Sanding your flooring and floorboards is a lot easier than you would think, and you can get a professional-looking outcome even if you’re a DIYer! There are a few standard floor sanding questions, so we’ve compiled a (very lengthy) list of Q&As that will hopefully give you a decent sense of what to anticipate if you’re thinking of doing the task yourself. To learn more visit how to sand and polish floors on how to properly care for your floors.
Are you polishing or sanding and refinishing?
The first thing to consider is if your floor only needs a simple polish or whether it requires sanding and polishing. Although the end product may be the same, the expense is vastly different.
Polishing is a superior but less expensive choice if you have just laid the floor and want to restore its lustrous appearance. If you don’t like the colour of your floor while it’s still in excellent shape, don’t sand it or replace it. The majority of hardwood floors may be stained at a reasonable cost. The good news is that you may save a lot of money by doing your hardwood polishing or staining instead of renting expensive equipment.
All you need to do now is go out and purchase some polish and a paintbrush and go to work. Polishing a hardwood floor brings it back to life by filling in surface scratches and making it seem new and shiny. Even if the floor may appear to be in good condition, it is recommended that hardwood floors be polished regularly. Polishing a floor increases its life by creating a protective coating on its surface. On the other hand, sanding and polishing are necessary if your floor is relatively old or seems to be worn and torn.
It’s time to sand and refinish if you can see cracks or gouges in the floor, certain woods are chipped and worn, or there’s an animal stain or termite damage. Although more expensive than polishing, the ultimate product would be spectacular and long-lasting.
Key considerations for sanding hardwood floors
There are a few options for bringing your hardwood floor visions to life. It could be a job you can do yourself if you have the appropriate equipment and a little know-how. Hiring an expert will almost certainly deliver you the desired result, but it may not be as cost-effective. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, but there are certain factors to consider when determining whether to DIY or hire professionals.
Is it cheaper to refinish or replace hardwood floors?
Refinishing hardwood floors is nearly usually less expensive than replacing them. You’d be paying not just for the new wood, but also for the work of taking out the old wood and hauling it away with the latter option.
Clean the Floor with a Hardwood Floor Cleaner
- Remove all of the furniture from the room and mop the floor with a hardwood flooring cleaner or a homemade solution of 10 parts water to 1 part white vinegar.
- Wipe the floor gently with a terry-cloth mop or a mop head covered in a towel.
- To keep dust isolated in the room you’re sanding, close the windows and doors.
Finish the floor with a scuff sanding.
- Put a dust mask on and attach a maroon buffing pad to the buffer.
- Move the buffer from side to side across the floor, overlapping each course by 6 inches in the direction of the grain.
- As you proceed, the old finish turns to powder, making it easier to see where you’ve covered.
- Keep the buffer moving at all times, but suction the pad every 5 minutes or so.
Hiring a flooring specialist
Hiring a professional, particularly a flooring specialist, will almost always be more expensive than doing it yourself. While knowing the project will be done by a professional may offer you peace of mind, you risk over-capitalizing on your makeover – an essential factor if resale is on your mind. Spending a lot of money on refinishing hardwood floors might eat into your profit margins when it comes time to sell, and it’s a lot of money to invest in a makeover to have new owners come in and change it out for something else.