How Often Do We Need Hardwood Refinishing?

Several different factors will influence how often you need to refinish your hardwood floors!

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The first factor is the overall condition of the hardwood floors. The longer the wood has been exposed to the elements, the higher the risk of damage to the finish. In addition to that, hardwood floors require multiple steps to achieve their best possible appearance.

Signs that it’s Time

There are a lot of benefits to having hardwood floors. Not only do they look elegant, but they are also a sturdy foundation for your home. Over time, however, hardwood floors will show signs of wear and tear. If you are wondering if it’s time to get your hardwood floors refinished, keep an eye out for these eight telltale signs.

Wooden floors can start to look gray or black. This is because the polyurethane layer is fading and oxidizing. Water can come from rain, snow, spilled drinks, or even normal household cleaning solutions. If this happens, the hardwood will darken until it’s completely black. It’s time to hire a professional to do Hardwood Refinishing for your home.

Hardwood floors must be refinished every 8 to 12 years, depending on their use. If your floors see heavy traffic, they may need to be refinished more often. On the other hand, if they’re not in high-traffic areas, you may only need to refinish them once every few years.

Cost of Refinishing Hardwood Floors

Consider how much the job will cost you before committing. Several factors to consider include the size of your room, where you want the work done, and the materials you’ll need. The cost of refinishing hardwood floors will vary greatly depending on the type of project and how many rooms you need to be refinished.

Before refinishing your hardwood floors, you may need to remove the old stain, wax residue, or sand them. These steps will add to the final cost of your project, so keep these costs in mind when determining the amount you’ll have to spend.

If you’re looking to save money on hardwood floor refinishing, you can try doing the job yourself, but it will take much longer than hiring a flooring contractor. In addition, it’s best to hire someone with experience refinishing hardwood floors. Refinishing hardwood floors can be very messy, so be sure to plan.

The Cost of Refinishing Hardwood Floors

You may wonder how much it costs if you’re looking to redo your hardwood floors. Refinishing hardwood floors can be a DIY project, but you’ll need to purchase various tools to complete the process. A drum sander, a sanding belt, vacuums, plastic sheeting, brushes, and stain are just a few of the necessary items. You’ll also need to purchase stains and finishes, brushes, and sprayers.

The most common refinishing process includes a clear coat of polyurethane, which protects the hardwood against wear and tear while leaving it well cared for. Water-based polyurethane is typically about $40-$50 per gallon and doesn’t produce a strong odor. However, it’s more expensive than oil-based polyurethane and is not as tough.

Prices vary greatly depending on the size of the room and the number of coats required. For smaller rooms, the cost may be as low as $200, but larger rooms will cost up to $2,500 or more.

Preparation of Hardwood Floors for Refinishing

Preparation is an important step in hardwood floor refinishing, accounting for 90% of the process’s success. Before refinishing, hardwood floors must be thoroughly cleaned. This includes sweeping and vacuuming. You may want to use a mineral spirit rag or damp cloth to remove dust. Avoid using oil-based cleaners, as these will affect the final finish.

Refinishing hardwood floors is time-consuming and requires a lot of prep work. In addition to cleaning the surface, it also requires roughening the existing finish with screens and sanders. Generally, a single room can take a full day and a few additional days to dry.

If you’re planning to use polyurethane, you’ll have to apply a primer before applying the new finish. Then, after the primer has dried, you’ll apply the lacquer. Each coat can take four to 24 hours to dry. Then, you’ll have to wait about four to seven days before moving furniture back into the room.