Although they’re more prone to slow and gradual wear and tear than other types of flooring, refinish hardwood floors still look fantastic in almost any home. They’re highly durable, which explains why they’re frequently reclaimed from old homes and successfully installed in a brand new spot. However, like any flooring surface, they’re also prone to slight wear and tear over time. If you’d like to avoid this, there are some things you can do to protect and preserve your floors.
The first and most important protection measure is to prevent your floors from scratches. Standing on anything without taking it off will cause small scratches. This includes furniture, pets, kids’ toys and anything else in your home that’s not wood. You can buy buffered polishes that lock onto imperfections, but even these aren’t perfect. The best way to protect your floors against scrapes and scratches is to actually buffer them.
Buffer pads can be found for many different wood flooring types. These fit underneath your furniture, under your feet, and in all the nooks and crannies of your floors. The idea is to catch as much dust and debris as possible. Buffering pads are easy to install and remove, and they’ll keep your refinish hardwood floors looking like new for a long time to come. You can also opt for airless cleaners that use a moisture-free, air-tight seal to get rid of dust and dirt without scrubbing your wood flooring.
For the best results, use a finish with an oil base. Oil finishes help to protect the wood, so they’re great for home improvement projects. They’re also much less aggressive than a paint-on finish, so you can spend more time on other aspects of your project. If you have any concerns about the type of refinish you need to use, ask your manufacturer or doorman before starting a home improvement project.
In addition to buffering your refinish hardwood floors, you’ll also need to use some sort of cleaning solution to get rid of the remaining dust and dirt. Many people choose to use wood floor buffers and cleaning products. This works fine if you’re just doing a few areas of your floor, such as the stairs and a few planters. If you have an entire room to refinish, however, it’s recommended that you use a vacuum cleaner with a beater bar. You’ll need to work your way from the ceiling to the floor, using the beater bar in conjunction with your buffing pads to ensure even coverage.
To give your hardwood floor refinishing a truly professional look, we recommend hiring a professional flooring installer. These individuals will ensure that you have a properly stained floor, and that it looks as beautiful as possible once it’s done. You can learn more about refinishing hardwood floors by selecting a state-approved contractor from the Texas Flooring Manufacturers Association website.