What is the difference between refinishing and resurfacing wood floors?

You can undertake to refinish yourself — but the professional treatment is sure to leave you most satisfied. Resurfacing your floor involves more than just putting a layer of polish on top. It may require removing old floorboards, grinding down uneven boards, and reinforcing wood planks with new nails.

What does it mean to resurface a hardwood floor?

When you refinish a wood floor, you are completely removing your floor's finish and putting down a new layer of finish. During the sanding process, damage like minor scratches and dents can be removed as well.

What is the cheapest way to refinish hardwood floors?

Applying a revitalizer gloss is the simplest and cheapest way to refinish hardwood floors. This approach works best on floors that only have surface-level scratches and other minor wear and tear issues. You can get the job done without the need for equipment rentals or hard-to-find materials.

Is it better to refinish hardwood floors or replace them?

In most scenarios, refinishing rather than replacing your hardwood floor is the ideal outcome. While refinishing hardwood can be a long and tedious process, it is much more cost-effective than a total replacement. During the refinishing process, all furniture will have to be removed from the room.

Can hardwood floors be resurfaced?

If your floors are looking outdated or just tired and worn out, it may be time for a full refinish. When a floor is recoated, only the sheen of the finish can be changed, not the color. With a full refinish, the floor will be sanded down to expose the raw wood.

Whats the difference between wood floor refinishing and wood floor refurbishing?

What is the best time of year to refinish hardwood floors?

If I had to pick an ideal time, I would say spring or fall when the indoor temperature is most consistent with outdoor temperature and it's often easy to open the windows (after the work is complete) to help air out the smell faster. But, really, sanding and refinishing hardwood can take place any time of year.

What is involved in refinishing wood floors?

How do you tell if your hardwood floors can be refinished?

Water Test. Pour a spoonful of water onto the floor. If it forms droplets that stay on the surface of the wood, the floor finish is still good. If the water is slowly absorbed into the wood, the finish is worn and needs to be restored.

Is it worth it to refinish hardwood floors?

It takes some elbow grease to refinish hardwood floors, but it's worth it. Hardwood floors add value to your home and provide a classic look that goes with any style.

How many times can hardwood floors be refinished?

A solid hardwood plank at least 3/4 inches thick will likely need to be refinished four to six times during its total lifespan. It's commonly accepted that you refinish every seven to ten years. Important note: some hardwood is only 1/4 inches thick. In this case, a refinish could strip away all traces of the floor.

Can wood floors be refinished without sanding?

The best way to refinish wood floors without sanding is to use a technique called screen and recoat. This involves scuffing up the finish with a floor buffer and applying a refresher coat of finish.

Can you refinish hardwood floors without removing baseboards?

Installing hardwood floors without removing the baseboards is possible, and it's a suitable option for other types of flooring as well. If your baseboards have been glued to the wall and would cause damage if you tried to remove them, it may be best to leave them.

How do I make my hardwood floors look new without refinishing?

Is it cheaper to refinish hardwood floors or replace with laminate?

Expense. Price is usually the first thing people consider when it comes to refinishing or replacing a hardwood floor. The truth is, it is almost always cheaper to refinish your floor than to replace it.

What type of finish is best for hardwood floors?

What is the Best Finish for Hardwood Floors? Polyurethane is the most popular finish for floors. It's tough enough to handle constant traffic and is resistant to almost everything. There are two types of polyurethane finish: oil-based (solvent borne) and water-based (waterborne).

How much does it cost to refinish hardwood floors 1000 square feet?

At an average cost of $3 to $8 per square foot, it costs between $3,000 and $8,000 to refinish 1,000 square feet of hardwood flooring. That's an average cost of $5,500.

Does refinishing hardwood floors increase home value?

5. Flooring – Replacing outdated carpet or flooring, or simply refinishing wood floors that have seen better days, will definitely increase the value of your home, with a 102% return on investment.

Can you stay in your house while floors are refinished?

If your hardwood floors have been sanded and finished with Bona Mega Clear HD, it is safe to sleep in the home about 2-3 hours after the project is finished, but again, only if there are other rooms that have not been robbed of their furniture – furniture should stay off floors for at least 24 hours after ANY project ...

How long do you have to stay off hardwood floors after refinishing?

How long do I have to wait to use my room after my floors are refinished? We recommend waiting 6 hours before walking on your new floors in socks. After 24 hours you can walk through with shoes on.

How do I know if my floors need refinishing?

How do you resurface hardwood floors?

How long does it take to refinish floors?

Depending on the product used, and the current weather conditions, each coat could take either hours or days. Figure at least two days for the “sand and poly” job or three to seven days for a full refinishing project, plus at least one day if you're adding color.

Can you refinish hardwood floors to a lighter color?

Many homeowners don't realize that you can change the color of hardwood flooring when you refinish your floors. Yes, it's true…you can go light or dark or red tones or anywhere in between. Most are pleasantly surprised it doesn't matter if you are going light to dark or vice versa.