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Worth The Time And Money: Refinished Hardwood Floors

Article Summary: Hardwood floors can add beauty and elegance to any room in your home. They do require some regular maintenance, and in due time you will find that you will need to refinish your hardwood floors. Thank goodness that with effort and patience this is something that can be done and won't be too terribly difficult. Once done, your floors will look as good as they day they were put in.

Hardwood floors can add beauty and elegance to any room in your home. They do require some regular maintenance, and in due time you will find that you will need to refinish your hardwood floors. Thank goodness that with effort and patience this is something that can be done and won't be too terribly difficult. Once done, your floors will look as good as they day they were put in.

Refinishing hardwood floors is a process that encompasses two steps. The first, sanding, removes the buildup of dirt and old wood from the floor's surface, making for a fresh wood surface suitable for working. The other, staining, gives the floor's surface a more polished look.

Before you attempt refinishing your hardwood floor, you should always do this simple test to make sure that it is necessary. All you need to do is place a drop of water on your floor. If it absorbs rather quickly, you need to refinish, but if it doesn't absorb, or it slow at absorbing, you do not need to refinish your hardwood floor at this time.

When you inspect the floor, make sure it doesn't need any repairs. Problems to inspect for include warped or squeaking floor boards, badly stained wood, and other permanent damage. If any of these issues are present, you should repair them before refinishing the floor.

After making sure your floor is in good repair, begin refinishing by preparing for the messy work of sanding. Start by clearing everything from the room. Cover all doorways, other openings, vents, and light fixtures in the empty room to protect them from all the dust.

You will use a drum sander for your initial sanding. This is a powerful tool and it is easy to inadvertently damage the wood while sanding, so keep the machine moving, never let it stall in one place for more than a few seconds, and above all, don't rush. To reach areas you can't reach with the drum sander, such as corners, use an edge sander.

Once you have completed sanding, clean up, removing dust and other debris. The floor is now ready to be stained. There are a number of different stains available. Pay close attention to how long it takes for the stain to dry and how many coats are needed. There are oil and water based stains that have a variety of appearances. Choose the stain that best suits the needs of your floors and follow all instructions carefully.

Once you have learned how to refinish hardwood floors, you will never need to hire a professional. The process of refinishing hardwood floors is time consuming, but it is worthwhile when your dull and dingy floor is gleaming and shiny. When the stain is dry, congratulations! You have just refinished your floor yourself. Let your beautiful new floor assure you that it was well worth the effort.

Article Source: http://www.upublish.info

About the Author:
Ean Napp
Recover the quality of your home with hardwood floors. Learn ideas on bruce hardwood floors and hardwood flooring installation today.