Hardwood Floor Refinishing Bergen County NJ is a great way to breathe new life into your hardwood floors. It is a relatively simple process that can be done by yourself or with the help of a professional.
First, you will need to sand your hardwood floors. This process can be time-consuming and will likely take several days to complete.
When your hardwood floors begin looking dull, scratched and scuffed, refinishing is the best way to breathe new life into them. Refinishing is a process that involves sanding, staining and then re-applying a topcoat to protect your investment. Unlike resurfacing, which skips the sanding process altogether and simply reapplies a coat of new finish to the existing surface, refinishing requires that your floors be completely stripped down to bare wood before beginning.
To prepare the floor for refinishing, the first step is to remove all furniture from the room and cover any remaining items with plastic sheeting secured with painter’s tape to prevent dust from blowing onto other parts of your home. Next, the floor is sanded with either a drum or belt sander to remove the old finish and smooth the surface of the hardwood. It’s best to start with a coarse grit and then work your way up through the finer grits for a consistent finish.
Once the sanding is complete, vacuum the floors twice and use a tack rag to wipe down the entire area. It’s important to be extremely thorough here as any trace of dust left on your hardwood floors will be very visible once the new finish is applied.
Once your floors are completely clean and dry, you’ll need to choose a color or style of stain for your refinished hardwood floors. Be sure to discuss this with your refinishing contractor so they have an idea of what you want the floors to look like once finished. It’s also a good idea to test stains on a piece of scrap wood before starting the actual refinishing project.
Once the stain is dry, it’s time to apply your topcoat. The most common type of finish is polyurethane, which is a clear liquid that goes over the hardwood and creates a protective surface coating. Polyurethane comes in water-based and oil-based formulas. Water-based poly dries quicker but may show more imperfections, while oil-based poly dries slower but provides a very smooth finish. Both types of finishes can be buffed to a high shine, if desired.
Staining
After the sanding process is complete (which can take 2+ days depending on the size of your room) it’s time to stain. This is a great opportunity to give your floors a makeover and change their appearance entirely, and you have lots of options to choose from when it comes to color and sheen. Be sure to talk with your floor guys about what you’re looking for so they have samples to show you and can help you decide on the perfect finish. We highly recommend testing stains on actual wood so you can see how it will look in your home, especially since refinishing is a big decision and will impact your living space for years to come.
If you’re a DIYer, it’s possible to do the staining yourself, but keep in mind that this is a very messy job and will require a lot of patience. It’s also important to follow the instructions on the product you’re using carefully, especially when it comes to drying times. Once the stain has dried, you’ll need to vacuum and clean the surface again and then you’re ready for the last step of the refinishing process – applying the topcoat of protective polyurethane.
Polyurethane is a clear, plastic-like substance that goes over the hardwood and protects it from scratches and water damage. It’s the most popular choice for finishing floors, and it’s available in a variety of sheens, from matte to glossy. To apply it, simply use a pad applicator or paintbrush on your floor, working in small areas and rubbing with the grain of the wood as you go. You’ll need to allow time for each coat to dry, and you should sand between each application of polyurethane with a pole sander and 100-grit paper to smooth the surface and remove any imperfections.
Refinishing your hardwood floors is a big project, but it’s well worth the effort. It will help prolong the lifespan of your floors and give them a beautiful, rich sheen that will look fantastic in your home. It’s best to have this done every few years, although some people may be able to get away with just refinishing every five or six years.
Sealing
Hardwood floors can look beautiful, but they also need to be maintained. Refinishing is an important part of this maintenance, as it can keep your hardwood floors in good condition and help protect them from scratches and other damage. The refinishing process involves sanding the floor and then staining it with a new finish. It’s a labor-intensive process that can take days to complete, but it can be well worth the effort in the long run.
Before refinishing your wood floors, you’ll need to remove all furniture and trim from the room. This will allow you to see all of the work that needs to be done and ensure that it is finished properly. For the best results, it’s a good idea to hire a professional refinisher with experience in working with your specific type of flooring.
When refinishing your hardwood floors, you’ll need to sand the entire surface of the boards. This is a process that requires special equipment and can be very messy. You’ll want to start with the coarsest grit sandpaper and then move on to the finer grits. This will create a smooth surface for the next step of refinishing.
After sanding the floors, you’ll need to vacuum and tack cloth them. You’ll also need to replace base molding and quarter-round trim, as well as any vent covers. Once the floors are sanded and stained, you’ll need to let them dry completely before returning to the rooms.
Refinishing your hardwood floors is a project that will take time and patience, but it’s a crucial step in keeping them looking their best. This is a task that should be undertaken regularly, especially if you have a lot of people living in your home or frequent foot traffic. It can make the difference between beautiful, glossy floors and dingy, worn-out ones.
In addition to refinishing your hardwood floors, it’s also a good idea to consider resealing them. A simple sealer allows the natural color and grain of the wood to shine through, but it won’t provide much protection against stains and other damage. The most popular choice for resealing is polyurethane, which can be applied with a standard paintbrush and comes in a variety of finishes.
Installation
Hardwood flooring creates a warm, welcoming feel in any home. It’s also easy to maintain, durable and beautiful. If your hardwood floors are looking a bit drab, refinishing them will bring new life to your space. It’s important to choose a reputable professional to perform the work. This process is time consuming and requires patience, but the results are well worth it. Before starting, make sure you remove all furniture from the affected area. You should also take care to cover any trim or appliances with plastic sheeting to protect them from sanding dust.
The first step is to sand the hardwood floors. This will remove the old finish and smooth out any scratches or imperfections. The sanding can be done by hand or with a drum or belt sander. You’ll want to start with a coarse grit and move on to finer sandpaper to get a smooth finish. When finished, you should vacuum and wipe down the floor to remove any dust or dirt that could mar the final coating of stain.
Once the sanding and staining are completed, it’s time to install the new wood. Depending on your preference, you may choose to use an engineered wood system that is glued to the subfloor or a traditional solid hardwood. Engineered wood has a thinner wear layer than solid hardwood and is easier to refinish.
When installing the new floor, you will need to lay down a moisture barrier between the concrete slab and the hardwood. This will help prevent the wood from warping or buckling. You can purchase a premade moisture barrier from your local lumber store or you can build one yourself.
Lastly, you will need to put down a coat of polyurethane to seal the floors. The polyurethane will protect the wood from water and daily use, while adding a rich sheen. You can choose from a variety of sheens, ranging from matte (low luster) to high-gloss.
While refinishing and installation aren’t a DIY project, they can be done with minimal disruption to your home. Solid hardwood planks of at least 3/4 inch can be refinished four to six times over their lifetime. However, it’s best to refinish the floor less frequently than this, so that the wood is not exposed to too much moisture.