of the house while the work is being done. Newly refinished floors have a curing time of up to a month, so it’s important to be careful moving furniture and laying rugs even after you move back in.

Maintaining refinished floors is simple. Regular dusting with a broom, mop, or vacuum, plus occasional cleaning with products designed for hardwood floors, is sufficient. Protect wood floors by cleaning up spills right away, keeping pets’ nails trimmed, and using area rugs in high-traffic areas. Minimize UV exposure with window treatments that help filter bright light.

Look for a professional hardwood floor refinisher or a floor installer who also refinishes wood floors. Check for certification from the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA). An experienced refinisher has the skills to control the sanding process to minimize dust, create a smooth and even surface, and apply stain without drips or streaks. Ask friends for references or check online sources and read reviews. Get bids from three companies, and find out if they use a dust control system. If you’re fortunate enough to have classic and timeless hardwood floors in your home, renewing them is the perfect way to enjoy the joy and beauty of natural wood.

Sources for this article included: consumerreports.com, nwfa.org, and woodfloors.org.