Like the First Baptist Church downtown, many facilities all around Nashville are finishing their floors to showcase beautiful, new-like hardwoods. But how can you tell if you need to refinish your existing ones, and if so, what will the process look like? Well, the answer isn’t always so simple, and your floors should be examined first to see what steps are necessary. While refinishing is typically cheaper than doing a complete floor installation, it’s important to have a professional evaluate your existing floors to see if sanding is necessary or just a simple coat of polyurethane is needed.
How do I know when it’s time to refinish my floor?
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The flooring that covered the hardwoods (carpet, linoleum, etc.) is worn out or outdated.
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Traffic patterns in hardwoods are noticeable. Areas most affected are entrances, hallways or aisles.
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You want a new color in your hardwood. Minwax, a popular brand used by Ozbun-Hessey, released a line of gray colors that are very popular with clients.
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The floors look dingy with scratches and scrapes, not shiny.
How do I know if my hardwoods need sanding?
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If there is discoloration around the traffic patterns, meaning the floor is wearing past the stain into the wood itself. Sanding and re-staining will be necessary to get it back to your desired consistent color.
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If you want to change the color of your hardwoods.
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If the flooring covering up your hardwoods used an adhesive.
How do I know if I need just a coat of polyurethane and not sanding?
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You already like the color of your existing hardwood flooring.
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The traffic patterns have worn, but they haven’t worked through the stain into the hardwood.
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In some cases, scratches and scrapes are cosmetic and can be fixed with another coat of polyurethane without sanding.
Refinishing your hardwoods is not always a clear-cut process, which is why it is important to call a professional to assess your needs. In some cases both sanding and coating is necessary, but not always. You can save a lot of time and money if a simple polyurethane coat is needed. Whether you have carpet over your existing floors, just want a new color, or need to consider new floor installation, Ozburn-Hessey can assist you. For more information about hardwood refinishing or questions, call them today!
