One of the great things about hardwood flooring, and certainly one of the main things that sets it apart from other flooring materials, is the floor’s ability to be refinished. Refinishing refers to the process of sanding down the existing surface and covering it with a new coat of finish. This is usually done to either change the look of the flooring, or to give it a new lease on life. But how often is is the process safe for you floor?
How to Refinish Hardwood Floors
Resurfacing an Engineered Floor
Before we jump into the subject, there is something that needs to be clarified. If the flooring is actually an engineered hardwood floor, then it cannot be treated the same as traditional hardwood flooring. Engineered hardwood flooring is made with a thinner layer of hardwood on top of a cushioned core. If you refinish it too many times, you’ll eventually wear through the top layer and destroy the integrity of the flooring.
This doesn’t mean that your engineered flooring cannot be resurfaced. It is still hardwood flooring, after all. You just need to be a lot more careful about how often you do it. If you take really good care of the flooring, you’ll still only get about 2-3 resurfacing opportunities during the floor’s life. Maybe less if you really have to sand down some of the thickness to remove deep scars or knicks.
Resurfacing to Fix Flooring Damage
Although resurfacing can be used to change the aesthetics of the floor, the main reason people resurface their floors is to deal with damage that has happened to the floor.
Hardwood flooring is durable. This is why you so often see it used in Nashville: it can take a beating from both foot traffic and heavy equipment. The main downside, however, is that damage means sanding down a good deal of the surface. Resurfacing a floor to deal with flooring damage should probably only be done about 3-4 times total, certainly not more often than every 7 years or so.
How to Resurface Your Hardwood Floor
The first step in the resurfacing process is to make sure all furniture and items are out of the room. Cover all surfaces that cannot be removed to ensure that they do not get covered in dust and sand. It is recommended that you sand the surface multiple times using a variety of grains to ensure a level amount of smoothness across the floor. For particularly deep gouges, you can always use a screen to fill in the holes. This entails placing a screen over the offending area, applying a material similar to the mudding used for drywall jobs, sanding everything smooth, and then covering the area with the sealer for additional support.
Hardwood flooring is an incredibly durable and long lasting flooring option, mainly because it can resurfaced, extending the life of the floor to an expectancy far beyond most residential carpeting and other flooring options. While it is something you can do by yourself, the professionals at Ozburn-Hessey are here to help with all your flooring needs. Call us today with any questions about our services.
