Hardwood is a kind of flooring option that is really coming back in style. If you happen to live in an older home, it may be worth it to check out the floors underneath the material on the surface to see if you have hardwood that can be brought back to life. For many people, there is a beautiful hardwood floor treasure in many or all of the rooms of their home just waiting to be refinished. When you have an idea to refinish hardwood floors throughout your living space, these are some helpful tips to follow.
Inspect The Gaps
Always look at any of the gaps that are located in between your floor planks. If it seems as though they are widening and there are nails visible holding your floor down, it is best to not try refinishing the floor.
Newer Hardwood
There are some floors with newer hardwood that is only about a quarter of an inch thick that includes a laminate coating over the top. These are floors that you cannot sand to refinish. If you should try to refinish them, you could end up wearing away the majority of the floor.
Wood Types
There are some hardwood floor types that will be easier to refinish than the others. For example, both oak and pine remain the most common and they can be easy to work with. However, keep in mind that the harder woods like walnut, maple, and mahogany will take a bit more time.
Warning Side Note
There can be some older vinyl floors that have asbestos in them, which will either be in the adhesive or the backing. Prior to removing any vinyl floor to work on a hardwood floor, check with a professional for safe removal practices.
As you prepare the floor for refinishing, you need to remove all of the existing material that is covering it. If there was an adhesive on the old flooring, it may be a bit easier to use adhesive remover to help you with scraping it up. Depending on the material that was over the hardwood floor, you may also want to think about cutting it into sections so that everything is a lot easier to handle.
When you get ready to work, you will need to be sure that the area is properly ventilated as this is a job that can generate a great deal of dust. Additionally, there can be fumes from the new finish that can be dangerous if there is not enough air flow. Using a box fan will help you to bring plenty of fresh air into the room.
The job to refinish hardwood floors in the home does not have to be scary or daunting, you simply need to be sure that you are prepared in order to get the best result. If you are still unsure of your ability to do it, try practicing while using a large piece of plywood and you can allow yourself to get comfortable while using the sander.